Abstract: A curing system including a curing press-post inflator combination wherein the tire moves through the curing and post inflation process under complete control at all times. The post inflator is mounted on the press frame and is aligned with the top mold section of the press in the full open position of the press. The upper or outside bead rim of the post inflator is removed by a mechanism operating, in part, independently of the press top mold section so that the post inflator can be closed and operational prior to the full closing of the press. A chuck in the top mold section not only holds the tire for stripping from the mold sections and bladder but retains control over the tire vertically to place the tire without dropping or any lateral movement on the aligned open bottom or inner bead rim of the post cure inflator.