Band element for pneumatic tire

摘要

A run flat pneumatic tire has a thin annular band embedded in a crown portion of the tire. The band preferably is a composite member formed of a plurality of layers elongated strip material providing the band with inner and outer annular axially extending surfaces terminating in a pair of outer end portions. Either one or both of the outer end portions are tapered toward the other end portion and toward a pair of end edges to reduce interlaminar shear. The end edges can be straight or rounded surfaces and the tapered outer end portions may be coated with fiber filled epoxy coating.