Patent ID: 7479196

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire, comprising: forming a toroidal carcass structure of the tire; forming a tread band of the tire; placing the tire in a curing mould; and moulding and curing the tire; wherein the carcass structure comprises: a crown portion; and two axially opposed sidewalls; wherein the crown portion is defined between the sidewalls, wherein the sidewalls extend radially toward an axis of rotation of the tire, wherein each sidewall terminates in a circumferential portion comprising an annular reinforcing structure for mounting the tire on a corresponding rim, wherein the tread band extends circumferentially around the carcass structure, wherein the tread band comprises a moulded relief pattern comprising solids alternating with cavities at least in an axial direction of the tire, wherein forming the tread band comprises: producing a strip of elastomeric material; and winding the strip onto the crown portion of the carcass structure; wherein the strip comprises an elongated right cross-section that is asymmetrical in a transverse direction, wherein the strip is wound in a plurality of axially consecutive turns until the tread band is formed, wherein at least one turn is at least partly overlapped onto a previously deposited, axially consecutive turn, wherein a thickness of the tread band varies in the axial direction of the tire, wherein the shape of the right cross-section and the amount of overlap of the axially consecutive turns result in a plurality of cavities and reliefs that substantially match solids and hollows, respectively, of a moulding matrix for the tread band, and wherein the axially consecutive turns resulting in the plurality of cavities and reliefs are formed by winding the strip onto the crown portion via axial displacement of the strip in a single axial direction.