I'm curious how your notching works out. Post up on the results.
Who has a siping tool and is it worth the time to do yourself?
Who has a siping tool and is it worth the time to do yourself?
tire siping
- Thread starter mannytheman
- Start date
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So is the consensus that one can sipe their tires just fine without one of those heated blades?
I was thinking just a box cutter with the blade set to 1/4" depth, heated periodically with a torch.
I was thinking just a box cutter with the blade set to 1/4" depth, heated periodically with a torch.
Wow! I never thought I'd hear of someone "siping" their tires with a Skilzsaw. Seriously, Just take them into your local tire shop and have them do it for $40-50.
TK
TK
what you did was groove them not sipe them
I've read that the problem with having a shop do it is that they put each tire on a machine that cuts the sipes, but the machine does not adapt to each tread pattern, which sometimes leaves chunks of tread that are too thin and fall off after a short amount of driving.
The rule of thumb, that I've read, is that each sipe should not be within the leading or trailing 1/2" of each tread block and that the sipes should be 1/4" apart from each other within each block.
What I'm trying to find out is if the tool used makes a difference or if it's primarily the technique. I'm leaning towards the technique, partially because it's cheaper.
My generic speedway tool was only $60. If you buy one you'll use it more than once. I've done several sets of tires now and like having it. I can sipe and groove with it. I would think the box cutter, although inventive, would suck trying to heat and sipe.
ntsqd
technerd
Wet the tire, don't heat the blade.
Why? By that logic, my boxcutter idea would work great.
ntsqd
technerd
A wet tire cuts much easier than does a dry tire. Dramatically easier. Try it, you'll see.
Personally I'd use a carpet knife either set to it's shallowest setting or break/grind the blade to make a shallow cut at it's deepest setting.
Wile E Coyote
Out in the streets, they call it murder!
X2 on wet tires cutting easier. As a young driver, BTDT on water crossings until I learned that little gem. Wheel speed is not always your friend.
oh man id be scared to screw up, that would be a pricey mistake
Gotcha. I'll try siping them wet with my box cutter when I pick them up.
I'll post my results.
I'll post my results.
Holy s*** you were actually serious.
....
I tried the homebrew siping method of a carpet knife. In my opinion it turned out well and the price can't be beat. I recently read the rundown on a siping/grooving tool in 4wd toyota owner and it looked like the bee knee's to me but expensive. So some day maybe I'll own one of those and can groove up the swampers on the other cruiser, should it ever make it back to the road.
So I did these tires yesterday and it was super cold so I only did it for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. My cuts aren't perfectly spaced or completely straight. Oh well. It was damn cold.
P.s.
It would be really hard to cut your dong off with this method
I tried the homebrew siping method of a carpet knife. In my opinion it turned out well and the price can't be beat. I recently read the rundown on a siping/grooving tool in 4wd toyota owner and it looked like the bee knee's to me but expensive. So some day maybe I'll own one of those and can groove up the swampers on the other cruiser, should it ever make it back to the road.
So I did these tires yesterday and it was super cold so I only did it for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. My cuts aren't perfectly spaced or completely straight. Oh well. It was damn cold.
P.s.
It would be really hard to cut your dong off with this method
Did it help with traction?
