Careers Gone Wild - Explore the Career Kingdom

Explore the Career Kingdom:


Tire Builders

Operate machines to build tires from rubber components.

Other names for Tire Builders: Auto Tire Recapper, Automobile Tire Builder, Bead Builder, Belt Builder, Belt Machine Operator, Buffer, Buffer Operator, Builder Operator, Capper, Cord Tire Builder, Cushion Gum Applicator, Lap Machine Tender, Lead Vulcanizing Operator, Mold Technician, Molded Goods Operator, Orbitread Operator, Passenger Tire Builder, Press Operator, Recapper, Retread Builder, Retread Operator, Retread Technician, Retreader, Sheeter, Skiver, Splicer, Splicing Machine Operator, Tire Assembler, Tire Builder, Tire Builder Operator, Tire Curer, Tire Fabricator, Tire Finisher, Tire Layer, Tire Maker, Tire Molder, Tire Mounter, Tire Rebuilder, Tire Recapper, Tire Recapping Machine Operator, Tire Repairman, Tire Retreader, Tire Vulcanizer, Tread Booker, Tread Builder, Tube Builder, Tube Building Machine Operator,

What do Tire Builders do?

  • Position rollers that turn ply edges under and over beads, or use steel rods to turn ply edges.
  • Position ply stitcher rollers and drums according to width of stock, using hand tools and gauges.
  • Build semi-raw rubber treads onto buffed tire casings in order to prepare tires for vulcanization in recapping or retreading processes.
  • Wind chafers and breakers onto plies.
  • Pull plies from supply racks, and align plies with edges of drums.
  • Roll camelbacks onto casings by hand, and cut camelbacks, using knives.
  • Clean and paint completed tires.
  • Fit inner tubes and final layers of rubber onto tires.
  • Rub cement sticks on drum edges to provide adhesive surfaces for plies.
  • Fill cuts and holes in tires, using hot rubber.
  • Brush or spray solvents onto plies to ensure adhesion, and repeat process as specified, alternating direction of each ply to strengthen tires.
  • Roll hand rollers over rebuilt casings, exerting pressure to ensure adhesion between camelbacks and casings.
  • Measure tires to determine mold size requirements.
  • Depress pedals to collapse drums after processing is complete.
  • Trim excess rubber and imperfections during retreading processes.
  • Place tires into molds for new tread.
  • Depress pedals to rotate drums, and wind specified numbers of plies around drums to form tire bodies.
  • Start rollers that bond tread and plies as drums revolve.
  • Activate bead setters that press prefabricated beads onto plies.
  • Inspect worn tires for faults, cracks, cuts and nail holes, and to determine if tires are suitable for retreading.
  • Cut plies at splice points, and press ends together to form continuous bands.
  • Align treads with guides, start drums to wind treads onto plies, and slice ends.