A method of forming a tire bead assembly comprises providing a length of an apex filler of electrometric material (7), the apex filler having an annular base portion for positioning axially adjacent a bead core ring (16) on a support and an annular tapering portion for extending axially away from the base portion and the bead core ring, gripping a leading end of said length of apex filler so as to retain said end on a cylindrical former (30), gripping a trailing end of said length of apex filler using gripping means (6), rotating said cylindrical former (30) so that said length of apex filler (7) is wound thereon in a single turn, whilst moving said gripping means and said gripped trailing end towards said cylindrical former (30), joining said leading and trailing ends together, and flipping the apex filler (7) so tha the base protino radially surrounds the bead core ring (16) and adheres to the latter and the tapering portion extends generally radially outwardly.