High performance tyre for vehicle wheels

Abstract

A tyre for vehicle wheels, includes a carcass structure including at least one carcass layer, a belt structure applied in a radially outer position with respect to the carcass structure, a tread band applied in a radially outer position with respect to the belt structure, and at least one layer of elastomeric material applied in a radially inner position with respect to the tread band; in which the at least one elastomeric material layer includes inorganic fibres of magnesium and/or aluminium silicates of nanometric dimensions.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A tire for vehicle wheels comprising:
 a carcass structure comprising at least one carcass layer;   a belt structure applied in a radially outer position with respect to said carcass structure;   a tread band applied in a radially outer position with respect to said belt structure; and   at least one elastomeric material layer applied in a radially inner position with respect to said tread band,   
       wherein said elastomeric material comprises magnesium and/or aluminium silicates inorganic fibres, said fibres having nanometric dimensions. 
     
     
         20 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 19 , wherein said elastomeric material comprises a diene elastomeric polymer. 
     
     
         21 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 19 , wherein said elastomeric material comprises magnesium and/or aluminium silicates inorganic fibres having a diameter of less than 500 nm. 
     
     
         22 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 19 , wherein said elastomeric material comprises magnesium and/or aluminium silicates inorganic fibres having a diameter of less than 100 nm. 
     
     
         23 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 22 , wherein said elastomeric material comprises magnesium and/or aluminium silicates inorganic fibres having a diameter of from 5 to 50 nm. 
     
     
         24 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 19 , wherein said elastomeric material comprises magnesium and/or aluminium silicates inorganic fibres having a length less than or equal to 10 μm. 
     
     
         25 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 24 , wherein said elastomeric material comprises (b) magnesium and/or aluminium silicates inorganic fibres having a length from 0.2 to 5 μm. 
     
     
         26 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 19 , wherein said inorganic fibres are selected from sepiolite fibres, palygorskite fibres, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 26 , wherein said inorganic fibres are sepiolite fibres. 
     
     
         28 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 19 , wherein said inorganic fibres are present in the elastomeric material in an amount of from 1 phr to 20 phr. 
     
     
         29 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 28 , wherein said inorganic fibres are present in the elastomeric material in an amount of from 3 phr to 15 phr. 
     
     
         30 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one elastomeric material layer has a thickness of less than 2 mm. 
     
     
         31 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 30 , wherein said at least one elastomeric material layer has a thickness of from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         32 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 30 , wherein said at least one elastomeric material layer has a uniform thickness. 
     
     
         33 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 30 , wherein said at least one elastomeric material layer has a variable thickness in the axial direction. 
     
     
         34 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one elastomeric material layer is disposed between said tread band and said belt structure. 
     
     
         35 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 19 , wherein at least one additional reinforcing filler is present in the elastomeric material in an amount of from 0.1 phr to 120 phr. 
     
     
         36 . The tire for vehicle wheels according to  claim 35 , wherein the additional reinforcing filler is silica.