A method for automatically stitching an interior surface of a tire, the method comprising: positioning a tire in rotatable position relative a central rotational axis of the tire; rotating the tire about the central rotational axis; applying a force to maintain the tire in a substantially radial fixed position relative to a stitching wheel; applying a predetermined force to the interior surface of the tire with the stitching wheel, the stitching wheel contacting the interior surface of the tire while the tire is rotating; and, mechanically translating the stitching wheel with a central rotational axis of the stitching wheel laterally across, and relative to, the interior of the tire and a tire patch arranged thereon during tire rotation as the stitching wheel rotates about a central rotational axis of the stitching wheel while contacting the interior surface of the tire during stitching wheel translation, characterized in that the step of mechanically translating comprises: translating the stitching wheel and the central rotational axis of the stitching wheel laterally across an under-tread area of the interior tire surface by linearly moving a support of the stitching wheel laterally parallel to an axial direction of the tire; rotating the stitching wheel and the central rotational axis of the stitching wheel laterally across a portion of the interior tire surface associated with a sidewall of the tire, where rotating the stitching wheel and the central rotational axis of the stitching wheel laterally is accomplished by rotating the stitching wheel and the central rotational axis of the stitching wheel about a rotational axis spaced from the central rotational axis of the stitching wheel receiving a sidewall-indicating signal from a sensor (46a, 46b), the signal indicating that the stitching wheel is located adjacent the sidewall subsequent to the step of rotating the stitching wheel laterally across a portion of the interior tire surface associated with the sidewall of the tire; terminating the translation of the stitching wheel across the under-tread area of the interior tire surface subsequent to the step of receiving the sidewall-indicating signal; continuing the step of translating the stitching wheel by performing the step of rotating the stitching wheel with the central rotational axis of the stitching wheel laterally across a portion of the interior tire surface associated with the sidewall of the tire; receiving a signal from a sensor that the stitching wheel is in an end-rotation position, during the step of rotating the stitching wheel about a portion of the sidewall; and terminating the rotation of the stitching wheel subsequent to receiving the end-rotation position-indicating signal. positioning a tire in rotatable position relative a central rotational axis of the tire; rotating the tire about the central rotational axis; applying a force to maintain the tire in a substantially radial fixed position relative to a stitching wheel; applying a predetermined force to the interior surface of the tire with the stitching wheel, the stitching wheel contacting the interior surface of the tire while the tire is rotating; and, mechanically translating the stitching wheel with a central rotational axis of the stitching wheel laterally across, and relative to, the interior of the tire and a tire patch arranged thereon during tire rotation as the stitching wheel rotates about a central rotational axis of the stitching wheel while contacting the interior surface of the tire during stitching wheel translation, characterized in that the step of mechanically translating comprises: translating the stitching wheel and the central rotational axis of the stitching wheel laterally across an under-tread area of the interior tire surface by linearly moving a support of the stitching wheel laterally parallel to an axial direction of the tire; rotating the stitching wheel and the central rotational axis of the stitching wheel laterally across a portion of the interior tire surface associated with a sidewall of the tire, where rotating the stitching wheel and the central rotational axis of the stitching wheel laterally is accomplished by rotating the stitching wheel and the central rotational axis of the stitching wheel about a rotational axis spaced from the central rotational axis of the stitching wheel receiving a sidewall-indicating signal from a sensor (46a, 46b), the signal indicating that the stitching wheel is located adjacent the sidewall subsequent to the step of rotating the stitching wheel laterally across a portion of the interior tire surface associated with the sidewall of the tire; terminating the translation of the stitching wheel across the under-tread area of the interior tire surface subsequent to the step of receiving the sidewall-indicating signal; continuing the step of translating the stitching wheel by performing the step of rotating the stitching wheel with the central rotational axis of the stitching wheel laterally across a portion of the interior tire surface associated with the sidewall of the tire; receiving a signal from a sensor that the stitching wheel is in an end-rotation position, during the step of rotating the stitching wheel about a portion of the sidewall; and terminating the rotation of the stitching wheel subsequent to receiving the end-rotation position-indicating signal.