Abstract: A pinion starter drive for an internal combustion engine is provided. The pinion starter drive includes a drive pinion and a starter gear. At least one tooth of the drive pinion has a drive actual profile, and at least one tooth of the starter gear has a starter actual profile. A sum of at least one discrete value of a deviation of the drive actual profile from a drive target profile in the drive pinion tooth root region and at least one discrete value of a deviation of the starter actual profile from a starter target profile in the starter gear tooth tip region is less than 0. A method of manufacture of a pinion starter drive includes selecting a drive pinion and a starter gear from a plurality of gears having a deviation sum less than zero.