Partial depth-wise cure of a tire inner liner

A method and apparatus for partial depth-wise cure of a tire inner liner are disclosed. The method comprising forming a layer of uncured rubber, that layer having a first surface and an opposite surface, applying pressure to the layer of rubber, heating the layer of rubber from the first surface to more fully cure the layer on that surface than on the opposite surface, cooling the layer of rubber and releasing the pressure applied to the layer of rubber after the layer has cooled. The apparatus comprising a drum, a heat exchange chamber on the inner surface of the drum, a housing that surrounds the drum, a space between the outer surface of the drum and the housing, an inflatable seal at each end of the housing inside the housing such that by inflating the seal, the seal expands and encloses the space between the drum and the housing, a gas inlet for feeding a gas to the space and pressurizing the space, a heat source in communication with the heat exchange chamber for heating the drum and a coolant source in communication with the heat exchange chamber for cooling the drum.