A method of forming a layer of tire ply is disclosed. A first strip of ply is provided having a plurality of evenly spaced reinforcement cords, having a spacing S, and having a lateral end, wherein the last cord is spaced apart from strip end a distance X, wherein X is not equal to S. A second strip of ply is provided having a plurality of evenly spaced reinforcement cords, having a spacing S, and having a lateral end, wherein the last cord is spaced apart from strip end a distance Y, wherein Y is not equal to S. The lateral ends of the first and second strip are joined together in a lap joint. The first and second lateral ends are overlapped so that the spacing X preferrably does not overlap, but may partially overlap with the spacing Y.

Provided is a bias tire includes a carcass extending between a pair of bead portions, a pair of sidewall portions, a tread, and a reinforcement layer (5), formed by cords (5Cb), disposed so as to cover at least a portion of a tire circumferential edge (BEi) on the inner side, in the tire radial direction, of the innermost ply (2Bi) of the carcass in a tire half portion (HFa) on a side where, as a cord (Cb) of a tire circumferential end on the inner side, in the tire radial direction, of the innermost ply (2Bi) approaches the tire circumferential edge on the inner side, in the tire radial direction, of the innermost ply (2Bi) along the tire circumferential direction, the cord (Cb) is inclined so as to separate from the tire equator (CL).

Various embodiments of a tire having a discontinuous body ply configuration are disclosed.