Abstract: A method for controlling a phase of molding an annular fixing structure of a green tire includes: introducing the green tire into a curing mold including an inflatable bladder; delimiting at least one portion of the annular fixing structure by using a first and a second surface opposed to each other; bringing the first surface and the second surface so as to bring a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface into contact with a corresponding radially inner and axially inner surface portion and a corresponding radially inner and axially outer surface portion, respectively, the annular fixing structure generating a first squeezing pressure; inflating the inflatable bladder of the curing mould so as to bring the first and the second surfaces closer together, thus generating a second squeezing pressure in such a way as to shape the radially inner and axially inner surface portions and the radially inner and axially outer surface portions of the annular fixing structure.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a tire having a plurality of vibration absorbers wherein, (i) the vibration absorbers have at least one spring element and at least one absorber mass element, each element having a first and second surface such that the first surface of the spring element is attached to the tire carcass or attached to or embedded into the tire inner liner, and (ii) the first surface of the absorber mass element is attached to the second surface of the spring element, or the absorber mass element is embedded into the spring element.

Abstract: A ballistic resilient run-flat tire device, kit and method for manufacturing the same are presented for providing a vehicle a capability of traveling for at least 30 miles at 30 miles per hour, after the device has been compromised as of result of exposure due to ballistic ordinance rifle shots such as 7.62×39 mm and 7.62×54 R or air loss from road hazard punctures. The device includes a tire carcass and a polyurethane inner coating inside the tire carcass that defines an inflatable hollow chamber within the ballistic resilient run-flat tire. The tire carcass has an annular tread, sidewalls, and beads. The polyurethane inner coating inside the tire carcass defining a hollow chamber provides additional protection along the sidewalls and tread of the tire carcass. The kit includes the un-interconnected elements of the device. The method includes the steps of curing, discharging, filling, injecting, introducing, mounting, obtaining, and preparing.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire includes: at least one carcass layer suspended across left and right bead parts; a belt layer arranged on an outer circumferential side of the carcass layer; and a tread arranged on an outer circumferential side of the belt layer. The tread has a laminated structure in which a thermoplastic film layer of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition is interposed between a tread-side rubber layer and a belt layer-side rubber layer. The thermoplastic elastomer composition is obtained by blending an elastomer in a thermoplastic resin. A process for producing a retreaded tire includes the steps of: forming a base tire from the pneumatic radial tire by softening the thermoplastic film layer through heating so as to separate and remove the tread-side rubber layer, the pneumatic radial tire having the tread worn away; and subsequently bonding a new tread-side rubber layer onto the base tire.

Abstract: A method for producing a pneumatic tire in which an air-in phenomenon between an inner liner and a carcass is avoided by preventing adhesion of the inner liner to a bladder includes the following steps. A green tire using, as an inner liner, a polymer laminate including a first layer having a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.6 mm made of a styrene-isobutylene-styrene triblock copolymer, and a second layer composed of at least one of a second A layer made of a styrene-isoprene-styrene triblock copolymer and a second B layer made of a styrene-isobutylene diblock copolymer, the second layer having a thickness of 0.01 mm to 0.3 mm, is prepared. The green tire is mounted in a mold for vulcanization with pressurization by the bladder to obtain a vulcanized tire. The vulcanized tire is cooled at 50 to 120° C. for 10 to 300 seconds.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an air maintenance tire and pump assembly comprising: a tire having 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; 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; an elongate substantially annular air passageway enclosed within a bending region of the tire, the air passageway operatively closing and opening segment by segment as the bending region of the tire passes through a rolling tire footprint to pump air along the air passageway; an air inlet port assembly coupled to and in air flow communication with the air passageway at an inlet air passageway junction, the air inlet port assembly operable to channel inlet air from outside of the tire into the air passageway, the air

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber cement, fabricated tire tread and resulting tire, where the tire tread is fabricated by joining ends of an uncured rubber strip together with a silica coupler-containing rubber cement between opposing ends of the uncured tread rubber strip where the rubber strip contains a high content of hydrophobated precipitated silica and where the cement contains a silica coupling agent.

