Provided is a tire vulcanizing bladder comprising fluororubber, wherein a plurality of grooves extending in a width direction are formed on a circumference of an outer surface of the tire vulcanizing bladder, and a plurality of recesses connecting the grooves to each other are formed between the grooves. Also provided is a pneumatic tire comprising one or more fluorine-containing particles having a maximum diameter of 1.0 μm or more per area of 100 μm.sup.2 of a tire inner surface, wherein a plurality of bladder ridges extending in a tire width direction are formed on a circumference of the tire inner surface, and a plurality of protrusions connecting the bladder ridges to each other are formed between the bladder ridges.

A process for producing tyres with auxiliary components for vehicle wheels is described. The process includes i) covering the external surface of an expandable chamber for tyre vulcanisation and moulding apparatuses with a first substantially cross-linkable polysiloxane composition and ii) covering the radially inner surface of the impermeable elastomeric material layer of the green tyre with a second substantially non-cross-linkable polysiloxane composition. An expandable chamber for tyre vulcanisation and moulding apparatuses and, a process for treating the expandable chamber are also described.

A method of molding a green tire having a first and second bead area is described herein, wherein the method includes the steps of: inserting a tire clamping device inside a tire bladder and then inserting the tire clamping device and the bladder into the green tire, aligning the outer surfaces of the tire clamping device into engagement with a respective bead area of the tire so that each tire bead area is clamped between a respective upper and a lower mold ring and the tire clamping device during cure. A tire clamping device includes an inner portion, and a plurality of segments connected to the inner portion, wherein the tire clamping device has a closed position wherein the plurality of segments together forms a first and second ring for engagement with the bead areas of the tire so clamp the bead areas between the clamping device and the mold rings during cure.

A pneumatic tire includes a sound absorbing member fixed to an inner surface of a tread portion via an adhesive layer in the tire circumferential direction. A thickness of the sound absorbing member 6 is 20 mm or greater, a hardness of the sound absorbing member is from 80 N/314 cm.sup.2 to 150 N/314 cm.sup.2, a tensile strength of the sound absorbing member 6 is 90 kPa or greater, an elongation at break of the sound absorbing member is 130% or greater, a JIS hardness of the tread rubber of the tread portion is from 50 to 68, and a plurality of sipes are provided in a land portion formed in the tread portion.

A method of molding a green tire having a first and second bead area is described herein, wherein the method includes the steps of: inserting a tire clamping device inside a tire bladder and then inserting the tire clamping device and the bladder into the green tire, aligning the outer surfaces of the tire clamping device into engagement with a respective bead area of the tire so that each tire bead area is clamped between a respective upper and a lower mold ring and the tire clamping device during cure. A tire clamping device includes an inner portion, and a plurality of segments connected to the inner portion, wherein the tire clamping device has a closed position wherein the plurality of segments together forms a first and second ring for engagement with the bead areas of the tire so clamp the bead areas between the clamping device and the mold rings during cure.

A method of building a tire having no ply turnup is described. The method includes the steps of applying an inner liner and chafer onto a tire building drum; radially expanding the center portion of the drum and applying a first column bead, applying a layer of ply followed by a second column bead, turning up the chafer and then inflating the carcass under low pressure below 150 mbars, applying the tread, applying the sidewall. A method of molding a green tire having a first and second bead area is described herein, wherein the method includes the steps of: inserting a tire clamping device inside a tire bladder and then inserting the tire clamping device and the bladder into the green tire, aligning the outer surfaces of the tire clamping device are in engagement with a respective bead area of the tire so that each tire bead area is clamped between a respective upper and lower mold ring and the tire clamping device during cure.

A method and a device for vulcanizing tires. An expandable bellows is used for pressing the tire being vulcanized against segments of a mold. The bellows is arranged on a carrier which has an annular shape.

A tire mold has a cavity with a flexible bladder disposed in a central portion of the cavity. The tire mold further includes a first ring connected to a first end of the flexible bladder, and a second ring connected to a second end of the flexible bladder. At least one of the first and second rings is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The flexible bladder is stretched to a maximum axial length when the first and second rings are in a first position. When the first and second rings are in the first position the sum of the first axial length and second axial length is greater than a space between the first ring and the second ring.

A method of detecting tire mold (10) bladder (14) leakage is provided that includes placing an uncured tire (12) into a mold (10), and inflating a bladder (14), that has a fluid (22), within the mold. Sufficient heat and pressure are applied to at least partially cure the tire when the uncured tire is in the mold (10). The mold (10) is opened and electronic smelling is conducted on the at least partially cured tire (12). The electronic smelling is performed in order to determine whether the bladder (14) is leaking the fluid (22).

A method of detecting tire mold (10) bladder (14) leakage is provided that includes placing an uncured tire (12) into a mold (10), and inflating a bladder (14), that has a fluid (22), within the mold. Sufficient heat and pressure are applied to at least partially cure the tire when the uncured tire is in the mold (10). The mold (10) is opened and electronic smelling is conducted on the at least partially cured tire (12). The electronic smelling is performed in order to determine whether the bladder (14) is leaking the fluid (22).