Abstract: A method and system for applying at least one thick sheet of uncured rubber as a layer about the periphery of a buffed tire carcass and "sticking" the layer thereto by pressure applied from the crown of the tire outward as the tire is rotated. A tread design is formed in the rubber layer by at least one heated cutter which is prealigned with the tire carcass and is limited to impovement along a predetermined path for each of a plurality of angularly indexed tire positions. After tread formation the layer is vulcanized onto the tire carcass by the application of heat and pressure and the rubber cut from the layer is reused in forming a sheet of rubber for another tire tread.