Tire and tire manufacturing method

Abstract

To provide a tire and a method of manufacturing the tire which can improve reliability of sticking between a communication device and a tire main body.SOLUTION: A tire 1 is constituted so that a communication device 10 is stuck onto a tire surface 2 via a sealant material 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tire and a method for manufacturing a tire. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there are tires to which communication devices (RF tags, etc.) are fixed with adhesive (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-223918 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional tires, there is room for improvement in the reliability of the fixation between the communication device and the tire body.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a tire and a method for manufacturing a tire that can improve the reliability of fastening a communication device to a tire body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The tire of the present invention is A communication device is fixed onto the tire surface via a sealant material. According to the tire of the present invention, the reliability of the fixation between the communication device and the tire body can be improved.

[0007] In the tire of the present invention, The sealant preferably has a storage modulus of 0.6 to 2.0 kPa. This further improves the reliability of the fixation between the communication device and the tire body.

[0008] In the tire of the present invention, The sealant material is preferably an elastomer composition. This further improves the reliability of the fixation between the communication device and the tire body.

[0009] In the tire of the present invention, It is preferable that the communication device is fixed onto the inner surface of the tire via the sealant material. This further improves the reliability of the fixation between the communication device and the tire body.

[0010] In the tire of the present invention, The communication device may be fixed to an inner surface of the tire in a tire side portion via the sealant material. In this case, it becomes easier to ensure a sufficient communication distance.

[0011] In the tire of the present invention, The communication device may be fixed onto the inner surface of the tire in the tread portion via the sealant material. This further improves the reliability of the fixation between the communication device and the tire body.

[0012] In the tire of the present invention, At least a portion of the communication device may be embedded in the sealant material.

[0013] In the tire of the present invention, The communication device may be disposed on the sealant material.

[0014] In the tire of the present invention, It is preferable that the thickness T20 of the sealant between the tire surface to which the communication device is fixed and the communication device be 5 to 20 mm. This further improves the reliability of the fixation between the communication device and the tire body.

[0015] In the tire of the present invention, Preferably, the communication device comprises an RF tag.

[0016] The method for producing a tire of the present invention includes: A tire manufacturing method for manufacturing the tire described above, a tire body manufacturing step of manufacturing a tire body of a tire; a communication device fixing step of fixing the communication device onto a tire surface of the tire body manufactured in the tire body manufacturing step via the sealant material; Includes: According to the tire manufacturing method of the present invention, the reliability of fixing the communication device to the tire body can be improved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tire and a method for manufacturing a tire that can improve the reliability of fastening a communication device to a tire body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a tire widthwise cross-sectional view showing a part of a tire according to a first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the tire widthwise direction. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a part of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary communication device that may be used in a tire according to any embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the communication device of FIG. 3 in an exploded state. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a tire widthwise cross-sectional view showing a part of a tire according to a second embodiment of the present invention, taken along the tire widthwise direction. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a tire widthwise cross-sectional view showing a part of a tire according to a third embodiment of the present invention, taken along the tire width direction. [Figure 7] 10 is a view for explaining a tire according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The tire according to the present invention can be suitably used for any type of pneumatic tire, for example, a pneumatic tire for a passenger car, a pneumatic tire for a truck or a bus, etc.

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a tire and a method for manufacturing a tire according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same symbols are used for common members and parts in each drawing. In some drawings, the tire width direction is indicated by the symbol "TW," the tire radial direction is indicated by the symbol "RD," and the tire circumferential direction is indicated by the symbol "CD." In this specification, the side closer to the tire cavity is referred to as the "inner side of the tire," and the side farther from the tire cavity is referred to as the "outer side of the tire."

[0021] 1 shows a cross section along the tire width direction of a portion of a tire 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention (specifically, a portion on one side of the tire equatorial plane CL). The tire 1 includes a tire main body 1M, a communication device 10, and a sealant 20. The tire main body 1M corresponds to the portion of the tire 1 other than the communication device 10 and the sealant 20. As will be described later, a communication device 10 is fixed onto the tire surface 2 of the tire main body 1M via a sealant material 20.

