Self-supporting tyre for vehicle wheels, and method for manufacturing the same

A method of manufacturing a self-supporting tire for vehicle wheels, comprising the steps of:

• preparing a carcass structure (2) comprising at least one carcass ply (3a, 3b) having end flaps in engagement with respective annular anchoring structures (4) disposed concentric with a geometric rotation axis of the tire at axially spaced apart positions with respect to each other;
• applying a belt structure (5) to the carcass structure (2) at a radially outer position thereof;
• applying a tread band (8) to the belt structure (5) at a radially outer position thereof;
• applying a pair of sidewalls (9) to the carcass structure (2) at opposite side positions;
• incorporating at least one pair of resilient stiffening inserts (16) into the carcass structure (2) concurrently with preparation of said at least one carcass ply (3a, 3b),
• characterized in that preparation of the carcass structure (2) involves the following steps:
• preparing strip-like lengths (13, 14) each comprising longitudinal and parallel thread-like elements;
• laying down axially inner strip-like lengths (13) circumferentially distributed on the toroidal support (11), each of said axially inner lengths (13) extending in a U-shaped configuration around the cross-section outline of the toroidal support (11), to define two side portions (13a) mutually spaced apart in an axial direction, and a crown portion (13b) extending at a radially outer position between the side portions (13a);
• applying said resilient stiffening inserts (16) at an axially outer position relative to the side portions (13a) of the axially inner lengths (13);
• laying down axially outer strip-like lengths (14) circumferentially distributed on the toroidal support (11), each of said axially outer lengths (14) extending in a U-shaped configuration around the cross-section outline of the toroidal support (11), to define two side portions (14a) mutually spaced apart in an axial direction, each extending at an axially outer position relative to one of the resilient stiffening inserts (16), and a crown portion (14b) extending at a radially outer position between the side portions (14a).