Method for building pneumatic tires in an improved tire mold

A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire in a tire mold having upper and lower mold sections forming a mold cavity, each of the upper and lower mold sections having upper and lower mold rings adjacent an opening into the mold cavity, the method including:

• providing a seal ring assembly including first and second clamp rings projecting into the mold cavity opening and having first and second elastomeric seal rings secured to the first and second clamp rings, respectively, so that the free ends of the first and second elastomeric seal rings extend into the mold cavity for sealing first and second tire bead sections of a tire assembly against the upper and lower mold rings, respectively;
• loading the tire assembly into the lower mold section while spaced away from the upper mold section by forcing the second tire bead section across the first and second elastomeric seal rings causing the first and second elastomeric seal rings to bend downward, stretching the free ends of the first and second elastomeric seal rings out of the way of the second tire bead section until the second tire bead section is against lower mold ring;
• sealing the second tire bead section against the lower mold ring by abutting the second elastomeric seal ring against the second tire bead section;
• and
• lowering the upper mold section into sealing engagement with the lower mold section while the upper mold ring engages the first tire bead section and moves the first tire bead section downward until the first elastomeric seal ring forms a seal against the first tire bead section.