Abstract: An apparatus for the bellowless or bagless vulcanization of tire blanks comprising a tire vulcanization mold and a clamping mechanism for the tire bead provided for the mold. The clamping mechanism comprises the associated bead section of the vulcanization mold and a contact mechanism which can be moved towards such section in the axial direction and against the center of the mold. The contact mechanism comprises a ring formed of a number of segments, and such ring is provided at least at the region of the tire bead with a continuous layer of elastomeric material. According to a further improvement, the continuous layer possesses a lip member directed towards the tire bead.