Method for forming a pneumatic tire

A method for forming a tire, the tire comprising a tread having a non-skid depth d, the tread comprising tread elements separated by a tread groove and a circumferential or lateral groove in a least one of the tread elements, wherein a wearable filler is located in the radially outer portion of the circumferential or lateral groove or a portion of the circumferential or lateral groove, a groove void being created radially inward of the wearable filler, the void being exposed upon wear of the tread, the method comprising the following steps:

• a) forming a green tire;
• the green tire having;
• a tread
• b) curing the tire, the cured tire tread comprising tread elements separated by a tread groove and a circumferential or lateral groove in at least one of the tread elements;
• each of the tread groove and the circumferential or lateral groove having the non-skid depth d
• c) forming a wearable filler;
• the filler having a configuration corresponding to at least a portion of the circumferential or lateral groove formed in the tire;
• d) curing the wearable filler;
• e) securing the wearable filler in the cured tire tread in the radially outer portion of at least a portion of the circumferential or lateral groove of the tire such that the radially outer surface of the wearable filler is substantially flush with the ground contacting surface of the at least one tread element, thereby creating a groove void exposable upon wear of the tread.