Method and apparatus for the manufacturing of a tire for vehicle wheels

An apparatus for manufacturing tires for vehicle wheels, comprising:

• a building drum to form a carcass sleeve comprising a pair of annular reinforcing structures, axially-spaced-apart from each other, and at least one carcass ply having opposite end flaps each turned up at one of the annular reinforcing structures;
• a shaping drum to form a tire comprising the carcass sleeve, a belt structure paired with a radially-external tread band, and a pair of sidewalls applied against respective side surfaces of the carcass sleeve, each of the pair of sidewalls extending between one of the annular reinforcing structures and a respective side edge of the tread band, applicator devices being associated with the shaping drum to apply the sidewalls to the respective side surfaces of the carcass sleeve;
• one or more transfer devices for moving the carcass sleeve from the building drum to the shaping drum;
• an intermediate drum for engaging the carcass sleeve moved by the transfer device;
• and
• an auxiliary unit to position the sidewalls on the intermediate drum, the sidewalls having respective inner end flaps mutually-spaced-apart and facing each other;
• wherein the intermediate drum comprises engagement devices to engage the inner end flap of each sidewall against the carcass sleeve at respective annular reinforcing structures.