Importance

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Abstract

A non-pneumatic tire and rim whereto the tire is fitted as a wheel assembly that will display ride characteristics that are similar to those of a conventional pneumatic tire. The non-pneumatic tire is preferably formed from a urethane foam in a spin casting process with the formed tire having a dense thread, with a less dense internal mid-section and is least dense at a lower area proximate to the tire inner circumference. Identical tire side wall grooves are formed in the tire side walls to receive and provide an interference fit with hook bead ends formed in top ends of sides of a U-shaped rim, with the rim further including upstanding ridges or piers formed along opposite edges of the rim web or wheel well that are to receive and maintain support grooves formed around the tire inner circumference sides supporting the tire inner circumference mid-section between the rim ridges or piers to allow the tire material to flex into an open area above the rim wheel well and below the tire inner circumference, which non-pneumatic tire flexure or flow into that open area occur in response to a compressive force being directed into the tire tread as the wheel rolls over a rock, into a hole, or the like, providing a tire ride that is like that of a pneumatic tire.

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First Claim