Method and apparatus for moulding and curing tyres for vehicle wheels

An apparatus for moulding and curing tyres for vehicle wheels, comprising:

• a toroidal support arranged to engage a tyre being processed, the toroidal support having an outer surface substantially mating with an inner surface of the tyre;
• a vulcanization mould arranged to receive the toroidal support carrying the tyre within a moulding cavity having a holding space delimited between the outer surface of the toroidal support and walls of the moulding cavity;
• pressing devices for pressing an outer surface of the tyre against the walls of the moulding cavity;
• heating devices for transmitting heat to the tyre enclosed in the moulding cavity;
• and
• at least one guide duct extending along an inner surface of the toroidal support;
• wherein, under a closed condition of the vulcanization mould, the holding space has radially-inner portions and a radially-outer portion, wherein the radially-inner portions have shapes and sizes substantially corresponding to shapes and sizes of respective side portions of the tyre, and wherein the radially-outer portion has radial dimensions greater than radial dimensions of a radially-outer portion of the tyre.