Self-inflating tire and method of manufacturing such a tire

A tire comprising a tire carcass having a tire cavity (30) defined by a tire inner liner (46), first and second sidewalls (24) extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions (26) to a tire tread region; and an air tube-receiving groove (38) formed within a tire carcass wall at a prescribed radial location, the groove (38) having an access opening (41), a primary internal groove chamber (39) and a secondary groove chamber (40) adjacent to and communicating with the internal groove chamber (39) for operationally receiving an air-pump tube extended portion is disclosed. The tire further comprises partial passageway means (42A) located at a prescribed outlet location along the air tube-receiving groove (38), the passageway means (42A) extending from the groove (38) partially through the tire carcass wall toward the tire cavity (30) and having an axially inward terminal end (48) separated from the tire inner liner (46) by a removable tire carcass barrier (44) of reduced sectional thickness relative to the tire carcass wall. Also, a method of constructing such a tire is disclosed.