A method and apparatus (10) for shaping a tire wherein an outboard pocket assembly (26) and an inboard pocket assembly (24) are radially movable outwardly into engagement with preshaped bead/apex assemblies (60, 76) of a tire band (74) and are movable axially to a cured tire width of the bead/apex assemblies for shaping other tire components to a cured tire shape and for positioning the ply edges at predetermined cured tire positions.