Patent ID: 6740280
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: B29C,B29D,B29K

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire with improved tire uniformity; the tire having a pair of spaced beads in bead portions, and at least one carcass ply extending between the beads and consisting of reinforcement cords embedded in a rubber matrix; the method being characterized by the steps of:a) forming the rubber matrix from a matrix material that is a thermoplastic having a deflection temperature above which the thermoplastic matrix material is plastic, and below which the thermoplastic matrix material is non-plastic; b) heating the thermoplastic matrix material to a temperature above the deflection temperature to render the thermoplastic matrix material plastic before the tire begins to cure and thereby to permit one or more of the reinforcement cords to be unrestricted and free to reorient themselves relative to other materials or components of the tire; c) curing the tire in a tire mold while the thermoplastic matrix material remains plastic so that the reinforcement cords remain unrestricted and free to reorient themselves during the curing within the mold so that the reinforcement cords maintain or attain a uniform tension; and d) cooling the thermoplastic matrix material to a temperature below the deflection temperature to render the thermoplastic matrix material non-plastic and thereby to restrict further reorientation of the one or more reinforcement cords subsequent to removing the tire from the tire mold.