Abstract: A mold segment (10) for forming a tire is provided that has a sipe element (14) with first and second ends. A first side face (20) is oppositely disposed from a second side face (22) in a width direction, and a bottom is oppositely disposed from a top in a height direction. The sipe element has a projection (30) that extends from the first side face. A mold segment base (32) made of a material that is more flexible than material making up the sipe element (14) is present. The mold segment base receives the sipe element such that the bottom of the sipe element is located inside of the mold segment base and the top of the sipe element is located outside of the mold segment base. The mold segment base defines a cavity (34), and the projection (30) is located inside of the cavity (34). The mold segment (10) is used for forming a production mold segment (68) that ultimately molds a green tire into a cured tire (12).

Abstract: An insert (36) is designed to be incorporated in the composition of a fitting element (24) and to form part of the molding surface (40) of the fitting element, the molding surface comprising at least one intersection (32) of at least a first (42) and a second (44) projecting pattern. The insert comprises a junction (46) which is designed to be joined with a molding element (38) integral with the body (34) of the fitting element, the junction (46) dividing the second pattern (44) into a first (48) and a second (50) part, the insert (36) forming the first pattern (42) and the first part (48) of the second pattern (44), and the molding element (38) forming the second part (50) of the second pattern (44), the junction (46) going away from the intersection (32).