Vehicle tire that can be elastically fitted with studs

A method of providing at least one anti-skid stud hole (5) in a cap (29) of a vehicle tire (30), the tire (30) comprising a carcass (3) and a cap (29), the cap (29) comprising a first hard rubber layer (1) facing the carcass (3) and a second rubber layer (2) positioned exteriorly of the first layer (1), the rubber of the second layer (2) being more resilient than the rubber of the first layer (1) and forming a tread (7) for die tire (30), the anti-skid stud hole (5) being adapted to receive an anti-skid stud (20) of the type having a bottom flange (21), and wherein the anti-skid stud hole (5) and a surface pattern comprising a plurality of grooves (4) are pressed into the first and second layers (1,2) by a surface pattern mould (10) while said layers are in a plastic state, the mould (10) comprising at least one pin (11) for producing the hole (5), the method comprising:

• placing the first and second layers (1,2) on top of each other while said layers are in the plastic state, the layers (1,2) meeting at an interface (28);
• providing the mould (10) with a pin (11) comprising a tip recess (15), the pin (11) being of a length whereby the tip recess (15) forces a portion of the rubber of the second layer (2) at least partly into the rubber of the first layer (1) to provide an elastic cushion (6) from the rubber of the second layer (2) at the bottom (8) of the hole (5);
• pressing the mould (10) against the second layer (2) in a direction (P) extending towards the carcass (3) to form the tread (7) and the stud hole (5), the stud hole (5) extending at least partly into the rubber of the first layer (1), said portion of the rubber of the second layer (2) being forced at least partly into the rubber of the first layer (1) to provide the elastic cushion (6) at the bottom (8) of the hole (5);
• vulcanizing the layers (1,2) into a resilient operative condition;
• and
• removing the mould (10).