[0022] Unless otherwise specified, the positional relationship and dimensions of each element are measured in a standard state where the tire 1 is mounted on an applicable rim, inflated to a specified internal pressure, and no load is applied. Furthermore, when the tire 1 is mounted on an applicable rim, inflated to a specified internal pressure, and under maximum load, the width in the tire width direction of the contact patch that comes into contact with the road surface is referred to as the tire contact width, and the ends of the contact patch in the tire width direction are referred to as contact edges.

[0023] In this specification, the term "applicable rim" refers to the standard rim (called "Measuring Rim" in the ETRTO Standards Manual and "Design Rim" in the TRA Year Book) for the applicable size, which is an industrial standard valid in the region where the pneumatic tire is produced and used, and which is described or will be described in the future, such as the JATMA Year Book of the Japan Automobile Tire Manufacturers Association (JATMA) in Japan, the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organization (ETRTO) Standards Manual in Europe, and the Tire and Rim Association, Inc. (TRA) Year Book in the United States. However, for sizes not described in these industrial standards, the term refers to a rim with a width corresponding to the bead width of the pneumatic tire. "Applicable rim" includes not only current sizes but also sizes that will be described in the aforementioned industrial standards in the future. An example of a "size to be described in the future" is the size described as "FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS" in the 2013 edition of the ETRTO Standards.

[0024] In this specification, "specified internal pressure" refers to the air pressure (maximum air pressure) corresponding to the maximum load capacity of a single wheel for the applicable size and ply rating as set forth in the aforementioned industrial standards, such as the JATMA Yearbook, or, in the case of a size not set forth in the aforementioned industrial standards, refers to the air pressure (maximum air pressure) corresponding to the maximum load capacity specified for each vehicle on which the tire is to be mounted. Furthermore, in this specification, "maximum load" refers to the load corresponding to the maximum load capacity of the tire for the applicable size as set forth in the aforementioned industrial standards, or, in the case of a size not set forth in the aforementioned industrial standards, the load corresponding to the maximum load capacity specified for each vehicle on which the tire is to be mounted.

[0025] First, the tire body 1M will be described. In this embodiment, the tire body 1M is configured as a pneumatic tire for passenger cars. However, the tire body 1M may be configured as any type of tire, for example, a pneumatic tire for trucks and buses. Of the surfaces (tire surfaces) 2 of the tire main body 1M, the surface on the outer side of the tire is referred to as the "tire outer surface 2a," and the surface on the inner side of the tire is referred to as the "tire inner surface 2b." The tire body 1M includes a tread portion 1a, a pair of sidewall portions 1b extending radially inward from both ends of the tread portion 1a in the tire width direction, and a pair of bead portions 1c provided at the ends of each sidewall portion 1b on the inner side in the tire radial direction. The tread portion 1a is a portion of the tire body 1M in the tire width direction between a pair of ground-contact edges. The bead portions 1c are configured to contact the rim on the inner side in the tire radial direction and the outer side in the tire width direction when the tire 1 is mounted on a rim. The tire body 1M has a pair of tire side portions 1d extending radially inward from both ends of the tread portion 1a in the tire width direction. The tire side portions 1d are made up of sidewall portions 1b and bead portions 1c. The tire body 1M also includes a pair of bead cores 4a, a pair of bead fillers 4b, a carcass 5, a belt 6, a tread rubber 7, a side rubber 8, and an inner liner 9.

[0026] Each bead core 4a is embedded in a corresponding bead portion 1c. The bead core 4a includes a plurality of bead wires coated with rubber. The bead wires are preferably made of metal (e.g., steel). The bead wires may be made of, for example, monofilament or stranded wire. The bead wires may also be made of organic fiber or carbon fiber.