Abstract: During building of a carcass structure, a liner is applied around an outer surface of a primary drum by: circumferentially winding at least one pair of sheets of elastomeric material around an outer surface of the primary drum, which sheets are axially spaced apart from each other so as to form respective axially external portions of the liner; laying at least one continuous elongated element of elastomeric material in the form of a plurality of mutually approached coils around the outer surface of the primary drum in order to form a central portion of the liner having axially external edges that are each associated with an axially internal edge of one of said axially external portions of the liner.

Abstract: A tire comprising an overlay ply wherein (i) the shoulder section of the overlay comprises an elastomer and short polymeric or non-polymeric reinforcing fibers present in an amount of from 0.1 to 10 parts fiber per hundred parts of elastomer, the short fibers having a tenacity of at least 2 grams per dtex, a modulus of at least 10 grams per dtex and a length of from 0.1 to 8 mm and wherein the fibers are aligned substantially parallel to each other in a controlled angle of orientation within the overlay wherein the orientation is selected such that it decreases tire noise, and (ii) the section of overlay in the crown of the tire comprising cords of continuous filament polymeric fibers or continuous strands of metal or combinations thereof, the cords being aligned in a circumferential direction around the tire.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly and a method for manufacturing a green tyre and/or a green air spring. The device comprises a template having a shaping surface (2) for placing a tyre component thereon comprising a layer of unvulcanized rubber for the green tyre and/or green air spring. The shaping surface (2) is provided with an attachment surface (9) for at least temporarily retaining at least a leading section of the tyre component. The attachment surface (9) comprises a number of adhering surface sections (3) with non-adhering surface sections (4) placed in between them, wherein the non-adhering surface sections (4) are at least partially receded with respect to the adhering surface sections (3). In one embodiment the attachment surface (9) comprises a substantially saw-tooth-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: The invention enables a built band (B) in a cylindrical shape to be easily and surely detached by peeling off the band (B) from being brought into close contact with a drum peripheral face in an expandable and contractable band building drum (D) constituted by two kinds of pluralities of segments (1a)(1b) arranged alternately in a peripheral direction, a diameter of one segment (1a) of two kinds of segments (1a)(1b) is contracted, thereafter, the segment (1a) is temporarily returned to a diameter expanding state, a diameter of other segment (1b) is contracted, thereby, the band (B) is peeled off from being brought into close contact with the drum outer peripheral face, thereafter, the band (B) is detached by bringing both of the segments (1a)(1b) into a diameter contracting state.

Abstract: A VF rated radial implement tire is provided utilizing a steel belted radial TBR tire body design which can be utilized in existing TBR cavity molds, and modifying the tire to have a ribbed implement tread pattern. The tire is designed for operation at relatively low inflation pressures with relatively high wall flexibility. Thus an agricultural implement tire is provided having higher load carrying capability than similarly sized conventional bias ply agricultural implement tires.

Abstract: The invention provides an autoclave capable of creating a uniform temperature distribution inside a pressurized chamber and a method for manufacturing tires using the autoclave. The autoclave shaped as a cylindrical pressurized chamber has a heat source and a fan disposed on one end side thereof and ducts extending lengthwise on the inner peripheral wall surface thereof to discharge air blown by the fan to the other end side thereof. And the air outlets of the ducts are so designed as to discharge the air blown by the fan in a circumferential direction of the pressurized chamber.

Abstract: An elastomeric composition and method incorporating a hydrocarbon polymer modifier with improved permanence. The composition comprises elastomer, filler and silane-functionalized hydrocarbon polymer modifier (Si-HPM) adapted to couple the Si-HPM to the elastomer, filler or both, wherein the Si-HPM comprises an interpolymer of monomers chosen from piperylenes, cyclic pentadienes, aromatics, limonenes, pinenes, amylenes, and combinations thereof. The method comprises melt processing a mixture to form the elastomeric composition in the shape of an article, wherein the mixture comprises elastomer, Si-HPM, silica, bifunctional organosilane crosslinking agent; and curing the elastomeric composition to form the article. Also disclosed are a silylated hydrocarbon polymer modifier coupled with a bifunctional organosilane crosslinking agent, and a silica-coupled hydrocarbon polymer modifier coupled to the silica via the bifunctional organosilane crosslinking agent.

