Method of manufacturing radial tires

A method of manufacturing a low aspect ratio radial earthmover tire, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an unvulcanized first-stage radial tire carcass;
• (b) providing a pre-assembled tread reinforcing structure that is attached by means for attachment to an inner circumferential surface of an annular ring, said tread reinforcing structure comprising at least two tread reinforcing plies and at least one circumferential wrap of substantially inextensible restrictor band material located radially outwardly of said tread reinforcing plies, said restrictor band material comprising nylon cords which are substantially parallel to each other and have a substantially zero-degree orientation with respect to the mid-circumferential plane of said radial tire carcass, said restrictor band material thereby preventing expansion of the unvulcanized radial tire carcass beyond a predetermined outside diameter at its mid-circumferential plane;
• (c) mounting said first-stage radial tire carcass on a bladder assembly and introducing inflation pressure into said bladder assembly to maintain said tire carcass in a fixed relationship with said bladder assembly;
• (d) inserting said bladder assembly, with said tire carcass mounted thereon, into said annular ring such that said pre-assembled tread reinforcing structure is axially centered with respect to said first-stage radial tire carcass, then increasing the inflation pressure in said bladder assembly such that said first-stage radial tire carcass expands into a toroidal-like shape and becomes adhered to said tread reinforcing structure;
• (e) removing said annular ring from around said tread reinforcing structure, leaving said tread reinforcing structure assembled with said radial tire carcass;
• (f) applying tread material circumferentially about the unvulcanized radial tire carcass manufactured in step (e) to form an unvulcanized radial tire, and continuing to maintain an internal inflation pressure in said bladder assembly;
• and
• (g) placing the unvulcanized radial tire and bladder assembly into a curing mold having a tread ring with an inside diameter sufficient to receive said unvulcanized tire, and vulcanizing said tire.