In a pneumatic tire (1) that achieves both ride comfort and steering stability at a high level, a bead core (5) has a ratio of the maximum width of the core to the height of the core of 0.8 or less in a cross-section in the tire width direction. A cord (9) is provided in at least one part from a bead portion (2) to a sidewall portion (3) at an angle of 0 to 10° with respect to the circumferential direction. The cord (9) has an inflection point in a stress-strain curve, with a low elastic modulus in a low-strain region at or below the inflection point, and a high elastic modulus in a high-strain region above the inflection point.

A clamping device includes a first clamp for clamping the distal end of a steel wire at a position corresponding to a first winding groove and a second clamp for clamping the distal end of a steel wire at a position corresponding to a second winding groove.

A clamping device includes a first clamp for clamping the distal end of a steel wire at a position corresponding to a first winding groove and a second clamp for clamping the distal end of a steel wire at a position corresponding to a second winding groove.

A bead core formation apparatus includes a former, a guide device, and a clamping device. The former includes a circumferentially extending groove around which a steel wire is wound. The guide device guides the steel wire to the former. The clamping device is coupled to the former to clamp the distal end of the steel wire. The clamping device includes a first wall and a second wall that hold the steel wire in between to clamp the steel wire. The first wall is movable between a position where the first wall is opposed to the second wall and a position where the first wall is not opposed to the second wall. The guide device includes a steel wire moving portion that moves the distal end of the steel wire from a position separated from the second wall to a position adjacent to the second wall.

A bead core formation apparatus includes a former, a guide device, and a clamping device. The former includes a circumferentially extending groove around which a steel wire is wound. The guide device guides the steel wire to the former. The clamping device is coupled to the former to clamp the distal end of the steel wire. The clamping device includes a first wall and a second wall that hold the steel wire in between to clamp the steel wire. The first wall is movable between a position where the first wall is opposed to the second wall and a position where the first wall is not opposed to the second wall. The guide device includes a steel wire moving portion that moves the distal end of the steel wire from a position separated from the second wall to a position adjacent to the second wall.

In the building of a carcass structure for tires of vehicle wheels, the step of reinforcing with a loop at least one annular anchoring structure associated at the axially opposite end edges of a carcass ply is carried out on at least one radially expandable/contractable service drum and includes the steps of: setting the service drum to a predetermined radial dimension selected according to the fitting diameter of the tire to be manufactured, depositing the loop on the service drum, loading the annular anchoring structure onto the service drum in a radially outer position with respect to the loop, radially expanding the service drum up to lock in position the annular anchoring structure, rotating the service drum about a longitudinal axis thereof and, during the rotation, turning the loop up about the annular anchoring structure.

In the building of a carcass structure for tires of vehicle wheels, the step of reinforcing with a loop at least one annular anchoring structure associated at the axially opposite end edges of a carcass ply is carried out on at least one radially expandable/contractable service drum and includes the steps of: setting the service drum to a predetermined radial dimension selected according to the fitting diameter of the tire to be manufactured, depositing the loop on the service drum, loading the annular anchoring structure onto the service drum in a radially outer position with respect to the loop, radially expanding the service drum up to lock in position the annular anchoring structure, rotating the service drum about a longitudinal axis thereof and, during the rotation, turning the loop up about the annular anchoring structure.

A tire includes: a tire frame member formed in a ring shape from a frame resin material, and including a pair of bead sections, a pair of side sections, and a crown section; a ring shaped bead core that is embedded in and joined to each of the bead sections, and that is formed by a single strand, or plurality of strands, of bead cord extending in the tire circumferential direction, and covered with, and joined to, a covering resin material; and an extension portion that extends from each of the bead cores in a direction that intersects with the tire circumferential direction when viewed from a tire side face, and that is joined to the tire frame member.

A tire includes: a tire frame member formed in a ring shape from a frame resin material, and including a pair of bead sections, a pair of side sections, and a crown section; a ring shaped bead core that is embedded in and joined to each of the bead sections, and that is formed by a single strand, or plurality of strands, of bead cord extending in the tire circumferential direction, and covered with, and joined to, a covering resin material; and an extension portion that extends from each of the bead cores in a direction that intersects with the tire circumferential direction when viewed from a tire side face, and that is joined to the tire frame member.

Provided is a stretching device for stretching an apex filler strip prior to application to a bead for a tire. The stretching device includes a stretching roller and a plurality of guide rollers for guiding the apex filler strip in a loop around the stretching roller. The plurality of guide rollers is arranged for receiving the apex filler strip in an entry orientation and for discharging the apex filler strip in an exit orientation. The plurality of guide rollers is arranged for guiding the one side of the apex filler strip in the entry orientation and the exit orientation under angles different from the support angle (H) with respect to rotation axis (R) of the stretching roller such that the apex filler strip is twisted over a twisting angle of at least forty-five degrees.