Abstract: In an apparatus for building tyres for vehicle wheels, a forming drum is loaded on a shuttle movable on a guide along a deposition line. The shuttle is moved on the guide in the two running directions to bring it to dispensing stations of semifinished products disposed in at least some deposition locations positioned in space succession along the deposition line. At each of the dispensing stations, at least one semifinished product is laid on a radially external surface to the forming drum carried by the shuttle for forming at least one component of a tyre. The shuttle is moved on the guide in a different sequence from the space succession of the deposition locations along the deposition line.

Abstract: In the method for producing a tire carcass ply for a vehicle, the ply is wound onto a drum and contains reinforcements running in planes that are radial to an axis of the drum, of which: at least one assembly member (51, 52) mounted such that it can move in relation to the drum brings the ends of the ply together and assembles them by travelling over the ply in a direction (X) parallel to the ends; and prior to assembly, a blade independent of the one or of each assembly member extends between the drum and the ends without extending between the drum and the rest of the ply.

Abstract: A device for fixing a measurement box (B) on the internal wall (100) of a tire (P), comprises at least one bracing element interposed between the box (B) and the internal wall so as to create a space (E) between the box (B) and the internal wall (100). The invention also concerns a method of manufacturing a tire (P), remarkable in that it consists of moulding at least one projection (110, 120) on the internal wall of the tire (P).

Abstract: On a building drum, anchoring structures to beads, carcass plies, a belt structure and/or other annular composite components are sequentially assembled with a liner, sidewalls, sidewall inserts, under-belt inserts or other annular elastomer components. Each of the sidewall inserts, sidewalls, or under-belt inserts is made as a one piece construction in a service station operating far away from the building drum for storage on a movable storing device. Actuating members operating on the movable storing device carry the annular elastomer components from the service station to the building drum. A transfer member picks up the annular elastomer components from the movable storing device to transfer them to the building drum.

Abstract: A run-flat pneumatic tire assembly includes a pneumatic tire having an elastomeric casing and a tire cavity formed therein. A longitudinally-extending and approximately planar length of strip material is helically arranged within the tire cavity to pre-stress the length of strip material for usage of the pneumatic tire during under-inflated and non-inflated conditions. A method of making a run-flat pneumatic tire assembly is also included.

Abstract: A method of attaching an object to a tire includes providing a tire and providing a mechanical two-piece fastening system having a first portion and a second portion. The method further includes attaching a first portion of a mechanical two-piece fastening system to the tire and positioning an object to be attached to the tire on one of the first portion and the second portion of the mechanical two-piece fastening system. The method also includes attaching the second portion of the mechanical two-piece fastening system to the first portion of the mechanical two-piece fastening system.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is manufactured by vulcanizing the uncured tire formed by assembling uncured rubber tire components, at least one of which is made by winding a plurality of tapes around an axis while traversing the tapes along the axis, wherein the number of stroke of the traversing of the tapes is increased in a thick portion than in a thin portion of the tire component, and an angle between one end and the other end of each of the tapes around said axis is at most 90 degrees. The respective midpoints between the one end and the other end around the axis, of the tapes are sifted from each other in the circumferential direction of the tire.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is molded by using a vulcanizing mold in which blades 20, each composed of a metal thin plate having an inclined portion 20a in the depth direction and a plurality of through holes 20G with the same sectional form as that of projections to be formed in the sipe in the inclined portion 20a are buried in a groove portion corresponding to the tire block of the vulcanizing mold, thereby forming 3D sipes having unevenness in the radial direction of the block and a plurality of pairs of projections in the inclined portion in the block of the tire. Thereby, when longitudinal force is applied to the tire, adjacent small blocks of the block come into close contact with each other only at the positions of the projections of the 3D sipes, thereby making it possible to ensure the block stiffness of the pneumatic tire 10 without reducing the drainage function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a run-flat device for attaching a tubeless mounted assembly for a motor vehicle, and to such a mounted assembly incorporating said device. A device (30) according to the invention includes: a tire support structure (30), to be mounted around a rim having a plurality of pieces and comprising a reinforcing frame, and a bead lock means for locking the beads against the rim edge and connecting the support structure to the beads. According to the invention, the frame comprises an axial belt having at least one pair of ends opposite each other, separated by a connecting axial interstice, and connected therebetween by detachable connecting means (35, 36) for locking the belt, the support structure being radially split on both sides on the right of each interstice to enable the manual mounting of the device inside the casing by the gradual insertion therein of the structure, temporarily free of the connecting means.

