PNEUMATIC TIRE WITH IMPROVED VIBRATION CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

A pneumatic tire has modified dimensions and/or materials characteristics and is designed and constructed for use in place of a conventional, standards-meeting tire of a standards-meeting tire/rim combination. The rim has a bead seat with an outer diameter established by a standards-setting organization to mate with a conventional tire. The modified pneumatic tire has a bead of an inner diameter established by: a) determining a conventional radial force exerted by the bead of the conventional tire on the rim, and b) setting the inner diameter such that, when mounted on the rim the bead exerts on the bead seat a modified radial force between 5% and 25% lower than the conventional radial force.

Claims

1. A pneumatic tire for use with a wheel rim having a bead seat with an outer diameter established by a standards-setting organization to mate with a conventional tire, the pneumatic tire having a bead of an inner diameter established by: a) determining a conventional radial force exerted by the bead of the conventional tire on the rim, and b) setting the inner diameter such that, when mounted on the rim the bead exerts on the bead seat a modified radial force at least 5% lower than the conventional radial force.

2. The tire as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner diameter is further set such that the modified radial force is at most 25% lower than the conventional radial force.

3. The tire of claim 1, wherein the bead has a bead core comprising a modified number of cords, the modified number being lower than a second number of cords in a bead core of the bead of the conventional tire.

4. The tire of claim 1, wherein the bead has a bead core comprising a plurality of cords, at least one of the plurality of cords having a modified elasticity greater than a conventional elasticity of a plurality of cords of the conventional tire.

5. The tire of claim 1, wherein the bead has a bead core comprising a plurality of cords, and a rubber material disposed between a radially innermost of the cords and a radial inner side of the bead has a higher elasticity in comparison with a corresponding rubber material elacticity of the conventional tire.

6. The tire of claim 1, wherein the bead has a bead core comprising a plurality of cords, and a rubber material disposed between a radially innermost of the cords and a radial inner side of the bead has a smaller radial thickness in comparison with a corresponding rubber material radial thickness of the conventional tire.

7. A method of constructing a pneumatic tire, comprising: determining a conventional radial force exerted by a bead of a standards-meeting tire on a standards-meeting wheel rim; and constructing a modified tire having a bead inner diameter larger than a bead inner diameter of the standards-meeting tire by an amount to generate a modified radial force on the standards-meeting wheel rim that is at least 5% lower than the conventional radial force.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the bead inner diameter is further set such that the modified radial force is at most 25% lower than the conventional radial force.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the modified tire is constructed with a bead core comprising a modified number of cords, the modified number being lower than a conventional number of cords in a bead core of the standards-meeting tire.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the modified tire is constructed with a bead core comprising a plurality of cords, at least one of the plurality of cords having a modified elasticity greater than a conventional elasticity of a plurality of cords of the standards-meeting tire.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the modified tire is constructed with a bead core comprising a plurality of cords, and a rubber material disposed between a radially innermost of the cords and a radial inner side of the bead has a higher elasticity in comparison with a conventional rubber material elasticity of the standards-meeting tire.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the modified tire is constructed with a bead core comprising a plurality of cords, and a rubber material disposed between a radially innermost of the cords and a radial inner side of the bead has a smaller radial thickness in comparison with a conventional rubber material radial thickness of the standards-meeting tire.

13. A method of designing a pneumatic tire, comprising: determining, for a standards-meeting tire/rim combination, a conventional radial force exerted by a bead of the standards-meeting tire on the standards-meeting rim; and determining an increase in an inner diameter of the bead to yield a modified radial force on the standards-meeting rim that is at least 5% lower than the conventional force.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the increase in the bead inner diameter is further determined such that the modified radial force is at most 25% lower than the conventional radial force.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the pneumatic tire has a bead core comprising a plurality of cords, and the increase in the inner diameter of the bead is achieved by decreasing a number of cords in the plurality relative to a conventional number of cords in a bead core of the standards-meeting tire.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the pneumatic tire has a bead core comprising a plurality of cords, and at least one of the plurality of cords have a modified elasticity greater than a conventional elasticity of a plurality of cords of the standards-meeting tire.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the pneumatic tire has a bead core comprising a plurality of cords and a rubber material disposed between a radially innermost of the cords and a radial inner side of the bead, and the rubber material has a higher elasticity in comparison with a conventional rubber material elasticity of the standards-meeting tire.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the pneumatic tire has a bead core comprising a plurality of cords and a rubber material disposed between a radially innermost of the cords and a radial inner side of the bead, and the rubber material has a smaller radial thickness in comparison with a conventional rubber material radial thickness of the standards-meeting tire.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a tire/rim arrangement according to the invention,

