A process and an apparatus for building tyres for vehicle wheels includes assembling at least one tyre component through laying of strip-like elements disposed circumferentially close to each other on a deposition surface radially external to the forming drum, wherein laying of each strip-like element includes: radially moving the strip-like element close to the deposition surface; locking a central portion of the strip-like element against the deposition surface; and pulling the strip-like element in opposite directions starting from the central portion toward the opposite ends thereof, while the central portion is maintained in a locked condition against the deposition surface, so as to progressively lay down the strip-like element against the deposition surface.

A process and an apparatus for building tyres for vehicle wheels includes assembling at least one tyre component through laying of strip-like elements disposed circumferentially close to each other on a deposition surface radially external to the forming drum, wherein laying of each strip-like element includes: radially moving the strip-like element close to the deposition surface; locking a central portion of the strip-like element against the deposition surface; and pulling the strip-like element in opposite directions starting from the central portion toward the opposite ends thereof, while the central portion is maintained in a locked condition against the deposition surface, so as to progressively lay down the strip-like element against the deposition surface.

The tooling is suitable for manufacturing a toroidal tire that has a crown, a first annular bead and a second annular bead, together with a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The, tool has a core which is provided with groove-type passages that are suitable for receiving reinforcing elements, referred to as stays. The stays are designed to be permanently incorporated into the structure of the tire and to each extend in the cavity of the tire, thereby connecting a crown anchor point situated in the crown of the tire to a lateral anchor point situated in one of the sidewalls or beads of the tire.