Method of forming a belt structure for a pneumatic tire

A method of forming a belt structure for a pneumatic tire, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a drum, the drum including:
• an axially-extending circumferential center section, the center section including a first center section edge and a second center section edge;
• an axially-disposed circumferential drum first edge near the first edge of the center section;
• an axially-disposed circumferential drum second edge near the second edge of the center section;
• a first end surface extending radially inwardly from the first edge of the center section to the drum first edge and including a radius that is smaller than a radius of the center section;
• and
• a second end surface extending radially inwardly from the second edge of the center section to the drum second edge and including a radius that is smaller than a radius of the center section;
• providing at least one strip, the strip being reinforced by a plurality of cords and including an axially outer edge and an axially inner edge;
• winding the at least one strip about the drum in a circumferential direction between the first and second drum edges;
• and
• turning the at least one strip from a first winding angle to a second winding angle on the first end surface, whereby the turning reduces a difference of at least one of a length and a tension between cords disposed adjacent the axially outer edge of the strip and cords disposed adjacent the axially inner edge of the strip.