[0044] FIG. 2A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire bead of a conventional pneumatic tire;

[0045] FIG. 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire bead of a pneumatic tire of an exemplary embodiment of a tire/rim arrangement according to the invention,

[0046] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the tire bead of the conventional tire bead from FIG. 2A;

[0047] FIG. 3B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire bead of a pneumatic tire of a further exemplary embodiment of a tire/rim arrangement according to the invention;

[0048] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the tire bead of the conventional tire bead from FIG. 2A; and

[0049] FIG. 4B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire bead of a pneumatic tire of a yet further exemplary embodiment of a tire/rim arrangement according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

[0051] In the various figures, equivalent parts are always provided with the same reference numbers in terms of their function so that these are generally also only described once.

[0052] FIG. 1 schematically represents a cross-sectional partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a tire/rim arrangement 1 according to the invention. The sectional plane of the representation runs in this case parallel to an axial or rotational axis, not represented in FIG. 1, of arrangement 1, wherein only the upper half of tire/rim arrangement 1 can be seen in FIG. 1. The running direction of the axial axis of arrangement 1 is indicated in FIG. 1 by an arrow designated by A, a radial direction of arrangement 1 by the designation R.

[0053] As is apparent in FIG. 1, arrangement 1 is formed from a pneumatic tire 2 and a wheel rim 3 on which pneumatic tire 2 is fitted. Tire/rim arrangement 1 represented in FIG. 1 forms a vehicle wheel for a motor vehicle, not shown in greater detail, for example, a car. The tire/rim arrangement according to the invention is not, however, generally restricted to use on cars. Other single-track or multi-track vehicle types, for example, motorcycles, heavy goods vehicles and the like, are also conceivable.

[0054] It is further apparent from FIG. 1 that pneumatic tire 2 has, on its radial outer side, a running surface 4 which is profiled or structured in the represented case. Running surface 4 forms a transition on both sides into side walls 5, the ends of which are formed in each case by a tire bead 6 which is inserted in each case in an air-tight manner in a bead seat 9, which is delimited axially by a rim flange 7 and a hump 8, of rim 3 so that an air cavity 10 filled with compressed air can be formed between rim 3 and pneumatic tire 2.

[0055] Rim 3 furthermore has a drop center 11 of the type well known in the pertinent technical fields.

[0056] Inner diameter Di of pneumatic tire 2 is defined by the radial inner side of tire bead 6. The radial outer side of corresponding bead seat 9 defines outer diameter Da of rim 3. In the representation of FIG. 1, it is not possible to differentiate between these two diameters Di and Da since pneumatic tire 2 is represented fitted on wheel rim 3. Inner diameter Di of pneumatic tire 2 and outer diameter Da of wheel rim 3 are correspondingly delimited by a common delimitation line in the representation of FIG. 1. It should, however, be understood that both variables Di and Da can differ in terms of numbers.

[0057] Pneumatic tire 2 represented in FIG. 1 furthermore has a nominal tire width B. The tire width of the pneumatic tire conventionally declared for each pneumatic tire (for example, by the tire manufacturer) should be understood as nominal tire width B.

[0058] Pneumatic tire 2 and wheel rim 3 of arrangement 1 represented in FIG. 1 are formed at their points of contact, i.e. at tire bead 6 and/or at bead seat 9, in such a manner that the radial force generated by each tire bead 6 on corresponding bead seat 9 is, in the case of pneumatic tire 2 filled with operating air pressure, at least approximately 5% lower than in the case of a conventional pneumatic tire which can be conventionally assigned to previously determined wheel rim 3, i.e. than in the case of a conventional tire/rim arrangement. However, at the same time, said radial force in the case of arrangement 1 represented in FIG. 1 can also be dimensioned so that it is at most approximately 25% lower than in the case of a conventional pneumatic tire which can be conventionally assigned to previously determined wheel rim 3, i.e. than in the case of a standard tire/rim arrangement.

[0059] FIG. 2 schematically represents in view (a) an enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire bead 12 of a conventional pneumatic tire 13 (standard pneumatic tire) and in view (b) an enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire bead 14 of pneumatic tire 2 shown in FIG. 1 of an exemplary embodiment of a tire/rim arrangement, not shown entirely in FIG. 2, according to the invention. The cut-out of respective pneumatic tire 2, 13 represented in views (a) and (b) of FIG. 2 corresponds to the point marked by a dashed circle in FIG. 1. The following description correspondingly relates only to one of the two tire beads 14, 12 of pneumatic tire 2 or 13, but equally also applies to respective other tire bead 14, 12 of the same pneumatic tire 2 or 13.

