Tire preparation using partially pre-cured component

The present invention relates to preparation an article of manufacture, such as of a tire, via application of at least one partially pre-cured component. Tires are often prepared with pre-cured, pre-shaped components such as for example, application of pre-cured tread strips to a cured carcass as in the case of re-treaded tires. Thus precured tread and cured carcass are joined together using a cushion gum followed by heating the resulting assembly at an elevated temperature to cure the cushion gum. Such pre-cured component may also be, for example, a sidewall apex. In such cases, the pre-cured component is subjected to more heat than is necessary which may be detrimental for the component. This invention is directed to the use of a partially pre-cured component to prepare a tire assembly prior to the curing of the entire components of the tire assembly.