Abstract: In a process for building tyres for vehicle wheels, a carcass sleeve is arranged on a shaping drum including two half-drums and two supports. Each support is operatively associated with one of the half-drums and carries a plurality of turning-up levers having free ends positioned close to the respective half-drum. Two annular anchoring structures are disposed around the carcass sleeve and each of the two supports is locked to the respective half-drum by interposing only stiff mechanical elements in mutual contact between the support and the half-drum. The carcass sleeve is shaped in a toroidal conformation, by setting a threaded shaft in rotation and moving the half-drums dose to each other.

Abstract: A functionalized polymer terminated by using an isocyanato alkoxysilane terminating agent. A method of preparing a functionalized polymer comprising the step of contacting a living polymer with an isocyanato alkoxysilane terminating agent.

Abstract: A method for fabrication of a non-pneumatic tire and wheel assembly incorporates a tire tread and a conventional vehicle wheel with an elastomer tire body element formed by introducing elastomer into mold elements with a center plug and releasably carried chamber forms to provide integral wall elements extending radially inward from the tire body element for sealing engagement with the wheel. The tire body element includes multiple concentric layers with alternating spokes formed with strut and aperture dimensions in the mold elements and mating rubber cast blocks adapted for the desired spoke design. After curing, the tire assembly is mounted on the conventional wheel with conventional mounting tools to deform the integral side walls and a pneumatic chamber formed by the side walls is inflated.

Abstract: A structure for and method of producing large diameter seal rings. Preferred embodiments of the present invention make use of a co-extruded “support” layer of a polymer showing better weld quality and strength. The use of a co-extruded support polymer bonded to the functional polymer can be used to improve the strength of the entire weld, including the weld of functional polymer layer.

Abstract: An automatic zipper device having a pair of bevel gears for biting and joining joint end portions of a sheet member wound around a periphery of the molding drum and having a plurality of magnet attractive metallic cords, and the device is provided with an inclined portion following cylinder which is attached to a lateral movement device laterally moving on the molding drum so as to be laterally movable and which adjusts a height of the bevel gear in accordance with an inclined surface of the sheet member to be joined, a clamping cylinder for adjusting a bitten amount of the bevel gears, and introduction magnet rollers for taking in the sheet member, and a member contact position stabilizing magnet for maintaining a constant position of the sheet member so that the sheet member to be joined can be brought into contact with the bevel gear at a constant angle.

Abstract: A method for making a vehicle tire wherein the vehicle tire includes a belt having at least one belt layer made of parallel steel cords embedded in rubber. The belt ply is built up on a building drum in order to produce a tire blank. Upon completion of the tire blank, the tire blank is shaped and vulcanized in a vulcanizing press. The method includes applying the belt ply made of parallel, extensible steel cords embedded in rubber to a building drum to build up the belt. After the tire blank is completed, tire blank is shaped and vulcanized in a vulcanizing press to reduce the extensibility of the steel cords.

Abstract: A method for recovering uncured rubber from unused electron beam pre-cured rubber stock used in the manufacture of pneumatic tires. A first layer of the pre-cured rubber stock having cured rubber is skived with a band knife cutter blade from a second layer of the pre-cured rubber stock having uncured rubber. The band knife cutter blade is lubricated so as to avoid adhesion of the uncured rubber to a leading cutting edge of the cutter blade. After the first layer of cured rubber is removed from the pre-cured rubber stock, the uncured rubber in the second layer is reworked into at least one tire component.

Abstract: A support for assembling a green tyre blank includes a baseplate with symmetry of revolution and members fixed to the baseplate. Each of the members includes: a base structured such that external elements may be movably mounted with respect to the base; and at least one cam able to occupy any one of at least two positions that are images of one another through rotation. Each of the positions of the cam defines element positions with respect to the base, such that, for at least some of the elements, the element positions associated with the respective positions of the cam differ from one another.

