A self-supporting tyre for vehicle wheels comprises a carcass structure (2) having at least one carcass ply (3a, 3b) provided with end flaps (19, 21) in engagement with respective annular reinforcing structures (4) disposed in coaxial relationship with a geometric rotation axis of the tyre at positions axially spaced apart from each other and each comprising at least one first circumferentially-inextensible annular anchoring insert (5a); a belt structure (6) applied to the carcass structure (2) at a radially external position thereof, a tread band (9) applied at a radially external position to the belt structure (6) and a pair of sidewalls (10) applied to the carcass structure (2) at laterally opposite positions. The self-supporting tyre further comprises at least at one elastic stiffening insert (11) arranged at least at one of said sidewalls (10) and having a radially internal end portion (15) disposed at least partly in axial side by side relationship against the first annular anchoring insert (5a).