Patent ID: 8192571

Claim:
A method of retreading a tire, comprising: providing one or more tire tread portions having a first end and a second end configured to be coupled to one another; coupling the first end and the second end to one another using at least one impact driven fastener, wherein the impact driven fastener comprises a staple having two or more penetrating portions coupled to one another via a head portion, wherein a first penetrating portion is disposed in the first end of the one or more tire tread portions and a second penetrating portion is disposed in the second end of the one or more tire tread portions; wherein the first and second ends are coupled to one another via at least the head portion of the staple; wherein the at least two penetrating members are formed of plastic having a flexural strength greater than about 9500 psi; wherein the head portion is formed of a plastic having a heat deformation temperature less than about 250° F.; and wherein the head portion of the impact driven fastener is configured to at least partially soften when heated to about the heat deformation temperature during a tire retreading process; and applying heat to at least partially soften at least a portion of the impact driven fastener.