[0060] A pneumatic tire 13 (standards-meeting pneumatic tire) assigned to the previously determined standards-meeting wheel rim, not represented in FIG. 2, their actual size dimensions according to the generally known guidelines, for example, ETRTO, TRA, JATMA etc., is to be understood as conventional pneumatic tire 13 represented in view (a) of FIG. 2.

[0061] As is apparent from FIG. 2 both in view (a) and in view (b), both tire bead 12 and tire bead 14 have in each case a bead core 15 which has in cross-section a plurality of steel cords 16 arranged substantially hexagonally in the case of the exemplary embodiment shown (hexagonal bead core configuration), and a core profile 17 which encloses bead core 16 rotationally symmetrically with respect to the axial axis of pneumatic tire 2 or 13. Core profile 17, which can also be referred to as an apex, can be composed, for example, of a rubber mixture.

[0062] A carcass inlay 18 which is wound around respective bead bore 15 including core profile 17 (e.g. mono-ply tire construction) is furthermore apparent in FIG. 2 on both tire beads 12, 14. In other embodiments, not represented, more than one carcass inlay 18 can also be wound around bead core 16 and core profile 17 (e.g. dual-ply tire construction). Carcass inlay 18 transmits the forces in pneumatic tire 2, 13 to tire beads 14 or 12 in a manner known per se.

[0063] Tire bead 14 or 12 according to the representation in FIG. 2 furthermore has an inner coating or inner liner 19 which is normally formed as a rubber ply for sealing off pneumatic tire 2, 14 or air cavity 10 (FIG. 1). Pneumatic tires 2, 13 in FIG. 2 also have an outer tire wall 20, for example, what is known as a rim strip which, after the arrangement of pneumatic tire 2, 13 on rim 3 represented in FIG. 1, bears against respective rim flange 7.

[0064] The following description of both views (a) and (b) of FIG. 2 is based on the same wheel rim with identical dimensions, in particular an identical outer or rim diameter. This wheel rim corresponds in this example to a standard rim with standard dimensions.

[0065] As is apparent in FIG. 2A, conventional pneumatic tire 13 has an inner diameter Di defined by the distance of the radial inner side of tire bead 12 from the center point of the tire (not visible in FIG. 2). An inner diameter Diw of bead core 15 is defined by the distance of the radial center of steel cords 16 forming bead core 15 to the center point of the tire, not represented, as can also be inferred from FIG. 2A. Moreover, in FIG. 2A, a thickness (radial thickness) of a rubber material arranged between radially innermost steel cords 16 of bead core 15 and the radial inner side of tire bead 12 is designated by d (rubber thickness). Stated rubber material surrounds bead core 15 radially on the inside rotationally symmetrically to the axial axis of pneumatic tire 13.

[0066] The variables inner diameter Di of pneumatic tire 2, inner diameter Diw of bead core 15 and rubber thickness d of the rubber material arranged between radially innermost steel cords 16 of bead core 15 and the radial inner side of tire bead 14 are correspondingly defined in FIG. 2B.

[0067] It is clear from the representation of tire bead 14 in FIG. 2B that both inner diameter Di of pneumatic tire 2 defined by the radial inner side of tire bead 14 and inner diameter Diw of corresponding bead core 15 are formed to be larger in comparison with standards-meeting pneumatic tire 13 of FIG. 2A. Rubber thicknesses d of tire bead 12 and d of tire bead 14 are formed to be of substantially the same size in the case of the exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 2. In the case of an identical wheel rim for both pneumatic tires 2 and 13, pneumatic tire 2 of FIG. 2B or tire bead 14 thereof exerts a small radial force on the bead seat of the corresponding wheel rim, for example, bead seat 9 of wheel rim 3 in FIG. 1, in comparison with pneumatic tire 13 of FIG. 2A. Tire beads 14 and 12 have substantially identical structures apart from their different inner diameters Diw, Di or Diw, Di. Inner diameter Di of pneumatic tire 2 or inner diameter Diw of bead core 15 of tire bead 14 are in this case increased in size in comparison with conventional pneumatic tire 13 in such a manner that the radial force exerted by each tire bead 14 of pneumatic tire 2 on corresponding bead seat 9 (FIG. 1), in the case of pneumatic tire 2 filled with operating air pressure, is at least approximately 5% smaller than in the case of a conventional pneumatic tire 13, represented in FIG. 2A, which can be assigned conventionally to previously determined wheel rim 3. The size of inner diameter Di of pneumatic tire 2 or of inner diameter Diw of bead core 15 of tire bead 14 is, however, simultaneously also restricted at the top in such a manner that the radial force of tire bead 14 on bead seat 9 of wheel rim 3 is at most approximately 25% smaller than in the case of a conventional pneumatic tire 13, represented in FIG. 2A, which can be assigned conventionally to previously determined wheel rim 3.