[0027] Each bead filler 4b is located radially outward of the corresponding bead core 4a. The bead fillers 4b extend in a tapered shape toward the radially outward direction of the tire. The bead fillers 4b are made of, for example, rubber.

[0028] The carcass 5 straddles the pair of bead cores 4a and extends in a toroidal shape. The carcass 5 is composed of one or more carcass plies 5a (two in this embodiment). Each carcass ply 5a includes one or more carcass cords and a coating rubber covering the carcass cords. The carcass cords may be formed of monofilaments or twisted wires. The carcass cords are preferably made of organic fibers such as polyester, nylon, rayon, or aramid, but may also be made of metal (e.g., steel). The carcass ply 5a includes a ply main body 5M located between the pair of bead cores 4a. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the carcass ply 5a further includes ply turn-up portions 5T that are turned up from both ends of the ply main body 5M around the bead cores 4a from the inner side in the tire width direction to the outer side in the tire width direction. However, the carcass ply 5a does not necessarily have to include the ply turn-up portions 5T. The carcass 5 is preferably of radial construction, but may also be of bias construction.

[0029] The belt 6 is disposed radially outward of the crown portion of the carcass 5. The belt 6 includes one or more belt layers 6a (four layers in this embodiment). Each belt layer 6a includes one or more belt cords and a coating rubber that covers the belt cords. The belt cords may be formed of monofilaments or twisted wires. The belt cords may be made of metal (e.g., steel) or organic fibers such as polyester, nylon, rayon, or aramid.

[0030] The tread rubber 7 is located in the tread portion 1a on the radially outer side of the belt 6. The tread rubber 7 forms a tread surface, which is the radially outer surface of the tread portion 1a. A tread pattern is formed on the tread surface.

[0031] The side rubber 8 is located on the outer side of the carcass 5 in the tire width direction in the sidewall portion 1b. The side rubber 8 forms the outer surface of the sidewall portion 1b in the tire width direction. The side rubber 8 is formed integrally with the tread rubber 7.

[0032] The inner liner 9 is disposed on the tire inner side of the carcass 5, and may be laminated on the tire inner side of the carcass 5, for example. The inner liner 9 is made of, for example, a butyl-based rubber having low air permeability. Butyl-based rubbers include, for example, butyl rubber and its derivative, halogenated butyl rubber. The inner liner 9 is not limited to butyl-based rubber, and may be made of other rubber compositions, resins, or elastomers.

[0033] Next, the communication device 10 will be described. The communication device 10 may have any configuration as long as it is capable of wireless communication with a predetermined external device (for example, a reader or a reader / writer) outside the tire 1, and the configuration of the communication device 10 is not particularly limited. The communication device 10 preferably includes an RF tag. The RF tag is also called an “RFID tag.” The RF tag is preferably configured as a passive type, but may also be configured as an active type. The communication device 10 may have an acceleration sensor that detects the acceleration of the tire 1, an internal pressure sensor that detects the internal pressure of the tire 1, or the like, instead of or in addition to the RF tag.

[0034] 3 and 4 show an example of a communication device 10. In this example, the communication device 10 has an RF tag. In this example, the communication device 10 includes an RF tag 10e and a covering portion 10f. The RF tag 10e includes an IC chip 10c and an antenna portion 10b. The RF tag 10e is configured as a passive type.

[0035] The IC chip 10c is operated by, for example, a dielectric electromotive force generated by radio waves received by the antenna unit 10b. The IC chip 10c has, for example, a control unit and a storage unit. The memory unit may store any information. For example, the memory unit may store identification information of the tire 1. The identification information of the tire 1 is unique identification information of the tire 1 that can identify each tire, such as the tire's manufacturer, manufacturing plant, and manufacturing date. The memory unit may also store tire history information such as the tire's mileage, the number of sudden braking events, the number of sudden starts, and the number of sharp turns. For example, sensors that detect the tire's internal temperature, tire pressure, tire acceleration, etc. may be provided in the tire cavity, and the memory unit may store the detection information detected by these sensors. In this case, the RF tag 10e can acquire the detection information of the sensors by wirelessly communicating with the sensors via the antenna unit 10b. The control unit is configured to be able to read information from the storage unit.

