Patent ID: 8460494

Claim:
A method which comprises applying a tread rubber strip as a circumferential tread component of a tire assembly comprised of a plurality of uncured rubber components wherein said tread rubber strip is a co-extruded laminate comprised of two rubber layers, wherein said rubber layers are comprised of a first uncured rubber layer as an outer rubber tread layer and a second partially cured rubber layer as underlying tread rubber layer wherein said underlying tread rubber layer underlies said first uncured rubber layer, wherein said tire assembly is then molded in a suitable tire mold at an elevated temperature and pressure to form a cured rubber tire with a cured rubber tread with its outer tread rubber layer having a molded lug and groove configuration and where said tread has a minimized base peaking of said underlying tread rubber layer into and within the lugs of the outer tread rubber layer; wherein said second rubber layer of said tread strip is comprised of a rubber composition characterized in its uncured state by having a time for its T+5 Mooney viscosity rise property at 121° C. in a range of from about 5 to about 20 minutes; wherein said first rubber layer of said tread strip is comprised of a rubber composition characterized in its uncured state by having a time for its T+5 Mooney viscosity rise property at 121° C. in a range of from about 20 to about 60 minutes; wherein the time for said T+5 Mooney viscosity rise property of said second rubber composition is at least 5 minutes less than the time for said T+5 Mooney viscosity rise property of said first rubber composition.