Drive belt (3) comprising several hundred transverse elements (20) provided on and in sliding relationship with an endless carrier (10) having a top section (27) located radially outward from an axially oriented rocking edge (25) with a longitudinal dimension that increases slightly in radially outward direction. On average between the transverse elements (20) of the drive belt (3), the said increase in longitudinal dimension of the said top section (27) in radially outward direction is larger than (Formula (I)) wherein Dr is the longitudinal dimension of the transverse elements (20) at the rocking edge (25) thereof, Csi is the amount of a longitudinal play that is initially incorporated in the drive belt (3) as measured when the belt (3) is placed in a circular posture between the rocking edges (25) of the transverse elements (20) thereof, and wherein L is the belt's circumference length at the rocking edge (25) of the transverse elements (20) thereof.