Pneumatic tire

Abstract

A pneumatic tire comprises a first sound damper fixed to a tire inner surface and being made of a sponge material; a second sound damper disposed on a tire internal space side of the first sound damper, and being made of a sponge material; and a communication device retained between the first sound damper and the second sound damper. The second sound damper has a hardness in a range of greater than 25N and no greater than 55N. The first sound damper has a hardness in a range of no less than 25N and less than 55N. The hardness of the second sound damper is greater than the hardness of the first sound damper. The hardness is measured in accordance with the Method A in Section 6.4 of the test methods as defined under the Hardness Tests in Section 6 of JIS K6400-2 (2012).

1 . A pneumatic tire comprising:
 a first sound damper fixed to a tire inner surface and being made of a sponge material;   a second sound damper disposed on a tire internal space side of the first sound damper, and being made of a sponge material; and   a communication device retained between the first sound damper and the second sound damper,   wherein the second sound damper has a hardness in a range of greater than 25N and no greater than 55N,   the first sound damper has a hardness in a range of no less than 25N and less than 55N, and   the hardness of the second sound damper is greater than the hardness of the first sound damper,   where the hardness is measured in accordance with the Method A in Section 6.4 of the test methods as defined under the Hardness Tests in Section 6 of JIS K6400-2 (2012).   
     
     
         2 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second sound damper covers at least a part of an internal surface of the first sound damper in a tire widthwise cross-sectional view, the internal surface being opposite to a fixed surface that is fixed to the tire inner surface, and   the communication device is retained between the internal surface of the first sound damper and the second sound damper.   
     
     
         3 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 2 , wherein a minimum thickness of the first sound damper is equal to or greater than a maximum thickness of the second sound damper in the tire widthwise cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         4 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 2 , wherein the second sound damper covers the internal surface of the first sound damper entirely in the tire widthwise cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         5 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 4 , wherein the second sound damper covers at least a part of edge surfaces of the first sound damper, the edge surfaces being continuous with the internal surface of the first sound damper and being located on two sides in a direction along the tire inner surface, in the tire widthwise cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         6 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 5 , wherein the second sound damper covers the internal surface and the edge surfaces of the first sound damper entirely, in the tire widthwise cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         7 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 2 , wherein the first sound damper is fixed to the second sound damper at two locations in the direction along the tire inner surface having the communication device interposed therebetween, in the tire widthwise cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the second sound damper on the tire internal space side is provided with irregularities. 
     
     
         10 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 9 , wherein the irregularities are configured from a plurality of protruding ribs extending in a tire circumferential direction and a recessed groove defined between the plurality of protruding ribs. 
     
     
         11 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication device is fixed to at least one of the first sound damper and the second sound damper. 
     
     
         12 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein
 at least one of the first sound damper and the second sound damper comprises a recess formed therein, and   the communication device is received in the recess.   
     
     
         13 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication device is an RF tag. 
     
     
         14 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 3 , wherein the second sound damper covers the internal surface of the first sound damper entirely in the tire widthwise cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         15 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 3 , wherein the first sound damper is fixed to the second sound damper at two locations in the direction along the tire inner surface having the communication device interposed therebetween, in the tire widthwise cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         16 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 4 , wherein the first sound damper is fixed to the second sound damper at two locations in the direction along the tire inner surface having the communication device interposed therebetween, in the tire widthwise cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         17 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 5 , wherein the first sound damper is fixed to the second sound damper at two locations in the direction along the tire inner surface having the communication device interposed therebetween, in the tire widthwise cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         18 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 6 , wherein the first sound damper is fixed to the second sound damper at two locations in the direction along the tire inner surface having the communication device interposed therebetween, in the tire widthwise cross-sectional view. 
     
     
         19 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardness of the first sound damper is in a range of no less than 30N and no greater than 50N. 
     
     
         20 . The pneumatic tire according to  claim 1 , wherein the hardness of the second sound damper is in a range of no less than 35N and no greater than 45N.