A mold for a tread layer having tread-forming side and sole-forming side, the sole-forming side having a plurality of mold elements extending there from toward the tread-forming side. Either the mold elements or the sole-forming side of the mold is configured to create a tread layer having a recessed tread element such as an incision, lateral groove, longitudinal groove or other void on the sole side of the tread layer that enables the edges of the recessed tread element to obtain full coverage when subjected to an abrasion process.