Abstract: A center-fed media feed system including a media sheet pick mechanism having a hub-mounted D-shaped pick tire having variable tread width along the outer circumference thereof and a media aligner downstream of the pick mechanism. The nip of the pick tire contacting a media sheet is disposed at a first predetermined distance from the media aligner. A wide tread portion initially contacts a leading edge portion of the media sheet providing a first media feeding force to move the media sheet toward the media aligner and, at a second predetermined distance between the leading edge of the media and the media aligner, a narrow tread portion of the pick tire contacts the media so as to provide a reduced media feeding force, allowing the media sheet to align to the media aligner and then be fed into a feed nip in the media aligner or a downstream feed roll pair.