Drum for manufacturing belt and tread of a tire

A method for manufacturing a package of a belt layer and a tread layer into a cylindrical tire component, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• providing a belt and tread drum which is rotatable about a drum centre line, and comprises a rigid support surface for the tire component, wherein said support surface is situated at the outward facing circumferential surface of the drum, wherein the belt and tread drum comprises two support members which are arranged spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of said drum, wherein the support members each comprises a tread support surface which faces away from the drum centre line and which tread support surfaces are radially movable with respect to the rigid support surface, wherein the tread support surfaces are movable in the longitudinal direction of said drum towards each other and away from each other, for adjusting the distance between the support members, wherein the support members are arranged in a retracted position wherein the tread support surfaces are arranged at or near the rigid support surface,
• arranging one or more belt layers around the belt and tread drum on the rigid support surface, wherein the one or more belt layers are arranged to run between the two support members,
• moving the tread support surfaces in the longitudinal direction of said drum toward each other or away from each other for adjusting the distance between the support members to a width of the one or more belt layers,
• moving the support members into a raised position with respect to the rigid support surface wherein the tread support surfaces are arranged at a radially outward position with respect to the rigid support surface,
• arranging a tread layer around the belt and tread drum on the one or more belt layers while the support members are into the raised position, wherein a leading end and a trailing end of the tread layer overlap at an overlap area, wherein the tread layer is arranged such that the overlap area is positioned partially on top of said tread support surfaces, and
• using a stitching device comprising a stitching roll to stitch the overlapping leading end and trailing end of the tread layer together.