Patent ID: 7938158

Claim:
A puncture resistant pneumatic tire comprising: a tread portion having a pair of laterally spaced tread shoulders; a belt package located radially inward of the tread portion; a pair of bead portions; a pair of sidewalls extending radially from the tread shoulders to the bead portions; a protective band extending circumferentially about the tire radially beneath the tread portion to deflect sharp objects penetrating the tread portion, said band including a plurality of circumferentially spaced rigid rods, each rod extending laterally between the tread shoulders and formed of metal having a circular cross-section with a diameter in the range of 1/16 inch and ¼ inch and circumferentially spaced apart a distance in the range of 0.5 inches and 1.5 inches and having a length with opposed lateral ends terminating within the tread shoulders and located radially inwardly between the tread portion and belt package; and a carcass structure having at least one body ply extending between each of the bead cores and a spiral ply overlay located between the protective band and the body ply.