Apparatus for building tyres for vehicle wheels

An apparatus for building tyres for vehicle wheels, comprising:

• a building drum comprising a central section axially interposed between two half-parts to define a substantially cylindrical deposition surface, the two half-parts being distinct from and engageable with the central section;
• and
• first forming devices configured for forming a carcass sleeve on the building drum,
• wherein said first forming devices comprise laying devices configured for laying circumferentially consecutive strip-like elements around a circumferential extension of the deposition surface of the building drum,
• wherein said deposition surface of the building drum comprises:
• two axially external terminal portions defined by the two half-parts;
• and
• an intermediate portion defined by the central section, extending across an axial symmetry plane of the deposition surface and axially interposed between the two terminal portions, the central section being in a radially inner position with respect to the two terminal portions,
• the two half-parts having respective frustoconical zones that are tapered from respective axially outer edges defining a maximum diameter of the deposition surface, towards respective axially inner edges of the half-parts overlapping with the central section,
• wherein the intermediate portion defines an application diameter of the deposition surface at said axial symmetry plane, the two terminal portions defining along their entire extension a diameter of the deposition surface that is greater than the application diameter.