AIR MAINTENANCE TIRE

The present invention is directed to a tire (12) having a tread portion (38), a pair of sidewalls (32) extending radially inward from the tread portion (38) to join with a respective bead (34) and a supporting carcass for the tread portion (38) and the sidewalls (32). The tire (12) further comprises a pump passageway (42) positioned within a bending region of the tire (12), the pump passageway (42) being operative to open and close as the tire (12) rotates; a valve assembly (200) in fluid communication with the pump passageway (42); a pocket (400) formed in the tire (12); and a filter assembly (300) mounted in the pocket (300), said filter assembly (300) being in air flow communication with the valve assembly (200). The valve assembly (200) has an inlet (202), the filter assembly (300) has an outlet, and a tube connects the filter outlet to the inlet (202) of the valve assembly (200). The tube is made of a rubber composition having a shore D hardness greater than 40 as measured by ASTM-D2240.