Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Jean-Jacques Chateau

Robert G Young

David Lee Pressley

Henry Schmitt

Martin C Chapman

Robert Young

In particular embodiments, a method of forming a retreaded tire includes the steps of: applying a tread to a tread-engaging portion of a tire carcass, the tread having an initial width and a layer of cushion gum interposed between the tread and tire carcass; placing a curing membrane about the tread to form a tire curing assembly having a compartment between the membrane and tread; placing the tire curing assembly in a vessel chamber; pressurizing the chamber to a predetermined pressure; heating the chamber to a predetermined temperature; pressurizing the compartment to a pressure greater than 14.7 psia and less than the chamber pressure to provide a pressure differential, the step initializing after the step of pressurizing the chamber initializes and whereby a final tread width is provided that is equal to 98.0% or more of the initial tread width when the initial tread width is approximately 290-500 mm.

Method of controlling tread shrinkage during curing

A method and apparatus for balancing a tire during a retreading operation includes measuring the radial runout the buffed tire casing and applying the gum layer and tread strip to compensate for variances in runout. The gum layer is applied so that an overlap or smear is formed at the relative low portion of the casing. The tread strip is applied with the joint at the same low portion in cases where the low portion has a relatively large variance, or at another location if the variance is small or other low portions exist. In addition, the thickness of the gum layer and tread strip may be controlled for further compensation of the runout variance.

Method and apparatus for balancing tires during retreading

Growing community of inventors

Piedmont, SC, United States of America

Jean-Jacques Chateau