Patent ID: 7441577

Claim:
A pneumatic tire having a pair of locked in beads, the tire comprising: a pair of axially spaced apart annular bead cores; at least one cord reinforced carcass ply wrapped around each bead core and having at least one pair of carcass ply turnups contiguous with the at least one carcass ply from a radially outermost extent of the bead core to a radially outer end or ends of the at least one pair of carcass ply turnups; a wrap-around toeguard associated with each bead core, each wrap-around toeguard being a non-cord reinforced elastomeric unitary strip wound 360° in a single annular loop and having first and second ends wherein each end thereof is disposed directly adjacent to said carcass ply, said first end being located on the axially inner side of the carcass ply at a location about 0.4 inches (10 mm) to 3.5 inches (89 mm) radially outward of the bead core as measured along the carcass ply and said second end being adjacent the turnup of the carcass ply located at a point ranging from substantially the axially outermost point of the bead core to a location about 3.5 inches (89 mm) radially outward of the bead core as measured along the turnup of the carcass ply, and wherein the first end and second end of the toeguard is a shorter radial distance from said bead core than the radially outermost end of the at least turnup of the carcass ply; and wherein the wrap-around toeguard is a non-cord reinforced unitary extruded strip formed of a single elastomeric composition having a shore D hardness greater than 40.