A method of detecting a leak in a curing bladder during a tire curing process provides a curing bladder (40) and tire (42) in a tire mold structure (18). An inert tracer gas (48) is added to a pressurized gas such as nitrogen, with the nitrogen inflating the curing bladder so that the curing bladder engages a portion of the tire. The method detects whether the inert gas is present between the curing bladder and the tire while the curing bladder and tire remain in the tire mold structure. A curing bladder leak detection system (10) for a tire curing press (12) is also provided.