A tire mold movable between a closed position and an open position, the tire mold comprising: a mold body and a plurality of discrete tread mold segments positioned circumferentially about the mold body; wherein each tread mold segment comprises: a pair of opposing shoulders (116, 118) configured to abut with opposing shoulders of circumferentially adjacent tread mold segments when the tire mold is in the closed position, each pair of shoulders comprising a first shoulder and a second shoulder; at least one impact absorber supported by the first shoulder, the impact absorber configured for movement in and out of the first shoulder, the impact absorber biased towards a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment; a synchronization pin extending from the first shoulder along a circumferential direction of the tire mold; at least one contact element supported by the second shoulder, the contact element positioned in contact with the impact absorber of a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment in both the open position and the closed position of the tire mold; and a slot defined by the second shoulder and configured for receipt of the synchronization pin of a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment. a mold body and a plurality of discrete tread mold segments positioned circumferentially about the mold body; wherein each tread mold segment comprises: a pair of opposing shoulders (116, 118) configured to abut with opposing shoulders of circumferentially adjacent tread mold segments when the tire mold is in the closed position, each pair of shoulders comprising a first shoulder and a second shoulder; at least one impact absorber supported by the first shoulder, the impact absorber configured for movement in and out of the first shoulder, the impact absorber biased towards a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment; a synchronization pin extending from the first shoulder along a circumferential direction of the tire mold; at least one contact element supported by the second shoulder, the contact element positioned in contact with the impact absorber of a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment in both the open position and the closed position of the tire mold; and a slot defined by the second shoulder and configured for receipt of the synchronization pin of a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment. a pair of opposing shoulders (116, 118) configured to abut with opposing shoulders of circumferentially adjacent tread mold segments when the tire mold is in the closed position, each pair of shoulders comprising a first shoulder and a second shoulder; at least one impact absorber supported by the first shoulder, the impact absorber configured for movement in and out of the first shoulder, the impact absorber biased towards a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment; a synchronization pin extending from the first shoulder along a circumferential direction of the tire mold; at least one contact element supported by the second shoulder, the contact element positioned in contact with the impact absorber of a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment in both the open position and the closed position of the tire mold; and a slot defined by the second shoulder and configured for receipt of the synchronization pin of a circumferentially adjacent tread mold segment.