Self-inflating tire

摘要

A tire having a tire cavity (30) between first and second sidewalls that extend respectively from a pair of beads (22) to a tire tread region is disclosed. The tire further comprises an air tube body (46) extending between an outward facing tire surface and an inward tire surface. The air tube body (46) has an enclosed hollow outlet end (54) at a first end of the air tube body (46) and an enclosed hollow inlet end (52) at an opposite second end of the air tube body (46). An air passageway extends through the air tube body (46) from the inlet end (52) to the outlet end (54). The outlet end (54) is positioned to face at least partially exposed from the outward tire surface and the inlet end (52) is positioned to face at least partially exposed from the inward tire surface. Also, a method of manufacturing such a tire is disclosed.