Method of making a tread for the recapping of tires

A method of producing a circumferentially complete storable tread or a section thereof for use in the recapping of tires, comprising the steps of providing a mold having a bottom surface of an outline complementary to the desired profile of an external surface of the tread;

• introducing into the mold an effective amount of raw rubber so as to form in the mold a layer having an exposed surface corresponding to the internal surface of the tread and a concealed surface adjacent to the bottom surface of the mold;
• pressing against said exposed surface of said layer a deforming structure having a plurality of projections and recesses to impart to said exposed surface a complementary configuration and to simultaneously press said layer against the bottom surface of the mold so that said concealed surface assumes said desired profile;
• converting said layer into a prefabricated tread having a profiled external surface and a configurated internal surface suited for subsequent bonding to a tire to be recapped, including heating said layer;
• applying a removable layer of impermeable material to said internal surface of said tread to prevent access of the ambient air to said internal surface;
• and storing said tread prior to the use thereof for recapping for a storage period during which oxidation of the rubber forming said internal surface is prevented by said layer, whereby said internal surface is ready for immediate bonding without roughening to a tire to be recapped upon removal of said layer of impermeable material.