[0036] The antenna unit 10b has a pair of antennas 10b1 and 10b2. The pair of antennas 10b1 and 10b2 are respectively connected to ends of the IC chip 10c that are located on opposite sides of each other. The antenna unit 10b is configured to be able to transmit and receive signals to and from the predetermined external device outside the tire 1. In the example of FIGS. 3 and 4, the antennas 10b1 and 10b2 extend linearly, but the antennas 10b1 and 10b2 may extend in any shape, such as a wave shape.

[0037] The covering portion 10f covers the entire RF tag 10e and is made of, for example, rubber or resin. In this example, the covering unit 10f has a pair of sheet-like covering members 10f1 and 10f2. The pair of covering members 10f1 and 10f2 are stacked on top of each other with the RF tag 10e sandwiched between them. It is preferable that the pair of covering members 10f1 and 10f2 are fixed to each other by adhesive or the like. However, the covering portion 10f may be made of a single member. In this example, the covering portion 10f has a rectangular shape in a plan view, but the covering portion 10f may have any shape in a plan view. The communication device 10 does not have to have the covering portion 10f, that is, it may be composed of only the RF tag 10e.

[0038] The communication device 10 configured in this manner is configured to be able to receive information transmitted from the specified external device via radio waves or magnetic fields using the antenna unit 10b. Electric power is generated in the antenna unit 10b of the communication device 10 by rectification (in the case of radio waves) or resonance (in the case of magnetic fields), and the memory unit and control unit of the IC chip 10c perform predetermined operations. For example, the control unit reads information from the memory unit and transmits it via radio waves or magnetic fields from the antenna unit 10b to the specified external device. The specified external device receives the radio waves or magnetic fields from the communication device 10. The specified external device can obtain the information stored in the memory unit of the IC chip 10c of the communication device 10 by extracting the received information.

[0039] However, the communication device 10 may have any configuration different from this example.

[0040] The communication device 10 may have a longitudinal direction LD, a lateral direction SD, and a thickness direction TD, which are perpendicular to each other. 3 and 4, when the communication device 10 has an RF tag 10e, the longitudinal direction LD of the communication device 10 is parallel to the extension direction of the antenna unit 10b. When the antennas 10b1 and 10b2 of the antenna unit 10b are corrugated, the extension direction of the antenna unit 10b corresponds to the extension direction of the center line of the amplitude of the corrugation formed by the antennas 10b1 and 10b2. When the communication device 10 has a coating 10f, the thickness direction TD of the communication device 10 corresponds to the thickness direction of the coating 10f. When the communication device 10 does not have a coating 10f, the thickness direction TD of the communication device 10 corresponds to the thickness direction of the IC chip 10c.

[0041] The length of the RF tag 10e in the longitudinal direction LD is preferably, for example, 20 mm or more, or 50 mm or more, and is preferably, for example, 100 mm or less, or 70 mm or less. The length of the RF tag 10e in the short side direction SD is preferably, for example, 10 mm or less, or 8 mm or less. The length of the RF tag 10e in the thickness direction TD is preferably, for example, 5 mm or less, or 2 mm or less. When the communication device 10 has a covering portion 10f, the length of the communication device 10 in the longitudinal direction LD is preferably, for example, 30 mm or more, or 60 mm or more. The length of the RF tag 10e in the longitudinal direction LD is preferably, for example, 110 mm or less, or 80 mm or less. When the communication device 10 has the covering portion 10f, the length of the communication device 10 in the short direction SD is preferably, for example, 20 mm or less, or 15 mm or less. When the communication device 10 has the covering portion 10f, the length of the communication device 10 in the thickness direction TD is preferably, for example, 6 mm or less, or 3 mm or less. The thickness of each of the covering members 10f1 and 10f2 of the covering portion 10f is preferably, for example, 0.5 mm or more, and the thickness of each of the covering members 10f1 and 10f2 of the covering portion 10f is preferably, for example, 1 mm or less.

