Disclosed is a transfer wheel, a transfer device and a method for transferring a strip, in particular a run-flat reinforcement strip or a sidewall strip, to a tire building drum, wherein the transfer wheel defines a retaining area that is divided into a first end section for retaining the leading end, a second end section for retaining the trailing end and a main section for supporting the strip body. The transfer wheel has a first mounting member that defines first mounting positions for receiving a first group of retaining segments at the first end section, wherein the first group of retaining segments includes first body retaining segments for retaining the strip body and a first end retaining segment for retaining the leading end, wherein the first mounting member is arranged for interchangeably receiving one first body retaining segment or the first end retaining segment in each first mounting position.

A method for manufacturing a tire comprising a carcass reinforcement comprising a carcass layer and a working reinforcement comprising a single working layer comprising forming, around a support, a wound carcass assembly (52) intended to form the carcass layer and a wound working assembly intended to form the working layer, and then deforming the support. The wound carcass assembly (52) is formed so as to form either a junction (56) by abutment without forming a superposition, or a junction (56) by overlapping, or without forming a junction.

An applicator roll, a tire component servicer, and a method for applying a strip to a drum are provided. The applicator roll includes an outer ring that is rotatable about a rotation axis and that defines a retaining surface. The applicator roll is provided with suction openings for retaining the strip to the retaining surface. The applicator roll includes a follower that is rotatable inside the outer ring to follow a part of the strip on the retaining surface. The follower defines a chamber that extends in the circumferential direction over a retaining arc along the outer ring. The follower is rotatable about the rotation axis independently of the outer ring to a first retaining position on the outer ring in which the chamber is arranged in air communication with one or more suction openings within said retaining arc.

An applicator roll, a tire component servicer, and a method for applying a strip to a drum are provided. The applicator roll includes an outer ring that is rotatable about a rotation axis and that defines a retaining surface. The applicator roll is provided with suction openings for retaining the strip to the retaining surface. The applicator roll includes a follower that is rotatable inside the outer ring to follow a part of the strip on the retaining surface. The follower defines a chamber that extends in the circumferential direction over a retaining arc along the outer ring. The follower is rotatable about the rotation axis independently of the outer ring to a first retaining position on the outer ring in which the chamber is arranged in air communication with one or more suction openings within said retaining arc.

An automatic splicing apparatus and methods thereof are provided herein for splicing together two ends of a sheet of tire material on a tire building drum. The apparatus comprises a frame, a splicer foot assembly, and a splicer roller assembly. The frame is configured to support the apparatus relative to the drum. The splicer foot assembly and the splicer roller assembly are independently longitudinally translatable relative to the frame. The splicer foot assembly includes a splicer foot having forward lower preparation rollers and rearward lower splicer rollers, and upper preparation rollers configured to operate in coordination with the forward lower preparation rollers to pull the two ends of the sheet of tire material together over the splicer foot. The splicer roller assembly includes upper splicer rollers configured to act in coordination with the rearward lower splicer rollers to splice the two ends together.

Provided is a validation tool and a method for validating optical equipment that is used for measuring a plurality of characteristics of one or more tyre components during winding application of said tyre components around a tyre building drum, wherein a first tyre component of the one or more tyre components includes a first characteristic of the plurality of characteristics which, after measuring, is overlapped by the same or another tyre component of the one or more tyre components including a second characteristic of the plurality of characteristics, wherein the validation tool is provided with a first reference element that is arranged to represent the first characteristic and a second reference element that is arranged to represent the second characteristic, wherein the second reference element is offset with respect to the first reference element to at least partially expose the first reference element.

An apparatus for applying a strip of elastomeric material to a surface, the apparatus comprising: a nozzle having an inlet in fluid communication with a pumping means, said nozzle having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the lower surface has a curved shape for mating engagement with an outer surface of a rotatable roller, said lower surface having an opening positioned for engagement with the roller outer surface.

An apparatus for applying a strip of elastomeric material to a surface, the apparatus comprising: a nozzle having an inlet in fluid communication with a pumping means, said nozzle having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the lower surface has a curved shape for mating engagement with an outer surface of a rotatable roller, said lower surface having an opening positioned for engagement with the roller outer surface.

A pneumatic tire including an innerliner member applied on a tire inner circumferential surface, the innerliner member being constituted from an at least three-layer structure including a film having a main component of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer containing a blend of a thermoplastic resin and an elastomer, and rubber sheets layered on both sides of the film; and a lap splice portion in which tire circumferential direction end portions of the film are overlapped with the rubber sheets inbetween. The rubber sheet on the tire cavity side of the innerliner member disposed on the tire cavity side in the lap splice portion is formed longer along the tire circumferential length than the film adjacent thereto.

A pneumatic tire is disclosed and comprises a tread, a belt package located radially beneath the tread, a pair of bead cores, a pair of sidewalls, with each sidewall extending between the tread and each bead core, a carcass comprising a first carcass ply extending under the tread and being anchored to each bead core, wherein the first carcass ply has a reinforced stiffener applied thereto, wherein the carcass further comprising a second carcass ply, wherein the second carcass ply extends under the tread and is anchored to each bead core.