TIRE TREAD COMPRISING AN OUTER LAYER OF THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER
A tire tread ( 4 ), comprising an inner face and an outer face, comprises a supporting surface ( 8 ) covered with a layer of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).
1 .- 11 . (canceled)
12 . A tire tread comprising:
an inner face;
an outer face; and
a supporting surface covered with a layer of thermoplastic elastomer,
wherein the layer of thermoplastic elastomer is crosslinked with an adjacent layer of tread rubber mixture.
13 . The tire tread according to claim 12 , wherein the layer of thermoplastic elastomer is located radially internally when the tread is shaped according to a circumferential profile suited to the form of a tire.
14 . The tire tread according to claim 12 , wherein the layer of thermoplastic elastomer is covered with a removable protective membrane.
15 . The tire tread according to claim 12 , wherein the layer of thermoplastic elastomer consists of styrene/butadiene/styrene or styrene/butadiene/styrene/poly(para-phenylene ether).
16 . The tire tread according to claim 12 , wherein the layer of thermoplastic elastomer comprises a thickness of between 10 μm and 1 mm.
17 . The tire tread according to claim 16 , wherein the layer of thermoplastic elastomer comprises a thickness of between 10 μm and 200 μm.
18 . The tire tread according to claim 17 , wherein the layer of thermoplastic elastomer comprises a thickness of between 10 μm and 80 μm.
19 . The tire tread according to claim 12 further comprising at least one crown reinforcement.
20 . A tire consisting of a carcass provided with a radially outer tread support surface on which is positioned a tread according to claim 12 attached against the circumferential support surface of the carcass.
21 . The tire according to claim 20 , wherein the tread is attached to the carcass by thermal bonding.
22 . The tire according to claim 20 , wherein a ring is removably attached to the carcass.