Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making a pneumatic tire having a foam noise damper, the pneumatic tire comprising two spaced inextensible beads; a ground contacting tread portion; a pair of individual sidewalls extending radially inward from the axial outer edges of said tread portion to join the respective beads, the axial outer edges of the tread portion defining a tread width; a supporting carcass for the tread portion and sidewalls; an innerliner disposed radially inward of the carcass, the innerliner having a innerliner surface facing an interior cavity of the tire; the method comprising the steps of: applying a silicone adhesive to the innerliner surface to form an adhesive prepared surface; applying a solid foam noise reducer to the adhesive prepared surface; and curing the adhesive.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making a tire having a foam noise damper, comprising the steps of: pressing a barrier layer onto an exposed virgin surface of a green tire innerliner to adhere the barrier layer to the virgin surface and thereby form a protected green innerliner; exposing the protected green innerliner to the release agent; curing the protected green innerliner; removing the barrier layer to reveal the virgin surface substantially free of the release agent; applying a foamable liquid to the virgin surface; and foaming the foamable liquid to form a foam noise damper secured to the virgin surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making a tire having a foam noise damper, comprising the steps of: pressing a barrier layer onto an exposed virgin surface of a green tire innerliner to adhere the barrier layer to the virgin surface and thereby form a protected green innerliner; curing the protected green innerliner; removing the barrier layer to reveal the virgin surface; and securing a foam noise damper to the virgin surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making a tire having a foam noise damper, comprising the steps of: disposing a silicone rubber foam noise damper onto an exposed virgin surface of a green innerliner of a green tire; disposing a barrier layer over the silicone rubber foam noise damper, the silicone rubber foam noise damper being located between the virgin surface of the green tire innerliner and the barrier layer; curing the green tire; and removing the barrier layer to reveal the silicone rubber foam noise damper.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making a tire having a foam noise damper, comprising the steps of: disposing a foam noise damper onto a virgin surface of a green tire innerliner; disposing a barrier layer over the foam noise damper, the foam noise damper being located between the virgin surface of the green tire innerliner and the barrier layer; incorporating the green tire innerliner into a green tire; curing the green tire; and removing the barrier layer to reveal the foam noise damper.

Abstract: A tire tread has at least three rows of tread elements, each tread element in the at rows has at least one sipe and at least one sipe in each tread element row has a tie bar therein. Each tie bar in the sipes has a volume, and the volume of the sipe tie bar in each tread element in each row is not more than 10% different than the volume of the sipe tie bar in each tread element in any other tread row. Several of the tread rows have transverse grooves having groove tie bars therein.