Patent ID: 6899778

Claim:
A method of cutting a length of tire tread for a retread tire having a tire casing, the tire casing have a layer of cushion gum applied thereto the method comprising: measuring a circumference of the tire casing and cushion gum; automatically dispensing along an elongated track a length of tire tread via the tread dispenser, the length of tread based on the measured circumference, the length of tread having a first end and a periodically repeating tread design; adjusting said tire tread relative to a tread cutter so that the tire tread design at the point where the tread may be cut matches the tread design at the first end; cutting the tire tread with the tread cutter to define a second end of the tire tread, the first end and the second end defining a section of tire tread, the first end matching the second end so that said tread design will appear substantially continuous across a seam generated by each end of said tread once applied to the tire casing; placing the entire section of tire tread on the track; and conveying the section of tread along the track to the tire casing by propelling the first end of the tire tread, the section of tire tread being conveyed to the casing without subjecting the section of tire tread to any substantial bending.