Patent ID: 6783618
Filing Date: 2004-08-31
Classification: B29D,B29L

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a tire for a vehicle wheel, comprising the steps of:forming a carcass sleeve comprising a pair of annular reinforcing structures, axially-spaced-apart from each other, and at least one carcass ply having opposite end flaps each turned up at one of the annular reinforcing structures; transferring the carcass sleeve onto a shaping drum; shaping the carcass sleeve into a toroidal configuration to apply the carcass sleeve to a belt structure, at a radially-inner position of the belt structure, and a tread band circumscribing the belt structure; and applying a pair of sidewalls against respective side surfaces of the carcass sleeve, each of the pair of sidewalls extending between one of the annular reinforcing structures and a respective side edge of the tread band; wherein, before transferring the carcass sleeve onto the shaping drum, the following steps are carried out: positioning the sidewalls on an intermediate drum, wherein the sidewalls have respective inner end flaps mutually-spaced-apart and facing each other; transferring the carcass sleeve onto the intermediate drum; and engaging the inner end flap of each sidewall against the carcass sleeve at a respective annular reinforcing structure.