A winding method includes: attracting a sheet-like belt 8b onto a table 14 by multiple attracting means 15 lined up in a longitudinal direction of the sheet-like belt 8b; and winding the sheet-like belt 8b around a winding cylinder 50 by moving the winding cylinder 50 in the longitudinal direction of the sheet-like belt 8b while rotating the winding cylinder 50 above the sheet-like belt 8b and by cancelling attraction by the attracting means 15 one after another from attracting means 15 to which the winding cylinder 50 has moved.

A manufacturing method includes feeding a master roll 8a from a master roll table 10 to a belt table 14, and cutting the master roll 8a between the master roll table 10 and the belt table 14. In the step of feeding the master roll 8a from the master roll table 10 to the belt table 14, the master roll 8a is fed by holding a front part of the master roll 8a by a first hand 30 and a rear part of the master roll 8a by a second hand 40, and the front part of the master roll 8a is continuously held by the first hand 30 from start to end of the feeding.

A manufacturing method for manufacturing a sheet-like belt 8b from a master roll first and then forming a cylindrical belt by winding the sheet-like belt 8b around a molding drum includes measuring a length of the sheet-like belt 8b, and making a pass of fail determination as to the length of the sheet-like belt 8b. The sheet-like belt 8b is wound around a winding cylinder 50 and transported to a place for lamination to the molding drum only when a pass determination is made in the step of making a pass or fail determination as to the length of the sheet-like belt 8b.

A manufacturing method includes: cutting out a sheet-like belt 8b by cutting a master roll 8a between a master roll table 10 and a belt table 14; moving the belt table 14 carrying the cut-out sheet-like belt 8b to a winding position of the sheet-like belt 8b; and winding the sheet-like belt 8b around a winding cylinder 50 at the winding position. The master roll 8a is fixed onto the belt table 14 by attraction when the master roll 8a is cut between the master roll table 10 and the belt table 14 and the belt table 14 is moved to the winding position of the sheet-like belt 8b while keeping the cut-out sheet-like belt 8b fixed onto the belt table 14 by attraction.

A pneumatic tire includes a strip member which extends in a tire circumferential direction, with both ends thereof reaching each bead portion, and a belt layer disposed in a tread portion on an outer side in the tire radial direction of the strip members. The strip members are divided in the tire width direction, with each of the divided strip members having joints that join in the tire circumferential direction. The relative positions of the joints are disposed at less than 20 in the tire circumferential direction within the region of the maximum width TW in the tire width direction of the belt layer.

A plurality of strip-like elements is applied onto a forming drum externally having a substantially cylindrical laying surface. The strip-like elements are disposed in mutually approached relationship to form at least one first annular reinforcing layer on the forming drum itself set to a first work diameter at which each of the applied strip-like elements on the laying surface subtends an arc of a circumference of a width as large as a submultiple integer of the overall circumferential extension of the laying surface itself. Adjustment devices operating on the forming drum subsequently carry out expansion of the latter to a second work diameter larger than the first work diameter, while maintaining its laying surface substantially cylindrical.

In a pneumatic tire that includes strip members which extends in a tire circumferential direction, both ends thereof reaching each bead portion, a belt layer is disposed in a tread portion on an outer side in a tire radial direction of the strip members. The strip members are divided in the tire width direction, and the divided strip members have joints that join together in the tire circumferential direction. Relative positions of the joints are disposed deviated by not less than 20 in the tire circumferential direction within a region between an edge of a maximum width in the tire width direction of the belt layer and a maximum tire width position.

During building of tyres, at least one first forming drum is employed which has a deposition surface and includes sectors radially movable relative to a geometric rotation axis, and circumferentially distributed one after the other. A plurality of strip-like elements is deposited in circumferential side by side relationship on the deposition surface set in the first deposition configuration, to form at least one component of at least one first crown structure. Setting of the deposition surface includes the actions of radially moving the sectors to give the deposition surface a predetermined diameter and carry out a relative movement between a central portion and axially external end portions of each sector to shape the deposition surface according to a predetermined curvature outline.

During building of tires, at least one first forming drum is employed which has a deposition surface and includes sectors radially movable relative to a geometric rotation axis, and circumferentially distributed one after the other. A plurality of strip-like elements is deposited in circumferential side by side relationship on the deposition surface set in the first deposition configuration, to form at least one component of at least one first crown structure. Setting of the deposition surface includes the actions of radially moving the sectors to give the deposition surface a predetermined diameter and carry out a relative movement between a central portion and axially external end portions of each sector to shape the deposition surface according to a predetermined curvature outline.