Molding method for tire production

A molding process wherein a tire is molded within a tire mold;

• the tire mold having movable elements that can be moved to bring the tire mold into an open or into a closed position, the tire mold defining in the closed position a tire mold axis;
• the tire mold including a first and a second sidewall mold plates and a plurality of tread mold segments cooperating with the sidewall mold plates to form a tire mold cavity, the tread mold segments being movable radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the tire mold axis;
• the process comprising:
• arranging an uncured tire in the tire mold when the tire mold is in the open position;
• bringing the tire mold from the open position into a first intermediate, partially closed, position wherein the plurality of tread mold segments occupy a substantially final axial position but remain separated radially from the uncured tire by a radial clearance;
• creating an axial clearance between the uncured tire and at least one of the first and second sidewall mold plates so as to bring the tire mold into a second intermediate, partially closed, position;
• drawing a vacuum on the mold cavity while the tire mold is in the second intermediate position;
• bringing the tire mold from the second intermediate position into the first intermediate position by axially moving the at least one of the first and second sidewall mold plates;
• and
• moving the tread mold segments radially inwardly and bringing the tire mold into the closed position.