A tire bead carcass member manufacturing step includes a ply turning-up step, a ply layering step, and a ply turning-down step. In the ply turning-down step, an outer circumferential surface 32a of a ply layered body 32 is supported. While the ply layered body 32 is rotated, a turning-down stitcher 38 turns down axial end portions of a second ply around beads from the radially outer side toward the radially inner side. While the ply layered body 32 is rotated, a layering stitcher 40 operates so as to layer the axial end portions of the second ply having been turned down to an inner side of the ply layered body 32, over an inner circumferential surface of a first ply, to form the bead carcass member.

A tire bead carcass member manufacturing step includes a ply turning-up step, a ply layering step, and a ply turning-down step. In the ply turning-down step, an outer circumferential surface 32a of a ply layered body 32 is supported. While the ply layered body 32 is rotated, a turning-down stitcher 38 turns down axial end portions of a second ply around beads from the radially outer side toward the radially inner side. While the ply layered body 32 is rotated, a layering stitcher 40 operates so as to layer the axial end portions of the second ply having been turned down to an inner side of the ply layered body 32, over an inner circumferential surface of a first ply, to form the bead carcass member.

A method of controlling deposition of a continuous elongated element in building a tyre for vehicle wheels, includes: feeding an initial end of a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material through a slit bounded by a first roller and a second roller of a calender; retaining the continuous elongated element against a peripheral surface of the first roller; laying the initial end of the continuous elongated element against a deposition surface; rotating the calender around an oscillation axis that is substantially coincident with a contact generatrix between the first roller and the second roller; and dragging along the continuous elongated element together with the deposition surface.

A method of making a tire includes providing a first body ply having a first width and laying a second body ply above the first body ply. The second body ply has a second width less than the first width. The method also includes laying a third body ply above the second body ply. The third body ply has a third width greater than the first width. The method further includes laying a first bead at a first location above the third body ply, laying a second bead at a second location above the third body ply, laying a first stabilizer ply insert at a third location above the third body ply, and laying a second stabilizer ply insert at a fourth location above the third body ply. The third location is between the first location and the second location, and the fourth location is between the third location and the second location.

A method of making a tire includes providing a first body ply having a first width and laying a second body ply above the first body ply. The second body ply has a second width less than the first width. The method also includes laying a third body ply above the second body ply. The third body ply has a third width greater than the first width. The method further includes laying a first bead at a first location above the third body ply, laying a second bead at a second location above the third body ply, laying a first stabilizer ply insert at a third location above the third body ply, and laying a second stabilizer ply insert at a fourth location above the third body ply. The third location is between the first location and the second location, and the fourth location is between the third location and the second location.

A method of controlling deposition of a continuous elongated element in building a tire for vehicle wheels, includes: feeding an initial end of a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material through a slit bounded by a first roller and a second roller of a calender; retaining the continuous elongated element against a peripheral surface of the first roller; laying the initial end of the continuous elongated element against a deposition surface; rotating the calender around an oscillation axis that is substantially coincident with a contact generatrix between the first roller and the second roller; and dragging along the continuous elongated element together with the deposition surface.

A method of controlling deposition of a continuous elongated element in building a tire for vehicle wheels, includes: feeding an initial end of a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material through a slit bounded by a first roller and a second roller of a calender; retaining the continuous elongated element against a peripheral surface of the first roller; laying the initial end of the continuous elongated element against a deposition surface; rotating the calender around an oscillation axis that is substantially coincident with a contact generatrix between the first roller and the second roller; and dragging along the continuous elongated element together with the deposition surface.

A strip rubber adhering apparatus includes a rotating drum; an extruder configured to extrude strip rubber of a shape having an apex portion in cross section toward the drum; a pressure bonding roller configured to press a surface of the strip rubber on the apex portion side in the direction of the drum, and adhere the surface of the strip rubber on a side opposite to the apex portion side to the drum; and a blowing apparatus configured to supply wind toward the surface of the strip rubber on the apex portion side in the vicinity of a position of adhesion of the strip rubber with respect to the drum, wherein the drum and the extruder are relatively movable in the direction of axis of the drum with respect to each other.

A toroidal forming drum and a process for budding tyres. The toroidal forming drum is expanded within a shaped carcass sleeve for supporting the carcass sleeve against an abutment surface externally provided by the forming drum. An elementary semi--finished product is applied around the shaped carcass sleeve by pressing the elementary semi-finished product toward the abutment surface. The abutment surface has circumferential rows of solid portions alternated with hollow portions. The solid portions, arranged along axially opposite circumferential edges of the abutment surface, have a transverse size between 10% and 60% of a transverse size presented by the solid portions arranged in proximity to an axial centreline plane of the abutment surface.

A toroidal forming drum and a process for budding tyres. The toroidal forming drum is expanded within a shaped carcass sleeve for supporting the carcass sleeve against an abutment surface externally provided by the forming drum. An elementary semi--finished product is applied around the shaped carcass sleeve by pressing the elementary semi-finished product toward the abutment surface. The abutment surface has circumferential rows of solid portions alternated with hollow portions. The solid portions, arranged along axially opposite circumferential edges of the abutment surface, have a transverse size between 10% and 60% of a transverse size presented by the solid portions arranged in proximity to an axial centreline plane of the abutment surface.