[0042] 1, a communication device 10 is fixed onto a tire surface 2 of a tire main body 1M via a sealant material 20. One of the surfaces of the communication device 10 in the thickness direction TD is fixed onto the tire surface 2 via the sealant material 20. Generally, adhesives are hard (have a high elastic modulus) in a dry state, but the sealant 20 has the property of being softer (have a low elastic modulus) than adhesives in a dry state. Therefore, compared to adhesives, the sealant 20 can better follow the flexural deformation of the tire main body 1M that occurs when the tire 1 rolls, etc. Therefore, by fixing the communication device 10 to the tire surface 2 of the tire main body 1M via the sealant 20, the communication device 10 is less likely to peel off from the tire surface 2 compared to when the communication device 10 is fixed to the tire surface 2 via an adhesive, and this improves the reliability of the fixation of the communication device 10 to the tire main body 1M. Furthermore, the load on the communication device 10 due to the flexural deformation of the tire main body 1M can be reduced, thereby improving the durability of the communication device 10 and, ultimately, the tire 1. Furthermore, in obtaining the tire 1, the communication device 10 can be attached via the sealant material 20 after the tire body 1M has been manufactured, which has the advantage that there is no need to change the manufacturing process of the tire body 1M from the conventional one. Furthermore, the sealant 20 has a lower carbon content (mass %) than the rubber (tread rubber 7, side rubber 8, etc.) that constitutes the tire main body 1M. Carbon weakens the radio waves between the communication device 10 and the specified external device (for example, a reader or reader / writer), which may reduce the communication performance between the communication device 10 and the specified external device. In this regard, the sealant 20 has a lower carbon content, so there is less risk of reducing the communication performance. Furthermore, when adjusting the uniformity (e.g., Radial Force Variation (RFV)) of tire 1 during manufacturing, communication device 10 and sealant material 20 can be used as weights, which also makes it possible to reduce the amount of weights separately used for adjusting the uniformity.

[0043] The sealant 20 preferably has a storage modulus of 0.6 to 2.0 kPa, which allows the sealant 20 to better follow the flexural deformation of the tire body 1M, thereby further improving the reliability of the adhesion between the communication device 10 and the tire body 1M. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the storage modulus of the sealant material 20 be 0.9 to 1.8 kPa, and most preferable that it be 1.0 to 1.6 kPa. The storage modulus of the sealant material 20 means the storage modulus G' measured using a commercially available RPA (rubber process analyzer) at a dynamic shear strain of 100%, a temperature of 100°C, and a frequency of 1 Hz.

[0044] The sealant material 20 is preferably an elastomer composition, which contains various elastomers as its main component. This allows the sealant 20 to better follow the flexural deformation of the tire main body 1M, thereby further improving the reliability of the fixation between the communication device 10 and the tire main body 1M.

[0045] As the elastomer, specifically, for example, butyl rubber (IIR) and ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) can be suitably used. Among these, the butyl rubber includes halogenated butyl rubbers such as chlorinated butyl rubber (CIIR) and brominated butyl rubber (BIIR). Butyl rubber may also be used. When butyl rubber and EPDM are used in combination as the elastomer, the ratio thereof is preferably in the range of 20:80 to 80:20, more preferably in the range of 30:70 to 70:30. Furthermore, the total amount of butyl rubber and EPDM per 100 parts by mass of the elastomer is preferably 70 parts by mass or more and 100 parts by mass or less, more preferably 80 parts by mass or more and 100 parts by mass or less.

[0046] Other elastomers that can be used besides butyl rubber and EPDM include natural rubber and synthetic diene rubber. Examples of synthetic diene rubber include polyisoprene rubber (IR), cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber (BR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), and chloroprene rubber (CR). These other elastomers can be blended in an amount of up to 30 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the elastomer.

