A pair of annular inserts of elastomeric material is circumferentially applied by spiraling around a laying surface of an auxiliary drum. Then a plurality of strip-like elements disposed in parallel side by side relationship with each other in the circumferential extension of the laying surface is applied onto the auxiliary drum, so as to form at least one first belt layer. Respectively opposite end portions of each strip-like element are radially superposed, each against one of the annular inserts, so that each of the annular inserts projects from a respective end edge of the strip-like element. The cap structure formed on the auxiliary drum is coupled to a carcass structure through toroidal conformation of the latter, in such a manner that the radially external ends of sidewall portions previously manufactured on the carcass plies are associated with the axially external ends of the annular inserts.

A carcass sleeve is situated in a radially external position with respect to a toroidal forming drum, arranged in a first radially contracted operative condition. The carcass sleeve is shaped according to a toroidal configuration while the forming drum is positioned inside the carcass sleeve. During shaping of the carcass sleeve, the forming drum is radially expanded up to a second radially expanded operative condition. Upon completed shaping, the carcass sleeve is coupled to the forming drum in the second operative condition. The forming drum, coupled to the shaped carcass sleeve, is arranged in proximity to at least one device for building at least one belt layer at a radially external position relative to the shaped carcass sleeve.

A tire (1) for an agricultural vehicle comprises a working reinforcement (2), radially on the inside of a tread (3) and radially on the outside of a carcass reinforcement (4), the working reinforcement (2) comprising a multilayer component made up of a radial stack of at least two working layers (21, 22), and aims to improve the endurance thereof. The working reinforcement (2) is made up of a circumferential spiral winding of at least one turn of the multilayer component, the first and second circumferential ends (211, 221; 212, 222) of each working layer (21, 22) are circumferentially offset from one another, and the respective first circumferential ends (211, 221) of two consecutive working layers (21, 22) are likewise circumferentially offset from one another.

A process for building tyres for vehicle wheels includes: forming a tyre in process, the tyre including a belt structure and depositing a tread band in a position radially external to the belt structure by winding a continuous elongated element made of elastomeric material according to axially adjacent or partially overlapped coils. During the deposition of the tread band and on at least one of the coils already wound, a conductive liquid elastomeric compound is applied, the compound continuously extended between a radially outer surface of the tread band and a radially outer surface of the belt structure to generate electrically conductive paths and free zones.

In a process for building tires, a carcass structure which includes at least one carcass ply and a belt structure, is formed. Manufacture of the belt structure includes: forming a first portion of at least one cushion insert through spiralling of a continuous elongated element; forming at least one first belt layer in a radially external position to the first portion in such a manner that the first portion axially projects from one of the axially opposite side edges of the first belt layer, forming a second portion of the cushion insert through spiralling of a continuous elongated element in a radially external position to the side edge of the first belt layer and to a stretch of the first portion projecting from the side edge itself, so as to enclose the side edge between the first and second portions of the cushion insert.

The present invention has an object of providing a pneumatic tire that exhibits better uniformity by improving the wire wound body for constituting the bead core. The pneumatic tire 1 comprises a bead core 5 comprising a wire wound body 10 in which one bead wire 10a is spirally wound in a continuous around a tire rotational axis CL so that a plurality of layers of the bead wire are formed in a radial direction of the tire. The wire wound body 10 comprises a first part 13 and a second part 14. The first part 13 comprises a plurality of layers of the bead wire 10a each circumferentially extending with a constant radius from the tire rotational axis CL. The second part comprises a plurality of layers of the bead wire 10a each circumferentially extending while changing its radius from the tire rotational axis CL.

A carcass sleeve is situated in a radially external position with respect to a toroidal forming drum, arranged in a first radially contracted operative condition. The carcass sleeve is shaped according to a toroidal configuration while the forming drum is positioned inside the carcass sleeve. During shaping of the carcass sleeve, the forming drum is radially expanded up to a second radially expanded operative condition. Upon completed shaping, the carcass sleeve is coupled to the forming drum in the second operative condition. The forming drum, coupled to the shaped carcass sleeve, is arranged in proximity to at least one device for building at least one belt layer at a radially external position relative to the shaped carcass sleeve.

A tire comprises a tread portion provided with a band composed of at least one band cord wound spirally and circumferentially of the tire and embedded in the tread portion. When a band cord piece is taken out from the above-said at least one band cord embedded in the tread portion and measured for the length, a length Lb is equal to or smaller than a length La at least in a part of the tread portion, where the length Lb is measured at a first point of time after the band cord piece has been taken out, and the length La is measured at a second point of time after the first point of time.

An application device for applying a conductive insert on a tyre being processed. The application device includes a supply device for supplying a conductive liquid elastomeric compound, and an applicator having a movable surface for being operatively coupled with the supply device and receiving the conductive liquid elastomeric compound. The movable surface is for being placed in contact with a rotating tyre being processed and for applying the conductive liquid elastomeric compound on at least one coil of axially adjacent and/or partially superimposed coils. The applicator generates depressions in the tyre in a pattern defined by elements in relief and fills the depressions in the tyre with the conductive liquid elastomeric compound to covering the elements as the depressions in the tyre are generated.

A method for forming a composite tread, the method comprising the steps of: forming a coextruded strip of a first compound and a second compound, wherein the first compound is a tread compound, and the second compound is formed from a second compound, wherein the tread is formed from winding the coextruded strip onto the tire building drum while varying the ratio of the first compound to the second compound