Tire With Pressure Zero Sidewall Hoop Rings and Method of Manufacture

A manufacturing process for pressure zero tires having additional steps to those employed in standard tire building processes, comprising:

• after carcass plies are placed on a building drum, covering the ends of the plies with a liner to prevent sticking of the carcass plies above where first hoop rings will be placed;
• turning the carcass plies up over the bead;
• placing another strip of liner covering from where the carcass plies will end up and turn down toward the crown covering the area where side wall strips will be placed;
• placing the side wall strips on the drum and inflating the carcass to shape the tire;
• subsequently pulling down the side walls to allow placement of the first hoop rings;
• after the first hoop rings are applied, turning down the carcass plies over the first hoop rings and removing the liner from the plies and then rolling the assembly to remove air;
• then removing the other strip of liner and replacing the side wall strips to their proper location and again rolling out air;
• and
• then proceeding with a normal tire build operation.