[0047] The elastomer composition may contain carbon black as a reinforcing filler. The carbon black is not particularly limited, and any carbon black commonly used for reinforcing elastomer compositions may be used, specifically, FEF and HAF. The carbon black may be added in an amount of, for example, 1 to 30 parts by mass, preferably 5 to 10 parts by mass, per 100 parts by mass of the elastomer.

[0048] The elastomer composition may contain a plasticizer such as liquid polybutene or process oil, for example, in an amount of 150 to 500 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the elastomer.

[0049] The elastomer composition may contain a vulcanization accelerator. Examples of vulcanization accelerators that can be used include thiuram-based vulcanization accelerators such as tetramethylthiuram disulfide, tetraethylthiuram disulfide, tetrabenzylthiuram disulfide, tetra(2-ethylhexyl)thiuram disulfide, 1,6-bis(N,N'-dibenzylthiocarbamoyldithio)-hexane, and 1,6-bis{N,N'-di(2-ethylhexyl)thiocarbamoyldithio}-hexane, as well as compounds selected from the group consisting of 2-benzothiazylsulfenamides, thiazoles, guanidines, dithiocarbamates, xanthic acid esters, and xanthic acid salts. The vulcanization accelerator may be added in an amount of, for example, 1 to 5 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the elastomer.

[0050] The elastomer composition may also contain other conventionally known ingredients such as zinc oxide, stearic acid, sulfur, oil, tackifier, vulcanizing agent, antioxidant, anti-scorch agent, etc. The elastomer composition may be prepared in accordance with a conventional method by kneading the above ingredients using a mixer such as a Banbury mixer or a kneader.

[0051] 1, it is preferable that the communication device 10 be fixed onto the tire inner surface 2b via a sealant 20. This, unlike a case in which the communication device 10 is fixed onto the tire outer surface 2a via the sealant 20, eliminates the risk of the communication device 10 colliding with an obstacle and falling off, thereby further improving the reliability of the fixation of the communication device 10 to the tire main body 1M. However, the communication device 10 may be fixed onto the tire outer surface 2a via a sealant material 20. In this case, the position of the communication device 10 can be easily ascertained when viewing the tire 1 from the outside, which improves the convenience of communicating with the communication device 10 using the specified external device.

[0052] The communication device 10 may be disposed in the tire side portion 1d as in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, i.e., may be fixed to the tire surface 2 (e.g., tire inner surface 2b) in the tire side portion 1d via a sealant material 20. Generally, metal weakens radio waves between the communication device 10 and the specified external device (e.g., a reader or reader / writer), potentially reducing communication performance between the communication device 10 and the specified external device and ultimately shortening the communication distance between the communication device 10 and the specified external device. Meanwhile, in the tire main body 1M, metal (e.g., steel) may be used for the carcass 5, belt 6, bead cores 4a, etc., but the tire side portion 1d generally tends to contain less metal than the tread portion 1a. This is particularly true, for example, when the carcass cords of each carcass ply 5a of the carcass 5 are made of organic fiber rather than metal. Therefore, by placing the communication device 10 in the tire side portion 1d, it is easier to ensure a sufficient communication distance between the communication device 10 and the above-mentioned specified external device, compared to if the communication device 10 were placed in the tread portion 1a. From the same viewpoint, it is more preferable that the communication device 10 be disposed in the sidewall portion 1b as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 5 . That is, it is more preferable that the communication device 10 be fixed to the tire surface 2 (e.g., the tire inner surface 2b) of the sidewall portion 1b via a sealant material 20. In this case, as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 5 , the tire radially outer end 10u of the communication device 10 (more preferably, the entire communication device 10) is preferably located radially outward of the tire radially outer end of the bead core 4a, and more preferably located radially outward of the tire radial center of the bead filler 4b. For example, it is preferably located radially outward of the tire radially outer end of the bead filler 4b. Furthermore, as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 5 , it is more preferable that the tire radially outer end 10u of the communication device 10 is located radially inward of the tire widthwise outer end 6e of the belt 6. This improves communication performance and allows the communication device 10 to be disposed in a portion of the tire main body 1M that is relatively less distorted when the tire 1 rolls, etc., thereby reducing the risk of the communication device 10 peeling off and ultimately improving durability. Here, the "outer end 6e in the tire width direction of the belt 6" refers to the outer end in the tire width direction that is located most outward in the tire width direction among the outer ends in the tire width direction of each belt layer 6a of the belt 6.

