An assembly defining a portion of an arcuate outer circumferential working surface of a tire building drum , the assembly comprising: first and second interlacing deck segments coupled to a central support member that is configured to be moved in a radially reciprocating manner from a longitudinal axis of the tire building drum ; wherein each of the first and second interlacing deck segments comprise: a plurality of center sections coupled together proximate a lower surface thereof, a plurality of first finger portions extending respectively from the center sections away from the central support member , wherein the assembly is characterized by each of the first and second interlacing deck segments comprising: a plurality of first grooves respectively formed between the center sections , a plurality of second finger portions extending respectively from the center sections in an opposite direction from the first set of fingers and over the central support member , and a plurality of second grooves formed adjacent each of the respective second finger portions , wherein the second finger portions from each of the first and second interlacing deck segments are arranged in a substantially parallel formation over the central support member , and wherein the first grooves in each of the first and second interlacing deck segments respectively align with the second grooves of the other of the first and second interlacing deck segments . first and second interlacing deck segments coupled to a central support member that is configured to be moved in a radially reciprocating manner from a longitudinal axis of the tire building drum ; wherein each of the first and second interlacing deck segments comprise: a plurality of center sections coupled together proximate a lower surface thereof, a plurality of first finger portions extending respectively from the center sections away from the central support member , a plurality of center sections coupled together proximate a lower surface thereof, a plurality of first finger portions extending respectively from the center sections away from the central support member , wherein the assembly is characterized by each of the first and second interlacing deck segments comprising: a plurality of first grooves respectively formed between the center sections , a plurality of second finger portions extending respectively from the center sections in an opposite direction from the first set of fingers and over the central support member , and a plurality of second grooves formed adjacent each of the respective second finger portions , wherein the second finger portions from each of the first and second interlacing deck segments are arranged in a substantially parallel formation over the central support member , and wherein the first grooves in each of the first and second interlacing deck segments respectively align with the second grooves of the other of the first and second interlacing deck segments . a plurality of first grooves respectively formed between the center sections , a plurality of second finger portions extending respectively from the center sections in an opposite direction from the first set of fingers and over the central support member , and a plurality of second grooves formed adjacent each of the respective second finger portions , wherein the second finger portions from each of the first and second interlacing deck segments are arranged in a substantially parallel formation over the central support member , and wherein the first grooves in each of the first and second interlacing deck segments respectively align with the second grooves of the other of the first and second interlacing deck segments . <EOS>