Patent ID: 8357254

Claim:
A method of cutting a length of tire tread for manufacture of a retread tire, such method comprising: measuring a circumference of the tire casing assembly; dispensing a length of tire tread from a roll based on the measured circumference, the length of tread having a first end and a periodically repeating tread design; adjusting the length of tire tread relative to a tread cutter so that the tire tread design at the point where the tread may be cut is located at either one of a plurality of a first set of pre-applied marks formed in the periodically repeating tread design, or one of a plurality of a second set of pre-applied marks, the locations of such first and second sets of pre-applied marks being determined based on evaluation of the expected physical performance of the splice between the ends of the tire tread; and cutting the tire tread with the tread cutter along a transverse line of the tread in a zone defined by a set of marks from either one of the first or one of the second sets of pre-applied marks to form a second end of the length of tire tread, wherein the first end and the second end create a cut length of tire tread that is cut using either two sets of marks from the first sets of pre-applied marks or two sets of marks from the second sets of pre-applied marks, the first end matching the second end so that the periodically repeating tread pattern appears substantially continuous at a seam defined when the cut length of tire tread is wrapped around the casing such that the first and second ends meet in abutting relationship, wherein each first set of marks is defined by two linear slits extending parallel to one another transversely relative to the tread, and wherein the transverse line along which the tire tread is cut is contained within a transversely-extending rectangular zone bounded in the longitudinal directions of the tread by the two linear slits; and wherein each second set of marks is defined by a base slit extending transversely relative to the tread and a cross slit that is bisected perpendicularly by the base slit to form a T-shape, and wherein the transverse line along which the tire tread is cut is contained with a transversely-extending rectangular zone bounded in the longitudinal directions of the tread by either end of the cross slit.