[0053] When the communication device 10 is disposed in the sidewall portion 1b as described above, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the tire radial outer end 10u of the communication device 10 may be located radially inward of the tire radial outer end 5e of the ply turn-up portion 5T of the carcass 5. This improves communication performance and allows the communication device 10 to be disposed in a portion of the tire main body 1M that is particularly less strained during the rolling of the tire 1, thereby reducing the risk of the communication device 10 peeling off and ultimately improving durability. Here, the "tire radial outer end 5e of the ply turn-up portion 5T of the carcass 5" refers to the tire radial outer end that is radially outermost in the tire among the tire radial outer ends of the ply turn-up portion 5T of each carcass ply 5a of the carcass 5. The tire radial distance between the tire radial outer end 10u of the communication device 10 and the tire radial outer end 5e of the ply turn-up portion 5T of the carcass 5 is preferably 3 to 30 mm, and more preferably 5 to 15 mm.

[0054] 1, the tire radially outer end 5e of the ply turnup portion 5T of the carcass 5 is located radially outward of the tire radially outer end of the bead filler 4b. However, the tire radially outer end 5e of the ply turnup portion 5T of the carcass 5 may be located at the same radial position as the tire radially outer end of the bead filler 4b or further inward in the tire radial direction.

[0055] In each embodiment described in this specification, the tire radial outer end 5e of the ply turnup portion 5T of the carcass 5 may be located radially outward of the tire maximum width position of the tire main body 1M, may be located at the same tire radial position as the tire maximum width position of the tire main body 1M, or may be located radially inward of the tire maximum width position of the tire main body 1M. Here, the "tire maximum width position of the tire main body 1M" refers to the tire radial position where the dimension of the tire main body 1M in the tire width direction is maximum.

[0056] 5, when the communication device 10 is disposed in the sidewall portion 1b, the tire radial outer end 10u of the communication device 10 (or the entire communication device 10) may be located radially outward of the tire radial outer end 5e of the ply folded-up portion 5T of the carcass 5. This improves communication performance and reduces the risk of the communication device 10 peeling off due to centrifugal force acting on the communication device 10 and the sealant material 20 when the tire 1 rolls, thereby improving durability. From a similar perspective, when the communication device 10 is arranged in the sidewall portion 1b as described above, it is preferable that the tire radial outer end 10u of the communication device 10 (or the entire communication device 10) is located radially outward of the tire maximum width position of the tire main body 1M, as in the embodiment of Figure 5.

[0057] 6, the communication device 10 may be disposed in the tread portion 1a, that is, may be fixed to the tire inner surface 2b in the tread portion 1a via a sealant 20. This further reduces the risk of the communication device 10 peeling off due to centrifugal force acting on the communication device 10 and the sealant 20 when the tire 1 rolls, thereby further improving the reliability of the fixation between the communication device 10 and the tire main body 1M and improving durability. From the same viewpoint, when the communication device 10 is disposed in the tread portion 1a, it is preferable that the entire communication device 10 is located more inward in the tire width direction than the outer end 6e of the belt 6 in the tire width direction.

[0058] In each embodiment described in this specification, as shown in FIG. 2, at least a portion of the communication device 10 may be embedded in the sealant material 20, for example, the entire communication device 10 may be embedded in the sealant material 20. Alternatively, in each embodiment described in this specification, the communication device 10 may not be entirely embedded in the sealant 20, but may be disposed on top of the sealant 20, as shown in Fig. 7. In this case, the communication device 10 is located on the opposite side of the sealant 20 from the tire surface 2.

