A tire grinding machine includes a frame having a plurality of vertically extending posts. A chuck assembly is associated with the frame and adapted to receive and rotate a tire. A grinding assembly is associated with the frame and is movable with respect to the frame. The grinding assembly has at least one grinding element adapted to contact and remove material from the tire when rotated by the chuck assembly. A counterbalance assembly which has a cable with one end connected to a counterbalance weight and an opposite end connected to the grinding assembly is included. A block assembly may be coupled to the grinding assembly to allow pivotable movement thereof. A calibration adapter may be used to ensure proper positioning of the grinding elements, wherein a level adjuster may be used for this purpose.

Systems and methods for correcting uniformity of a cured tire using ablation of material along a plurality of tracks along the bead portion of the tire are provided. An ablation pattern can be determined to correct for a uniformity parameter for multiple tracks along a bead portion of a tire. The ablation pattern for each track can be analyzed to determined direct address commands for implementing the ablation pattern using an ablation device. The direct address commands can be determined according to an adjustment process to improve cycle time for the ablation of a tire. The adjustment process can be operable to more closely align azimuthal positions of ablation segments specified by direct address commands for different tracks along the bead of the tire.

A tire vulcanization mold in which a surface roughness in the groove molding portion of the tread molding surface is made smaller than a surface roughness in the land portion molding portion, in which a surface roughness in the groove molding portion is minimized to 0.12 ?m or less in a range including at least a main groove molding portion, and in which a surface roughness in the land portion molding portion is made to be 3.2 ?m or more, is used to manufacture a tire, and when cleaning the tread molding surface, the tread molding surface is irradiated with a laser beam to remove contaminant adhered to the tread molding surface.

Systems and methods for improving tire uniformity, for instance to reduce cavity noise and other effects caused by localized tire surface anomalies are provided. The localized tire surface anomaly can be manifested as a local peak of radial nm out or other uniformity parameter (e.g. radial force variation) for the tire. The local peak of radial run out can be within uniformity tolerances for radial run out, but can still contribute to cavity noise through the high harmonic effects caused by the local peak. According to aspects of the present disclosure, the location and/or other identifiable characteristics of a localized tire surface anomaly can be identified. An ablation device can be used on the tread of the tire to remove tire material at an azimuthal location associated with the localized tire surface anomaly to improve the uniformity of the tire.

A system for preparing an interior surface of a tire for an adhesive includes a turntable configured to remove a layer of material from the tire, and a manipulator operable to move and rotate the tire. The turntable includes a platform rotatable about a first axis. An ablation module is disposed within the platform and includes one or more lasers each configured to emit a laser beam for removing the layer of material from the tire. A plurality of guide rollers extend from the platform and are operable between a retracted position and an extended position to selectively secure the tire to the platform. An exhaust system is disposed adjacent to the one or more lasers.

Systems and methods for correcting uniformity of a cured tire using ablation of material along a plurality of tracks along the bead portion of the tire are provided. An ablation pattern can be determined to correct for a uniformity parameter for multiple tracks along a bead portion of a tire. The ablation pattern for each track can be analyzed to determined direct address commands for implementing the ablation pattern using an ablation device. The direct address commands can be determined according to an adjustment process to improve cycle time for the ablation of a tire. The adjustment process can be operable to more closely align azimuthal positions of ablation segments specified by direct address commands for different tracks along the bead of the tire.

A system and method for reducing the magnitude of one or more harmonica of one or more uniformity parameters in a cured tire involves selective removal of tire material at one or more track/area locations along first and second bead profiles. Selective removal may occur via ablation at the bead seat, low flange and/or high flange zones to correct for a selected number of harmonic of such parameters as radial, lateral and tangential force variation. Ablation pattern are calculated and implemented on first and second tire beads to achieve desired levels of force reduction at selected angular locations (within the expanse from 0-360 degrees along each tire bead). Ablation patterns may be calculated for implementation at fixed or varied tire rotational speeds and/or fixed or varied levels of laser power.

A system and method for selectively removing tire material from the bead portions of a cured tire to reduce one or more harmonics of at least one uniformity parameter are disclosed. According to aspects of the present disclosure, tire material is selectively removed using a plurality of direct address commands. The direct address commands specify ablation parameters for discrete ablation segments at specific angular locations around the bead of the tire. The direct address commands are generated by analyzing the desired ablation pattern for the bead of the tire. The ablation device can then be controlled to selectively remove tire material in discrete ablation segments at identified addresses pursuant to the direct address commands to achieve the desired ablation pattern on one or more tracks along the bead portion of the tire using a single pass of the ablation device.