| abstract |
The invention relates to a rubber tire composed of carbon black reinforced rubber carcass and having a rubber tread which is quantitatively reinforced with an electrically non conductive filler pigment such as, for example silica, and which, in turn, is at least partially, and preferably substantially, enveloped by carbon reinforced rubber of a consistent, or continuous, composition. n In one aspect, said rubber layer extends across at least a portion of the outer surface of the tread which is normally intended to be ground-contacting and envelops both the ends and optionally an inner surface of a tire tread, which may be a tread cap (7) of a tread of cap/base construction. n The said rubber layer connects with at least one other carbon black reinforced rubber component of the tire in a manner to provide a path of reduced electrical resistance from said layer on the outer surface of the tread to the bead portion of the tire carcass and, therefore, such a path from the vehicle to a road surface. n In one aspect, it is envisioned that the tread construction may be a dual extrusion of (i) said tread rubber, and (ii) said rubber layer composed of tread wings (8) and associated rubber layer extension (9) over the outer surface of the tread. |