Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for developing and forming a tire-related mold configured to at least mold a portion of a tire tread. Particular embodiments of such methods include creating a digital model representing a three-dimensional structure comprising a tread model molding member, the tread model molding member at least partially defining a molding cavity for forming a corresponding tire tread model. The three-dimensional structure comprising the tread model molding member is formed automatically using the digital model, the structure being formed by building the structure from one or more materials, the one or more materials including an elastic material such that the formed structure is an elastic structure. A tread model is molded using the tread model molding member, while a tread molding element for forming at least a portion of a tread is molded from the tread model.