Tire with multiple steel belts and a reinforcement layer

1 . A tire comprising:

a crown region;

a first shoulder region at a first end of the crown region;

a second shoulder region at a second end of the crown region;

a pair of bead regions, including a first bead region and a second bead region;

a first sidewall region extending from the first bead region to the first shoulder region;

a second sidewall region extending from the second bead region to the second shoulder region;

at least three circumferential belts disposed in the crown region, including a first circumferential belt, a second circumferential belt disposed above the first circumferential belt, and a third circumferential belt disposed above the second circumferential belt;

a first shoulder layer located in the first shoulder region and disposed above the at least three circumferential belts, wherein the first shoulder layer has a first outer end located outside a first end of at least two of the at least three circumferential belts and a first inner end located inside the first end of each of the at least three circumferential belts;

a first gum strip disposed above at least two of the at least three circumferential belts, wherein the first gum strip has a first outer end located outside the first end of each of the at least three circumferential belts, wherein the first gum strip does not contact a bottom surface of any circumferential belt, and wherein the first gum strip contacts the first end of the second circumferential belt;

a first belt wedge having a first inner end disposed radially between the first end of the second circumferential belt and the first end of the third circumferential belt, and wherein the first belt wedge is in contact with the first gum strip;

a second shoulder layer located in the second shoulder region and disposed above the at least three circumferential belts, wherein the second shoulder layer has a second outer end located outside a second end of at least two of the at least three circumferential belts and a second inner end located inside the second end of each of the at least three circumferential belts;

a second gum strip disposed above at least two of the at least three circumferential belts, wherein the second gum strip has a second outer end located outside the second end of each of the at least three circumferential belts, wherein the second gum strip does not contact a bottom surface of any circumferential belt, and wherein the second gum strip contacts the second end of the second circumferential belt; and

a second belt wedge having a first inner end disposed radially between the second end of the second circumferential belt and the second end of the third circumferential belt; and wherein the second belt wedge is in contact with the second gum strip.

2 . The tire of claim 1 , wherein the first shoulder layer and the second shoulder layer are each constructed of steel.

3 . The tire of claim 1 , wherein the first shoulder layer and the second shoulder layer are both pretensioned, such that the first shoulder layer and the second shoulder layer are under tension when the tire is not in contact with a ground surface.

4 . The tire of claim 1 , wherein the first shoulder layer includes a first lower shoulder layer and a first upper shoulder layer disposed above the first lower shoulder layer, and wherein the second shoulder layer includes a second lower shoulder layer and a second upper shoulder layer disposed above the second lower shoulder layer.

5 . The tire of claim 4 , wherein the first lower shoulder layer, the first upper shoulder layer, the second lower shoulder layer, and the second upper shoulder layer are each constructed of steel.

6 . The tire of claim 4 , wherein the first lower shoulder layer, the first upper shoulder layer, the second lower shoulder layer, and the second upper shoulder layer are each constructed of nylon.

7 . A tire comprising:

a pair of annular beads;

a body ply extending between the pair of annular beads;

at least three steel belt layers disposed above the body ply and extending axially across a portion of the body ply,

the at least three steel belt layers including a first steel belt layer, a second steel belt layer disposed above the first steel belt layer, and a third steel belt layer disposed above the second steel belt layer;

a pair of gum strips above at least two of the at least three steel belt layers, wherein each gum strip has an outer end located outside each of the at least three steel belt layers, wherein each gum strip does not contact a bottom surface of any steel belt layer, and wherein each gum strip contacts an end of the second steel belt layer;

at least one reinforcement layer disposed above the at least three steel belt layers;

a circumferential tread disposed above the at least one reinforcement layer and extending axially across the tire;

a pair of sidewalls extending between each of the pair of annular beads and a pair of shoulders associated with the circumferential tread; and

a pair of belt wedges, wherein each belt wedge has an inner end disposed radially between the second steel belt layer and the third steel belt layer, wherein each belt wedge is in contact with each gum strip.

8 . The tire of claim 7 wherein the at least one reinforcement layer includes:

a first shoulder reinforcement layer, the first shoulder reinforcement layer having an outer end located outside a first end of each steel belt layer and an inner end located inside the first end of each steel belt layer; and

a second shoulder reinforcement layer, the second shoulder reinforcement layer having an outer end located outside a second end of each steel belt layer and an inner end located inside the first end of each steel belt layer.

9 . The tire of claim 8 , wherein the first shoulder reinforcement layer includes a first upper reinforcement layer and a first lower reinforcement layer, and wherein the second shoulder reinforcement layer includes a second upper reinforcement layer and a second lower reinforcement layer.

10 . The tire of claim 7 , wherein the at least one reinforcement layer includes at least one cap ply having a first end located outside a first end of each steel belt layer and a second end located outside a second end of each steel belt layer.

11 . The tire of claim 10 , wherein the at least one cap ply includes an upper cap ply and a lower cap ply.