Patent ID: 8007710

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tyre for a vehicle wheel, comprising the steps of: setting a green tyre comprising a tread band having a radially external surface on a toroidal support provided with an outer surface conforming in shape to an inner surface of the tyre; setting a vulcanisation mould having a moulding cavity circumscribed by centripetally approachable circumferential sectors carrying forming ridges facing a geometric axis of the moulding cavity; closing the tyre into the moulding cavity; pressing the tyre against the outer surface of the toroidal support with pressurized fluid disposed outside the tyre, while keeping the circumferential sectors spaced apart from the radially external surface of the tread band with the moulding cavity closed; administering heat to the inner surface of the tyre pressed against the toroidal support, while keeping the circumferential sectors spaced apart from the radially external surface of the tread band with the moulding cavity closed; centripetally approaching the circumferential sectors of the mould to cause at least partial penetration of the forming ridges into the radially external surface of the tread band of the tyre; pressing the radially external surface of the tread band of the tyre against a radially internal surface of the moulding cavity; and administering heat to the tyre penetrated by the forming ridges of the circumferential sectors.