Patent ID: 9370971
Filing Date: 2016-06-21
CPC Classification: B29D,B60C

Claim Text:
1. A method for retreading a tire comprising the steps of: providing a tire carcass for retreading, the tire carcass having a pre-existing tread layer extending widthwise across the tire in a lateral direction, the pre-existing tread layer including a pair of longitudinal voids manufactured to extend into the tread layer thickness from an outer side of the pre-existing tread layer and to extend annularly around the pre-existing tread layer to define a rib arranged annularly along the outer side of the pre-existing tread layer and forming a part of a tread pattern of the pre-existing tread layer; applying a layer of uncured elastomeric material along an outer side of the pre-existing tread layer, the layer of uncured elastomeric material filling the voids and covering the rib arranged along the outer side of the pre-existing tread layer to provide the outer side with the layer of uncured elastomeric material in preparation for receiving a pre-cured tread layer; applying the pre-cured tread layer along an outer side of the layer of uncured elastomeric material such that the layer of uncured elastomeric material is arranged between the pre-cured tread layer and the pre-existing tread layer, the pre-cured tread layer having a thickness extending between a front face forming a ground-engaging side of the pre-cured tread layer and a back face arranged atop the layer of uncured elastomeric material; bonding the pre-cured tread layer to the tire carcass to form a retreaded tire having a retreaded the tread, where the layer of uncured elastomeric material is cured to become a layer of cured elastomeric material; and, forming a groove in the retreaded the tread along a ground-engaging, outer side of the retreaded tire tread by expanding a pre-existing groove of the pre-cured tread, such that a portion of the cured elastomeric material is removed in the step of forming a groove, exposing the layer of cured elastomeric material and material of the rib in the formed groove.