Method and apparatus for applying cushion gum to a tire casing

A method of applying cushion gum to a tire casing, comprising the steps of:

• selecting one of a plurality of recipes for applying cushion gum based on one of a size, model and shape of the tire casing, the plurality of recipes providing one or more combinations of one or more predetermined pressures, extruder crush distances, extruder stop distances, and extruder smear distances for applying cushion gum to a tire casing;
• pressurizing the tire casing to a predetermined pressure based on the selected recipe;
• crushing the tire casing with an extruder head a predetermined amount of the tire casing radius, the predetermined amount based on the selected recipe;
• extruding the cushion gum from the extruder head onto the tire casing and about the tire casing circumference to a predetermined stop distance less than three hundred sixty degrees about the tire casing as the tire casing rotates and as the tire casing is crushed according to the step of crushing, the predetermined extrusion stop distance being based upon the selected recipe;
• the method further comprising the step of smearing the cushion gum remaining at an extruder head-tire casing interface at least about the remainder of the tire casing circumference by a predetermined smear distance based upon the selected recipe, the step of smearing being performed after the step of extruding about the tire casing circumference to a predetermined stop distance.