A tire mold (200) having a substantially elliptical base surface (210) and a method for making a tire mold are provided. In one embodiment, a user selects a major axis length (M) for the tire mold, then selects a ratio (R) of the major axis length (M) to a minor axis length (M). The tire mold is then formed with a substantially elliptical base surface defined by the first major axis and the selected ratio.