Air maintenance pumping tube and tire assembly

摘要

A tire comprising a cavity and first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region is disclosed. An elongate sidewall groove (56) extends into the first tire sidewall from an outward first sidewall surface wherein the sidewall groove is bound by groove sidewalls. The groove further has at least one longitudinally adjacent elongate locking detent (60) extending at least partially along the groove (56) parallel to a groove longitudinal axis. An elongate air tube (42) is positioned within the elongate sidewall groove (56) in contacting engagement with the groove sidewalls. At least one elongate locking rib (52, 54) extends from a side of the air tube (42) and has a complementary external configuration to the groove locking detent (60). The locking rib (52) operably resides within the groove locking detent (60) to deter lateral movement of the air tube (42) within the sidewall groove (56).