Method of manufacturing a carcass structure and a vehicle tire

A method of manufacturing a vehicle tire, comprising:

• manufacturing a carcass structure;
• applying a belt structure to the carcass structure at a circumferentially-outer position of the carcass structure;
• circumferentially superposing a tread band on the belt structure;
• and
• providing sidewalls on opposite side portions of the carcass structure;
• wherein manufacturing the carcass structure comprises:
• preparing strip sections;
• laying down a first series of the strip sections on a toroidal support;
• applying first primary portions of annular reinforcing structures against end flaps of the strip sections of the first series at axially-opposite positions relative to an equatorial plane of the toroidal support;
• laying down on the toroidal support at least one second series of the strip sections;
• laying down on the toroidal support a third series of the strip sections;
• applying second primary portions of the annular reinforcing structures against end flaps of the strip sections of the third series at axially-opposite positions relative to the first primary portions;
• and
• laying down on the toroidal support at least one fourth series of the strip sections;
• wherein each strip section comprises longitudinal and parallel thread elements at least partly coated with at least one layer of raw elastomer material,
• wherein each strip section of the first series extends in a substantially U-shaped conformation around a cross-sectional outline of the toroidal support,
• wherein each strip section of the first series is circumferentially distributed according to a circumferential pitch corresponding to a multiple of a width of the strip sections of the first series,
• wherein each strip section of the at least one second series extends in a substantially U-shaped conformation around the cross-sectional outline of the toroidal support between two consecutive strip sections of the first series, in order to define, together with the strip sections of the first series, a first carcass ply,
• wherein each strip section of the at least one second series comprises end flaps overlapping respective first primary portions of the annular reinforcing structures at an axially-opposite position relative to the end flaps of the strip sections of the first series,
• wherein each strip section of the third series extends in a substantially U-shaped conformation around the cross-sectional outline of the toroidal support,
• wherein each strip section of the third series is circumferentially distributed according to a circumferential pitch corresponding to a multiple of a width of the strip sections of the third series,
• wherein each strip section of the at least one fourth series extends in a substantially U-shaped conformation around the cross-sectional outline of the toroidal support between two consecutive strip sections of the third series, in order to define, together with the strip sections of the third series, a second carcass ply overlapping the first carcass ply, and
• wherein each strip section of the at least one fourth series comprises end flaps overlapping respective second primary portions of the annular reinforcing structures at an axially-opposite position relative to the end flaps of the strip sections of the third series.