Method of mounting a non-pneumatic tire onto a hub

A method for mounting a non-pneumatic tire onto a hub;

• the non-pneumatic tire defining axial, radial, and circumferential directions;
• the non-pneumatic tire having an annular shear band and a plurality of spokes, each spoke having a central spoke portion positioned along the axial direction between a pair of corresponding outer spoke portions, each central spoke portion and outer spoke portions having a radially-outer end connected with the annular shear band, each central spoke portion and outer spoke portions having a radially-inner end;
• the hub having a plurality of grooves spaced apart along the circumferential direction with each groove having a longitudinal axis extending along the axial direction;
• the method for mounting comprising:
• placing the hub into a central opening defined by the non-pneumatic tire;
• inserting the radially-inner ends of the central spoke portions into the grooves of the hub with one central spoke portion per groove;
• deforming the annular shear band radially-inward towards the hub so as to decrease a distance along the radial direction between the annular shear band and the hub;
• sliding the radially-inner ends of the corresponding outer spoke portions of at least one central spoke portion into one of the grooves circumferentially adjacent to a groove containing the radially-inner end of the at least one central spoke portion;
• undeforming the annular shear band so as to increase the distance along the radial direction between the annular shear band and the hub;
• rotating the tire and hub a predetermined amount;
• and
• repeating the deforming, sliding, undeforming, and rotating until all of the outer spoke portions are connected to the hub.