Abstract: In the building of a pneumatic tire on a flat drum or former surrounded by tire plies the beads are positioned intermediate the ends of the former by devices which include fingers having magnets at their leading ends to engage the beads and which are movable axially of the former to displace the beads over the former ends and holders reciprocable relative to the fingers on which the beads are first located, after which the holders and fingers are moved toward the former ends causing retraction of the holders relative to the fingers and displacement of the beads off the holders onto the former by the fingers.

Abstract: A method of moulding a tire in a mould in which the retaining rings for the bead formation of a green tire are variable in diameter to allow for increase in the bead diameter of the finished tire relative to its green state and to prevent damage caused by forcing the beads of a green tire over bead rings of too large diameter. Preferably the bead retaining rings expand to their maximum diameter in response to the application of curing pressure inside the tire and automatically retract when curing pressure is relieved.