Abstract: A center split, segmented mold for curing a complete tire is provided, comprising a mold container top containing a top mold sidewall plate and a plurality of top tread segments disposed generally equidistant from a central axis and adjacently abutting each other when the mold is in a closed position; and a mold container bottom containing a bottom mold sidewall plate and a plurality of bottom tread segments disposed generally equidistant from the axis and adjacently abutting each other when the mold is in a closed position. Each of the top and bottom tread segments are resiliently biased toward the mold centerline by spring mechanisms, and are slidably coupled to respective frustoconical surfaces of the mold container, such that vertical movement of the mold container top along the axis from a closed position to an open position is translated into outward radial movement of the top and bottom tread segments away from the axis.

Abstract: A method of making radial pneumatic tires substantially reduces or eliminates sidewall indentations in the inflated tire. A plurality of cuts is made in one end of each layer of ply fabric where the end of the ply fabric overlaps the other end to form a splice which results in the generally annular shape of the ply layer. The cuts extend in a direction generally transverse to the end edge and preferably have a length which is approximately the same as the width of the overlap of the cut edge with the other edge. The cuts prevent overtensioning of the ply cords, which otherwise result in sidewall indentations.