An apparatus for depositing a piece of band-like elastomeric element on a forming support in a process for building a tyre for vehicle wheels. The apparatus operates by feeding a piece of band-like elastomeric element having a predetermined nominal length towards the forming support along a predetermined feeding direction and measuring the actual length of the piece along the feeding direction. If the actual length is lower than or equal to a circumferential length of a deposition surface defined on the forming support, the piece is deposited on the deposition surface while the forming support rotates about a rotation axis thereof. During such deposition the piece is pressed on the deposition surface with a pressing force selected as a function of the actual length.

A manufacturing method includes the steps of: (A) preparing first and second sheet pieces 20a and 20b made of unvulcanized rubber; and (B) winding a long sheet 26 on a drum 6. The long sheet 26 includes the first and second sheet pieces 20a and 20b, and the second sheet piece 20b has a front edge joined to a rear edge of the first sheet piece 20a. Preferably, the step (B) includes the steps of: (B′1) joining the front edge of the second sheet piece 20b to the rear edge of the first sheet piece 20a to obtain the long sheet 26; and (B′2) feeding the sheet 26 from a servicer 4 to the drum 6 while rotating the drum 6 to wind the sheet 26 on the drum 6.

A method for depositing a piece of band-like elastomeric element on a forming support in a process for building a tyre for vehicle wheels. The method includes feeding a piece of band-like elastomeric element having a predetermined nominal length towards the forming support along a predetermined feeding direction and measuring the actual length of the piece along the feeding direction. If the actual length is lower than or equal to a circumferential length of a deposition surface defined on the forming support, the piece is deposited on the deposition surface while the forming support rotates about a rotation axis thereof. During such deposition the piece is pressed on the deposition surface with a pressing force selected as a function of the actual length.

A manufacturing device for an unvulcanized band-shaped rubber member is provided. A position sensor detects, across a width direction of the band-shaped rubber member, leading and trailing ends of the band-shaped rubber member placed in a flat state on a conveyor, holding portions arranged side by side in the width direction hold at least one of the leading or trailing ends, with movement portions allowing the holding portions to move individually in a front-rear direction, the leading and the trailing ends are held by the leading and trailing end holding mechanisms, respectively, and a control unit controls a displacement of the movement portions in the front-rear direction based on data from the position sensor and a target length to adjust elongation in the front-rear direction at or near a held portion held by each of the holding portions to achieve the target length of the band-shaped rubber member.

A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion, sidewall portions, bead portions each with a bead core embedded therein, and a carcass extending between the bead portions and comprising first carcass cords and second carcass cords. The first carcass cord comprises: a main portion extending from the tread portion to the bead portions via the sidewall portions; and folded-back portions continued from the main portion and folded back around the bead cores from the inside to the outside in the tire axial direction. The second carcass cord extends from the tread portion to the bead portions and terminates on the axially outside of the folded-back portions of the first carcass cords. Young's modulus of the second carcass cords is larger than Young's modulus of the first carcass cords.

An apparatus for depositing a piece of band-like elastomeric element on a forming support in a process for building a tyre for vehicle wheels. The apparatus operates by feeding a piece of band-like elastomeric element having a predetermined nominal length towards the forming support along a predetermined feeding direction and measuring the actual length of the piece along the feeding direction. If the actual length is lower than or equal to a circumferential length of a deposition surface defined on the forming support, the piece is deposited on the deposition surface while the forming support rotates about a rotation axis thereof. During such deposition the piece is pressed on the deposition surface with a pressing force selected as a function of the actual length.