[0068] FIG. 3 represents schematically in view (a) the cross-sectional view of tire bead 12 of conventional pneumatic tire 13 from FIG. 2A and in view (b) an enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire bead 21 of pneumatic tire 2 shown in FIG. 1 of a further exemplary embodiment of a tire/rim arrangement, not shown fully in FIG. 3, according to the invention.

[0069] As can be inferred from a comparison of both views (a) and (b) of FIG. 3, the difference between tire beads 12 and 21 lies substantially in the number of steel cords 16 which form bead core 15 or 22. Bead core 15 in pneumatic tire 13 of the prior art has, by way of example, 10 steel cords 16 which are arranged in a 3-4-3 arrangement of a hexagonal bead core configuration. In contrast, bead core 22 of pneumatic tire 2 has a total of 7 steel cords 16 which are arranged in a 2-3-2 arrangement of an also hexagonal bead core configuration. The smaller number of steel cords 16 in tire bead 21 is dimensioned in such a manner here that the radial contact force exerted by each tire bead 21 of pneumatic tire 2 on corresponding bead seat 9 (FIG. 1), in the case of the modified pneumatic tire 2 filled with operating air pressure, is approximately 5% smaller than in the case of a conventional pneumatic tire 13, represented in FIG. 3a, which can be assigned conventionally to previously determined wheel rim 3. The smaller number of steel cords 16 in bead core 22 of tire bead 21 is, however, simultaneously also restricted at the bottom in such a manner that the radial force of tire bead 21 on bead seat 9 of wheel rim 3 is at most approximately 25% smaller than in the case of a conventional pneumatic tire 13, represented in FIG. 3a, which can be assigned conventionally to previously determined wheel rim 3. The special (in this example, hexagonal) arrangement of steel cords 16 in bead core 22 offers an additional possibility of positively influencing the transmission of force from tire bead 21 onto corresponding bead seat 9 of wheel rim 3 (FIG. 1) within the meaning of the present invention.

[0070] It should be noted that, in addition to the number of steel cords 16 in bead core 22, additionally or alternatively, their elasticity of at least a part of steel cords 16 of bead core 22 can also be increased by selecting a material with different material properties in order to achieve a similar effect to that described above. Additionally or alternatively, the diameter of individual steel cords 16 of at least a part of bead core 22 could also be formed to be smaller in order to also achieve the effect described above.

[0071] FIG. 4 represents schematically in view (a) the cross-sectional view of tire bead 12 of conventional pneumatic tire 13 from FIG. 2A and in view (b) an enlarged cross-sectional view of a tire bead 23 of pneumatic tire 2 shown in FIG. 1 of a further exemplary embodiment of a further exemplary embodiment of a tire/rim arrangement, not shown fully in FIG. 4, according to the invention.

[0072] As can be inferred from a comparison of both views (a) and (b) of FIG. 4, the difference between tire beads 12 and 23 lies substantially in a smaller thickness d in the case of tire bead 23 in comparison with tire bead 12 of the rubber material which is located between radially innermost steel cords 16 and the radial inner side of tire bead 23 which bears against bead seat 9 of wheel rim 3 (FIG. 1), in comparison with thickness d of the rubber material of tire bead 12 of conventional pneumatic tire 13 represented in FIG. 4a. In the case of the exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 4b, smaller thickness d of tire bead 23 is achieved, by way of example, by an inner covering or inner liner 24 formed to be thinner in its material thickness as well as by an outer tire wall 25 formed to be thinner. Smaller thickness d of the rubber material between radially inner steel cords 16 and the radial inner side of tire bead 23 leads to a radial force on beat seat 9 of wheel rim 3 which is lower in comparison with tire bead 12 of pneumatic tire 13 according to the prior art (FIG. 1). Reduced rubber thickness d is dimensioned here in such a manner that the radial force exerted by each tire bead 23 of pneumatic tire 2 on corresponding bead seat 9 (FIG. 1), in the case of a pneumatic tire 2 filled with operating air pressure, is at least approximately 5% lower than in the case of a conventional pneumatic tire 13, represented in FIG. 4a, which can be conventionally assigned to previously determined wheel rim 3. At the same time, the reduction in radial thickness d of the stated rubber material between bead core 15 and the radial inner side of tire bead 23 is, however, also restricted at the bottom in such a manner that the radial force of tire bead 23 on bead seat 9 of tire rim 3 is at most approximately 25% lower than in the case of a conventional pneumatic tire 13, represented in FIG. 4a, which can conventionally be assigned to previously determined wheel rim 3.

