System and method for stabilizing lateral wings of precured tread during cementing

A method of preparing a precured tread, comprising:

• providing an elongated strip of precured tread having a major portion including a tread surface and at least part of an underside surface opposite the tread surface, and having a lateral wing projecting from each lateral side of the major portion of the precured tread, each lateral wing being configured to form at least a portion of a shoulder of a tire and having a thickness that is less than a thickness of the major portion of the precured tread such that, when the tread surface is supported on and facing a support surface, at least a portion of each lateral wing is elevated with respect to the support surface, wherein the thickness of each lateral wing is from 1.0 mm to 3.5 mm, as measured vertically at its projection from each lateral side of the major portion;
• applying a polymer cement to the underside surface of the precured tread with an applicator;
• wherein during the applying of the polymer cement, each lateral wing is stabilized with a respective stabilizer at least at the portion of the lateral wing that is elevated with respect to the support surface, wherein each stabilizer includes a bearing surface that engages against an interface surface of the lateral wing that faces toward the support surface and is elevated with respect to the support surface, such that the respective stabilizers stabilize each lateral wing by vertically supporting each lateral wing above the support surface;
• wherein each stabilizer includes at least one adjuster configured to modulate the horizontal and/or vertical and/or angular positioning of the support based on a positioning of each lateral wing;
• wherein the at least one adjuster includes:
• one or more manually-adjustable mechanical adjusters;
• and/or one or more electromechanical adjusters;
• and/or one or more hydraulic or pneumatic adjusters;
• and/or one or more elastic adjusters.