Abstract: To compensate for shifts of the mid-circumferential centerline of an expansible carcass relative to the apparatus for expanding the carcass into an inexpansible breaker-belt positioned coaxially and in annularly spaced relation therearound, a reference plane is provided by three circumferentially spaced points directly connected to and equidistantly from the mid-circumferential line of the carcass. The breaker-belt can then be registered in symmetrically centered relation to the carcass by reference to such reference plane despite shifts of such line relative to the apparatus.The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: A first stage radial ply carcass and an endless breaker belt are built conventionally about horizontal axes. Carcass and belt separately are upended, to axis-vertical positions. The respective mid-circumferential planes of the carcass and the belt are made coplanar and coincident about the vertical axis of a shaping and curing core, without fixed reference to the vertical axis. The core is raised, into and through the carcass and expanded, first to support the carcass without significant radial deformation due to gravity, and then to expand the carcass to adhere the belt therearound. The assembly of core and belted carcass is then returned to horizontal orientation to receive tread therearound. The tire is cured conventionally while the shaping core remains in the tire, still inflated, preferably with an inert gas.