[0073] Alternatively or additionally to changing radial thickness d of the rubber material between radially innermost steel cords 16 and the radial inner side of tire bead 23 represented in FIG. 4b, the rubber material can also be formed from a material with higher elasticity in order as a result to reduce the radial force on bead seat 9 of wheel rim 3 (FIG. 1) in the manner described above with the same effect.

[0074] The arrangement described above according to the invention comprising a pneumatic tire and a wheel rim which retains it for a vehicle, in particular motor vehicle, is not restricted to the embodiments disclosed herein, rather also encompasses further embodiments with the same action.

[0075] It should in particular be understood in this context that the radial force of the tire bead on its corresponding bead seat of the tire rim can also be determined indirectly via a bead unseating method which is well known and in the case of which a force can be determined which is to be applied in the axial direction of the tire/rim arrangement to be tested on the side wall of the pneumatic tire in order to push the tire bead formed on the side wall into the drop center of the wheel rim. There is a direct relationship between the force exerted radially by the tire bead of the pneumatic tire on the corresponding bead seat of the tire rim and the required axial bead unseating force determined by the bead unseating method.

[0076] The following standard bead unseating forces Fst are thus defined, for example, in the relevant known guidelines or norms established by industry standards-setting organizations (e.g. standard WDK 116, established by the Business Association of the German Rubber Industry) for different, conventional pneumatic tires (standard pneumatic tires) depending on the tire width:

TABLE-US-00001 Tire width [mm] Bead unseating force Fst [N] 125-155 7000 155-205 9000 205-255 (and wider) 11000

[0077] The following standard inner diameter Diw_st in mm of a bead core of a conventional pneumatic tire which can be assigned conventionally to the tire rim are likewise defined for a previously determined tire rim (standard tire rim) with a rim outer diameter Da in mm in accordance with ETRTO R9:

Diw_st=Da+3.5 mm (for single-ply tire constructions/mono ply)

Diw_st=Da+4.8 mm (for two-ply tire constructions/dual ply)

[0078] Standard number Nst of the steel cords used in the case of conventional pneumatic tires in the tire bead is dependent on the capacity index LI of the tire and on the special bead core configuration, i.e. the arrangement of the steel cords in the bead core, as specified below, wherein Nst is indicated below, by way of example, for two standard bead core configurations, namely for an arrangement of the steel cords in the bead core which is substantially rectangular as seen in cross-section as well as substantially hexagonal:

i LI80: Nst=16/5 (rectangular/hexagonal)

80LI90: Nst=20/7

90 LI100: Nst=25/8

100LI110: Nst=30/10

110LI120: Nst=36/12

[0079] It is possible to calculate, on the basis of the following formula developed by the inventors, the desired magnitude (within the meaning of the present disclosure) of the radial force for the tire/rim arrangement as disclosed herein which is at least approximately 5% lower than in the case of a conventional pneumatic tire which can conventionally be assigned to the previously determined wheel rim and likewise preferably at most approximately 25% lower than in the case of a conventional pneumatic tire which can conventionally be assigned to the previously determined wheel rim, on the basis of a reduction in the axial bead unseating force (F) in relation to a standard bead unseating force (Fst) defined for a standards-meeting (meeting, that is, industry-recognized standards established by standards-setting organizations such as those named herein above) tire/rim combinations depending on desired parameters, for example, inner diameter of the bead core (Diw), number of steel cords in the bead core (N), and thickness (d) of the rubber material between the radially innermost steel cords and the radial inner side of the tire bead:

F=1000 N/mm*(Diw_stDiw+ddst)+N/Nst*Fst

[0080] wherein dst corresponds to a standard thickness of the rubber material between the radially innermost steel cords and the radial inner side of the tire bead of 2.5 mm.

