Method for manufacturing or retreading a pneumatic tire

A method for manufacturing a pneumatic tire, comprising:

• forming a toroidal carcass structure of the tire;
• forming a tread band of the tire;
• placing the tire in a curing mould;
• and
• moulding and curing the tire;
• wherein the carcass structure comprises:
• a crown portion;
• and
• two axially opposed sidewalls;
• wherein the crown portion is defined between the sidewalls,
• wherein the sidewalls extend radially toward an axis of rotation of the tire,
• wherein each sidewall terminates in a circumferential portion comprising an annular reinforcing structure for mounting the tire on a corresponding rim,
• wherein the tread band extends circumferentially around the carcass structure,
• wherein the tread band comprises a moulded relief pattern comprising solids alternating with cavities at least in an axial direction of the tire,
• wherein forming the tread band comprises:
• producing a strip of elastomeric material;
• and
• winding the strip onto the crown portion of the carcass structure;
• wherein the strip comprises an elongated right cross-section that is asymmetrical in a transverse direction,
• wherein the strip is wound in a plurality of axially consecutive turns until the tread band is formed,
• wherein at least one turn is at least partly overlapped onto a previously deposited, axially consecutive turn,
• wherein a thickness of the tread band varies in the axial direction of the tire,
• wherein the shape of the right cross-section and the amount of overlap of the axially consecutive turns result in a plurality of cavities and reliefs that substantially match solids and hollows, respectively, of a moulding matrix for the tread band, and
• wherein the axially consecutive turns resulting in the plurality of cavities and reliefs are formed by winding the strip onto the crown portion via axial displacement of the strip in a single axial direction.