Tire comprising a filter assembly

The invention discloses a tire assembly. The tire assembly comprising a tire having a tread portion, a pair of sidewalls extending radially inward from the tread portion to join with a respective bead area and a supporting carcass for the tread portion and sidewalls is disclosed. The tire assembly further comprises a pump passageway positioned within a bending region of the tire, the pump passageway being operative to open and close as the tire rotates, a valve assembly in fluid communication with the pump passageway, a pocket formed in the tire and a filter assembly mounted in the pocket. The filter assembly is in air flow communication with the valve assembly. The assembly further has at least one or more of the following features: the pocket is an elliptical pocket formed in the tire, wherein the pocket minor axis is aligned with the radial direction of the tire, and wherein the filter assembly is elliptical in shape; the filter assembly is formed of a housing and a cover, the cover having one or more holes for communicating air into the housing, wherein the cover is connected to the housing, the housing having an interior cavity having a filter media housed therein, wherein the housing has a hole in fluid communication with the valve assembly, and wherein a preferably flexible collar surrounds the cover.