[0081] For example, the following definition is produced for a mono-ply pneumatic tire with the dimensions 205/55 R16 91 H:

205 mm tire width=>Fst=11000 N

[0082] It should be assumed a radial force of the tire bead on the bead seat of the tire rim of approximately 2000 N arises in the case of an axial bead unseating force Fst of 11000 N, i.e. in this example the radial force is smaller than the axial bead unseating force approximately by the factor 5.5.

[0083] The following also arises from the dimensions of the pneumatic tire selected by way of example:

16 tire diameter=>rim diameter in accordance with ETRTO R9: Da=405.6 mm

[0084] The standard inner diameter of bead core Diw_st is also determined from this:

Diw_st=405.6 mm+3.5 mm=409.1 mm

[0085] Standard thickness dst of the rubber material between the bead core and the radial inner side of the tire bead is set as mentioned above:

dst=2.5 mm

[0086] Standard number Nst of the steel cords in the bead core is produced from the capacity index LI and a rectangular bead core configuration assumed by way of example of the pneumatic tire selected above by way of example:

LI=91=>Nst=25

[0087] The radial force can then be set in the force range according to the invention with following parameters Diw, d and N selected by way of example in that parameters Diw, d and N are correspondingly selected:

[00001]$.Math.\mathrm{Diw}=410.Math..Math.\mathrm{mm};d=2.Math..Math.\mathrm{mm};N=24$$F=1000.Math..Math.N.Math.\text{/}.Math.\mathrm{mm}*\left(\mathrm{Diw\_st}-\mathrm{Diw}+d-\mathrm{dst}\right)+N.Math.\text{/}.Math.\mathrm{Nst}*\mathrm{Fst}=1000.Math..Math.N.Math.\text{/}.Math.\mathrm{mm}*\left(\left(409.1.Math..Math.\mathrm{mm}-410.Math..Math.\mathrm{mm}\right)+(2.Math..Math.\mathrm{mm}-2.5.Math..Math.\mathrm{mm}.Math.)\right)+24/25*11000.Math..Math.N=9160.Math..Math.N$

[0088] A radial force is produced from the previously determined axial bead unseating force of 9160 N with the factor identified above of 5.5 between the axial bead unseating force and the radial force:

9160 N/5.5=1665.45 N

[0089] In other words, by increasing the inner diameter of the bead core (Diw), and/or reducing the rubber thickness (d) between the radially innermost steel cords and the radial inner side of the tire bead, and/or reducing the number of steel cords in the tire bead (N) in comparison with the conventional pneumatic tire (standard pneumatic tire) which is conventionally assigned to the previously determined wheel rim (standard rim), the desired effect of reducing the radial force by the prescribed amount is achieved and as a result of this the transmission of structure-borne noise from the adapted pneumatic tire determined in a manner according to the invention to the wheel rim via the tire bead of the pneumatic tire and the bead seat of the wheel rim is significantly reduced as described herein.

[0090] A comparison of the radial force of the tire bead conventionally determined for the standard pneumatic tire selected by way of example herein by standard bead unseating force Fst of 11000 N on the corresponding bead seat of the tire rim of 2000 N (conversion by the factor of 5.5 determined above) with the reduced value, achieved in the manner according to the invention, of new bead unseating force F of 9160 N or after conversion with the factor 5.5 new radial force of 1665.45 N shows that the force of the tire/rim arrangement according to the invention in comparison with the force of the conventional tire/rim arrangement is reduced by approximately 335 N or 16.75% and thus lies within the preferred reduction range of approximately 5% to approximately 25%.

[0091] Particularly preferred minimum and maximum force values of the radial forces of a tire bead of a pneumatic tire which are reduced according to the invention in comparison with the standard/conventional radial forces as a function of the respective nominal tire width on the corresponding bead seat of a wheel rim, which form a tire/rim arrangement according to the invention, and satisfy the conditions disclosed herein, are indicated by way of example in the following table:

TABLE-US-00002 Standard Preferred reduced Standard bead radial force radial force Tire width unseating force Fst (factor 5.5) according to invention [mm] [N] [N] [N] 125-155 7000 1273 1200-1000 155-205 9000 1636 1500-1200 205-255 11000 2000 1800-1500 (and wider)

[0092] In a preferred embodiment, the tire/rim arrangement according to the invention is used as a vehicle wheel on a vehicle, in particular on a single-track or multi-track motor vehicle.

[0093] While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.