Tire ply and method of manufacture

A method of forming a layer of tire ply comprising the following steps:

• a. providing a first strip of ply having a plurality of evenly spaced reinforcement cords with a spacing S, and having a lateral end, wherein the last two cords at the lateral end are spaced apart a distance X, wherein X is not equal to S;
• b. providing a second strip of ply having a plurality of evenly spaced reinforcement cords having a spacing S, and having a lateral end, wherein the last two cords at the lateral end are spaced apart a distance Y, wherein Y is not equal to S;
• c. joining the first and second lateral ends so that the spacing X completely overlaps with the spacing Y so that they are in a parallel relationship.

A pneumatic radial tire comprising:

• a carcass ply wound around each of a pair of bead cores, wherein the carcass ply is formed from a first strip of ply and a second strip of ply, wherein the first strip of ply has a plurality of evenly spaced reinforcement cords with a spacing S, and having a lateral end, wherein the last two cords at the lateral end are spaced apart a distance X, wherein X is not equal to S;
• wherein the second strip of ply has a plurality of evenly spaced reinforcement cords having a spacing S, and having a lateral end, wherein the last two cords at the lateral end are spaced apart a distance Y, wherein Y is not equal to S;
• wherein the first and second lateral ends are joined together in a lap joint wherein the spacing X partially overlaps with the spacing Y.