Abstract: A method for separating and removing a rigid core when building a tire. When the rigid core body is to be separated and removed from the inside of the tire, the method includes removing a core holding mechanism and upper and lower support plates; transferring the tire to a support table; raising a second core separation/removal mechanism; horizontally pulling a first type of segment groups until separated from the inner surface of the tire; lowering the first type of the segment groups below the support table; lowering a first core separation/removal mechanism to the center of the height position of the rigid core body; horizontally pulling the second type of the segment groups until they are separated from the inner surface of the tire; transferring a second type of the segment groups with a second core separation/removal mechanism, and conveying the tire to the subsequent process.

Abstract: Provided are: a noise reduction device with an improved adhesion of objects formed of a porous material and with a reduced processing time; a method of manufacturing the noise reduction device; and a pneumatic tire including the noise reduction device. The noise reduction device of the present invention includes: objects formed of a porous material; a band member for attaching the objects to the inner surface of a tire at two positions spaced at substantially equal intervals in the tire circumferential direction; and locking members formed of a thermoplastic resin. The band member is formed of a thermoplastic resin. Each object is disposed at a predetermined position in the tire circumferential direction, between the band member and the corresponding locking members. The locking members are bonded to the band member through the objects by thermal fusion.

Abstract: An underwater pelletizing method for pelletizing brittle hydrocarbon resins with low melt viscosity. A feed material comprising the hydrocarbon resin is formed into a melt, extruded through a die into a water bath below the Tg of the hydrocarbon resin to form a plurality of extrudates and cut adjacent the die surface to form a slurry of resin pellets. A graft monomer and/or other reactants, such as a hydrosilylation agent, may be introduced into the resin melt to chemically modify the hydrocarbon resin.

Abstract: In the method for producing a green tire blank, at least one stitching roller is applied to the blank with the use of a resilient roller support, and during each rotation of the blank, a set value of a level of pressure of application of the roller against the blank is made to vary between at least two non-zero values.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a green tire using a building drum and a transfer device. In the method tire components are arranged on a building drum. In one step of the method the transfer device is placed around the building drum. The method further comprises a step during which a last manufacturing process for a green tire is carried out on the building drum, and a removal step during which a removal device removes the green tire from the building drum, wherein the removal device is provided with projecting elements that can be placed up to a distance from and around the outer circumference of the green tire and which projecting elements can be placed such so as to engage the outer side of the green tire. The removal step further comprises during the step in which the transfer device is placed around the building drum, placing the projecting elements up to a distance from and around the outer circumference of the building drum.

Abstract: Method and assembly for manufacturing a green tyre using a building drum (1) and a transfer device (3). The method comprises a step of arranging and forming a first tyre component assembly for the green tyre on a building drum (1), a step of placing the transfer device (3) around the building drum, a removal step of the first tyre component assembly for the green tyre being removed from the building drum (1) by the transfer device (3). After the removal step second tyre components for the same green tyre are arranged on the building drum (1), followed by a step of placing the transfer device (3) around the building drum (1), and a step of placing the first tyre component assembly on the second tyre components.

Abstract: Provided is a tire having a circular tire frame formed of at least a thermoplastic resin material, in which the tire includes a reinforcing cord member that forms a reinforcing cord layer on an outer circumference of the tire frame, and the thermoplastic resin material contains at least a polyester-based thermoplastic elastomer.

Abstract: Provided is a tire having at least a circular tire frame formed of a thermoplastic resin material, the tire including a reinforcing cord member that forms a reinforcing cord layer on the outer circumference of the tire frame, and the thermoplastic resin material including at least a polyamide-based thermoplastic elastomer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for on demand, customized manufacture of vehicle tires at a point-of-sale are disclosed. At a point-of-sale, tire casings and tire treads that have been manufactured separately to enhance certain performance characteristics are assembled to provide a final customized tire.

Abstract: The needle (12) for inserting a wire into a tire has: a piercing zone (18) having an axis of symmetry, and a duct (30) having a proximal opening and a distal opening (36) opening into the zone (18) and off-centre relative to the axis, the duct consisting of the proximal opening and of a rectilinear profiled section including the distal opening.

