Process for manufacturing tires

摘要

A process of manufacturing a pneumatic tire ( 300 ) with oppositely disposed annularly-shaped beads ( 324 ) for mounting on flange shoulders ( 304 ) of a wheel rim ( 302 ) with the opposed beads ( 324 ) spaced apart from one another by a distance "i". The process comprises the steps of: forming a green tire assembly ( 308 ) including a tread ( 312 ), and a carcass ( 316 ) with a ply ( 320 ) and opposed sidewalls ( 318 ) that each include a radial inner-end bead portion ( 322 ) with one of the beads ( 324 ) and wherein each bead portion ( 322 ) is spaced apart from one another by a distance "f". The green tire assembly ( 308 ) is cured by applying pressure thereto at an elevated temperature in a vulcanization mold ( 400 ). The process is characterized by the steps of spacing the opposed beads ( 324 ) apart from one another by a distance "g" which is substantially equal to the distance "f" therebetween when the green tire assembly ( 308 ) was formed. The tire ( 300 ) is removed hot from the vulcanization mold ( 400 ) and mounted on a post cure inflation (PCI) stand ( 460 ) with the opposed beads ( 324 ) being spaced with a distance "h" therebetween which is substantially equal to the distance "i" therebetween when the cured tire ( 300 ) is mounted on the wheel rim ( 302 ). The hot tire ( 300 ) while mounted on the PCI stand ( 460 ) is inflated to a pressure of from substantially 25% to 125% of the normal operating pressure of the cured tire ( 300 ) and allowed to cool.