Tire for airplane wheels

Claim 1

A vulcanized airplane tire of imposed size under an inflation pressure equal to the operating pressure and capable of withstanding a test pressure which is a four-fold multiple of the operating pressure, characterized by the fact that it comprises: (a) a carcass reinforcement having substantially nonstretchable radial reinforcing elements which, under a tension corresponding to the operating pressure of the tire, have relative elongations that are less than 5% as compared with a zero tension, the carcass reinforcement being anchored to at least one bead ring in each bead; and (b) radially outward of the carcass reinforcement, a crown reinforcement which is elastic and stretchable in the circumferential direction of the tire and which is formed of at least one ply of parallel elastic textile reinforcing cables having relative elongations upon rupture of between 10% and 40%, the angles which the parallel textile reinforcing cables of the crown reinforcement form with the circumferential direction of the tire being between 0° and 20°; the crown reinforcement being such that, the tire being mounted on a standard rim and without load, (b 1 ) when the inflation pressure is close to 10% of the operating pressure of the tire, the diameters of the tire at the equator and at the shoulders are at least 5% less than the corresponding diameters measured under an inflation pressure equal to the operating pressure, and the maximum axial width of the tire is greater than the corresponding width measured under an inflation pressure equal to the operating pressure, and (b 2 ) when the inflation pressure is equal to the test pressure, the elongation of the crown reinforcement in the circumferential direction of the tire with respect to the length thereof when the inflation pressure is close to 10% of the operating pressure is such that the carcass reinforcement approximately reaches its natural equilibrium meridian profile.