A tire tread extractor used in the manufacture of treads includes a frame, a first nip roller rotatably associated with the frame, and a second nip roller rotatably associated with the frame. The first and second nip rollers are adapted to engage a tire tread at least partially resident in a mold. A driving mechanism associated with the first and/or second nip rollers operates to impart rotational motion thereto. The frame is configured for longitudinal movement along a substantial portion of a longitudinal length of the mold while maintaining the first and second nip rollers in a spaced relation to the mold.

A method for forming a composite tread, the method comprising the steps of: forming a coextruded strip of a first compound and a second compound, wherein the first compound is a tread compound, and the second compound is formed from a second compound, wherein the tread is formed from winding the coextruded strip onto the tire building drum while varying the ratio of the first compound to the second compound

The invention relates to a method for producing a tread (20), comprising the steps: extruding the tread (20), which has an outer side (22) and an inner side (24), opposite the outer side (22), and a carrying region (26) made of a carrying region rubber material and a guide strip (28) made of a guide strip rubber material, wherein the guide strip (28) extends from the outside (22) to the inside (24) and a specific electrical guide strip resistance (W.sub.28) of the guide strip rubber material is smaller than a specific electrical carrying region resistance of the carrying region rubber material. The steps according to the invention are: determining an electrical guide strip resistance (W.sub.28) of the guide strip (28) between the outer side (22) and the inner side (24) and outputting a warning signal when the electrical resistance (W) exceeds a specified maximum resistance (W.sub.28,max).

The invention relates to a method for producing a tread (20), comprising the steps: extruding the tread (20), which has an outer side (22) and an inner side (24), opposite the outer side (22), and a carrying region (26) made of a carrying region rubber material and a guide strip (28) made of a guide strip rubber material, wherein the guide strip (28) extends from the outside (22) to the inside (24) and a specific electrical guide strip resistance (W.sub.28) of the guide strip rubber material is smaller than a specific electrical carrying region resistance of the carrying region rubber material. The steps according to the invention are: determining an electrical guide strip resistance (W.sub.28) of the guide strip (28) between the outer side (22) and the inner side (24) and outputting a warning signal when the electrical resistance (W) exceeds a specified maximum resistance (W.sub.28,max).

A method for forming a composite tread is described, wherein the method includes the steps of selecting a first tread compound having a first desired tread property, and selecting a second tread compound having a second desired property, forming a tread by winding a dual layer strip having a first layer formed of the first tread compound and a second layer formed of the second compound, wherein the tread has a first and second zone, wherein each zone is formed by spirally winding the dual layer strip, wherein the first zone is formed of a dual layer strip having a strip ratio of the volumetric proportion of the first compound to the second compound used to form the dual layer strip, wherein the second zone has a different strip ratio than the first zone by varying the volumetric proportion of the first compound to the second compound.

A tire having a tread, wherein the tread has an outer shoulder region and an inner shoulder region, wherein each shoulder region is formed from a dual layer strip having a first layer formed of a first compound, and a second layer formed of a second compound, wherein the dual layer strip has a strip ratio of % first compound/% second compound, wherein the outer shoulder region has a strip ratio in the range of 70-95% of the first compound/5-30% of the second compound.

A tire includes a circumferential tread disposed in a crown region of the tire and an undertread disposed below the circumferential tread. The tire also has a pair of bead regions, including a first bead region and a second bead region, and a body ply extending from the first bead region to the second bead region. The tire further has a pair of sidewalls, including a first sidewall extending between the first bead region and the circumferential tread and a second sidewall extending between the second bead region and the circumferential tread. The tire also has a sidewall antenna adjacent to the first sidewall. The sidewall antenna has a first end contacting the undertread and a second end contacting the body ply.

A tread extension device (10) is provided that has first (12) and second (14) tread extensions for holding a tread during brushing operations. A first connecting device (28) connects the first tread extension (12) to a first longitudinal end (18) of the tread, and engages both the first tread extension (12) and the first longitudinal end (18) of the tread. A second connecting device (30) is included that connects the second tread extension (14) to the second longitudinal end of the tread. The second connecting device (30) engages both the second tread extension and the second longitudinal end of the tread. The tread is able to be brushed in both a first direction and a second direction along its underside.

A tread extension device (10) is provided that has first (12) and second (14) tread extensions for holding a tread during brushing operations. A first connecting device (28) connects the first tread extension (12) to a first longitudinal end (18) of the tread, and engages both the first tread extension (12) and the first longitudinal end (18) of the tread. A second connecting device (30) is included that connects the second tread extension (14) to the second longitudinal end of the tread. The second connecting device (30) engages both the second tread extension and the second longitudinal end of the tread. The tread is able to be brushed in both a first direction and a second direction along its underside.

Provided are a rubber sheet member joining device and method. At least one opposing surface of a pair of gripping parts is provided with a contact member having a contact surface projecting toward an other opposing surface of the pair of gripping parts; the pair of gripping parts grip ranges in proximity to end surfaces in a state in which end surfaces project from the one opposing surface toward the other opposing surface; the total of end surface projection amounts of the end surfaces from the opposing surfaces is set to be a predetermined length larger than a separation distance between the opposing surfaces when the contact member is sandwiched between the opposing surfaces; and by bringing the contact member into a state of being sandwiched between the opposing surfaces, the movement of the gripping parts in proximity to each other is stopped and the end surfaces are joined together.