The present invention is directed to a method of treating a tire cord, comprising the steps of A) atomizing a mixture of at least one polymerizable monomer, a halogenated saturated hydrocarbon, and a carrier gas to form an atomized mixture; B) generating an atmospheric pressure plasma from the atomized mixture; and C) exposing the tire cord to the atmospheric pressure plasma under conditions suitable to form a polymer strongly bonded to the tire cord and capable of bonding to rubber.