A tightening shoe is provided with a sole, an upper and crisscrossing laces. The lace ends project into the shoe structure where they are received by a tightening mechanism. The tightening mechanism includes a winding gear for winding the lace ends about its perimeter to withdraw the laces into the tightening mechanism's interior chamber. In addition, the tightening mechanism includes a drive gear which is rotated by a pre-wound tightening cable which is positioned immediately adjacent to the winding gear. Preferably, the winding gear and drive gear are positioned within the shoe's sole so as to rotate about a vertical axis relative to the shoe's structure.