Patent ID: 7398808

Claim:
A method for manufacturing multi-rubber tire outers, said method comprising: vulcanizing a tire outer that comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, a fourth portion, and a fifth portion, wherein the first portion of the tire outer extends from a first portion of the inner surface of the tire outer to a first portion of the outer surface of the tire outer, wherein the first portion of the tire outer consists of micro-cellular, closed-cell sponge rubber formulated from relatively hard solid rubber, wherein the outer surface of the first portion of the tire outer comprises inner tire tread lugs, wherein the second portion of the tire outer extends from a second portion of the inner surface of the tire outer to a second portion of the outer surface of the tire outer, wherein the second portion of the tire outer consists of non-sponge rubber, wherein the third portion of the tire outer extends from a third portion of the inner surface of the tire outer to a third portion of the outer surface of the tire outer, wherein the third portion of the tire outer consists of non-sponge rubber, wherein the fourth portion of the tire outer comprises rubber and a first tire bead, and wherein the fifth portion of the tire outer comprises rubber and a second tire bead.