[0059] In each embodiment described herein, the thickness T20 (FIGS. 2 and 7) of the sealant material 20 between the tire surface 2 to which the communication device 10 is fixed and the communication device 10 is preferably 5 to 20 mm, which can further improve the reliability of the fixation between the communication device and the tire body.

[0060] In each embodiment described in this specification, the direction (orientation) of the communication device 10 is arbitrary, but from the viewpoint of durability of the communication device 10, it is preferable that the communication device 10 is oriented so that the longitudinal direction LD of the communication device 10 is approximately along the tire circumferential direction. However, the communication device 10 may also be oriented so that the lateral direction LD of the communication device 10 is approximately along the tire circumferential direction.

[0061] Here, a method for manufacturing a tire according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. This tire manufacturing method can be used to manufacture the tire 1 according to each embodiment of the present invention described above. This tire manufacturing method includes a tire body manufacturing step and a communication device fixing step. First, a tire body 1M of the tire is manufactured (tire body manufacturing step). Any known tire manufacturing method may be used as the manufacturing method of the tire body 1M. Thereafter, the communication device 10 is fixed onto the tire surface 2 of the tire main body 1M manufactured in the tire main body manufacturing step, via the sealant material 20 (communication device fixing step). In this way, in order to obtain the tire 1, the communication device 10 may be attached via the sealant material 20 after the tire main body 1M has been manufactured, and therefore there is no need to change the manufacturing process of the tire main body 1M from the conventional one. [Industrial Applicability]

[0062] The tire of the present invention can be suitably used for any type of pneumatic tire, for example, a pneumatic tire for a passenger car, a pneumatic tire for a truck or a bus, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1: Tires, 1M: tire body, 1a: tread portion, 1b: sidewall portion, 1c: bead portion, 1d: tire side portion, 2: tire surface, 2a: tire outer surface, 2b: tire inner surface, 4a: Bead core, 4b: Bead filler, 5: carcass, 5a: carcass ply, 5M: ply main body, 5T: ply turn-up portion, 5e: tire radial direction outer end of ply turn-up portion of carcass, 6: belt, 6a: belt layer, 6e: tire width direction outer end of belt, 7: Tread rubber, 8: Side rubber, 9: Inner liner, 10: communication device, 10e: RF tag, 10b: antenna section, 10b1, 10b2: antenna, 10f: covering portion, 10f1, 10f2: covering member, 10c: IC chip, 10u: outer end of the communication device in the tire radial direction, 20: sealant material, CL: tire equatorial plane, WD: tire width direction, RD: tire radial direction, CD: tire circumferential direction, LD: Longitudinal direction of the communication device, SD: Shortitudinal direction of the communication device, TD: Thickness direction of the communication device

Claims

1. A communication device is fixed onto the tire surface via a sealant material, The tire, wherein the sealant material has a storage modulus of 0.6 to 2.0 kPa.

2. 10. The tire of claim 1, wherein the sealant material is an elastomeric composition.

3. The tire according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication device is fixed onto an inner surface of the tire via the sealant material.

4. The tire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication device is fixed onto an inner surface of the tire in a tire side portion via the sealant material.

5. The tire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication device is fixed onto an inner surface of the tire in a tread portion via the sealant material.

6. The tire according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least a portion of the communication device is embedded in the sealant material.

7. The tire according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the communication device is disposed on the sealant material.

8. The tire according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a thickness T20 of the sealant material between the tire surface to which the communication device is fixed and the communication device is 5 to 20 mm.

9. The tire according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the communication device comprises an RF tag.

10. A tire manufacturing method for manufacturing the tire according to any one of claims 1 to 9, a tire body manufacturing step of manufacturing a tire body of a tire; a communication device fixing step of fixing the communication device onto a tire surface of the tire body manufactured in the tire body manufacturing step via the sealant material; A method for manufacturing a tire, comprising:

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