Abstract: When end portions of a tire constituent member are to be brought into contact with each other and joined together, the end portions to be joined together are prevented from being caught by a pair of joining rollers. The end portions of the tire constituent member are arranged opposite to each other. The pair of joining rollers is made to roll on the end portions of the tire constituent member and the end portions are brought into contact with each other and joined together by the joining rollers. An entanglement preventing member is moved together with the pair of joining rollers and the end portions of the tire constituent member in front of the joining rollers. The end portions of the tire constituent member are pressed by the entanglement preventing member, and entanglement of the end portions is prevented.

Abstract: A method for applying a sheet of flexible material to a cylindrical body is described. The sheet of material may be ply or a tire building component such as a liner. The method includes the steps of receiving the sheet of flexible material onto a conveyor belt of a conveyor table, wherein the conveyor belt can translate in the X direction, wherein the conveyor belt has a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the conveyor belt so they can rotate about an axis aligned with the X direction. The method further includes aligning a lateral edge of the sheet with an edge guide of the conveyor table by tilting the conveyor table and then tilting the conveyor table back to a level position. The method further includes moving a front edge of the conveyor table adjacent the cylindrical body; and applying the sheet onto the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A method of constructing a tire includes: constructing an elongate strip core; encasing the strip core into a containment within an uncured flexible tire component, the strip core extending between an air inlet and an air outlet cavity in the flexible tire component; building on a tire building drum a green tire carcass from tire components including the flexible tire component and encased strip core; removing the encased strip core from the cured flexible tire component to leave within the flexible tire component a substantially unobstructed air passageway; and inserting a permanent air inlet assembly into the air inlet cavity and a permanent air outlet assembly into the air outlet cavity.

Abstract: A method of forming an air passageway in a an air maintenance tire carcass includes: embedding an elongate strip within a pre-cured flexible tire component of a pre-cured tire carcass, the elongate strip extending in a longitudinal direction between an air inlet cavity and an air outlet cavity in the flexible tire component; curing the pre-cured tire carcass including the flexible tire component; extracting the elongate strip longitudinally end-to-end from occupancy within the flexible tire component; and defining an air passageway in the flexible component by the space previously occupied by the withdrawn elongate strip. A free end portion of the strip is accessible at either the air inlet cavity or the air outlet cavity, and the elongate strip may be extracted from either the air inlet cavity or the air outlet cavity by a tensile withdrawal force applied to the elongate strip free end.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of constructing a tire, comprising: constructing a coated filament, the coated filament constructed by coating a filament with a coating material, the coating material comprising at least one substance dispersible in an uncured rubber compound; encasing the coated filament into containment within an uncured flexible tire component, the coated filament extending between an air inlet and an air outlet cavity in the pre-cured flexible tire component; building on a tire building drum a green tire carcass from uncured tire components including the uncured flexible tire component and encased coated filament; curing the green tire carcass into a cured finished tire including the flexible tire component containing the coated filament; removing the filament from the cured flexible tire component to leave within the flexible tire component a substantially unobstructed air passageway.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having a rubber tread of a cap/base construction. More specifically, the invention relates to a tire having a tread with minimized, or inhibited, base peaking.

Abstract: An annular rubber member is molded, across a through hole, on a support surface of a support device that includes the support surface and the through hole which opens to the support surface. The rubber member molded on the support surface is arranged so as to oppose a sidewall unit of a shaped tire intermediate body. The support device is moved close to the tire intermediate body and the rubber member on the support surface is brought into contact with the sidewall unit. The rubber member is adhered to the sidewall by moving the press member that presses the rubber member to the side wall unit via the through hole, in a tire radial direction.

Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire manufacturing method capable of improving the productivity of pneumatic tires each having surface fasteners in its tire inner surface, and of avoiding manufacturing a pneumatic tire having a deteriorated uniformity, as well as of preventing engagement elements of each surface fastener from being crushed. Also, provided is a pneumatic tire manufactured by the pneumatic tire manufacturing method.

Abstract: A tire building apparatus includes a tire building drum having a radially expanded position for building a tire carcass, and having a radially contracted position for releasing the tire carcass. A carcass release member is mounted on the drum such that the carcass release member moves from a retracted position when the drum is in its expanded position, to an extended position when the drum is in its contracted position, so that the carcass release member aids in releasing the tire carcass from the drum when the drum moves from its expanded position to its contracted position.