Air barrier film tubing to replace inner-liner (butyl)

A method of providing an air barrier layer to a tire comprising at least the steps of:

• providing a tire comprising a tire cavity and an inner surface facing the tire cavity, wherein the tire is devoid of an innerliner comprising butyl rubber;
• providing a tubular film with at least one open end;
• molding at least a portion of the tubular film to form an air barrier layer adapted to the inner surface of the tire;
• inserting the tubular film at least partially into the tire cavity;
• and
• expanding the tubular film in the tire cavity to form the air barrier layer adapted to the inner surface of the tire, wherein the tubular film is expanded by a pressurized fluid fed into the tubular film, and wherein the at least one open end of the tubular film is sealed by sealing plates and the fluid is provided through an inlet in one sealing plate into the tubular film inside the tire cavity to expand the tubular film in the tire cavity to form the air barrier layer adapted to the inner surface of the tire.