Is tire siping a myth?

[tz89]

The tire store guy asked me if I wanted additional "micro-siping" done to the new tires I was having installed on my car.

 

I never heard of it before. Wikipedia explained it a bit, and mentions that the tire store I was at claimed improved performance from tires they micro-sipe. Consumer Reports are said to discourage this according to Wikipedia.

 

Does anyone do this to their tires? How about to their motorcycle tires?

 

I declined today, but it made me curious.

[XV1100SE]

If the tire person slits the tire... doesn't that void any kind of manufacturer warranty?

 

I know when tires are made there are sipes designed into the tire. I wouldn't "add" additional ones.

[Condor]

The tire store guy asked me if I wanted additional "micro-siping" done to the new tires I was having installed on my car.

 

I never heard of it before. Wikipedia explained it a bit, and mentions that the tire store I was at claimed improved performance from tires they micro-sipe. Consumer Reports are said to discourage this according to Wikipedia.

 

Does anyone do this to their tires? How about to their motorcycle tires?

 

I declined today, but it made me curious.

 

I'd stay away from doing anything like that. Tire company's spend a bunch of money in R&D developing tire treads designed to perform to maximum for the tires intended use. Siping was done back when tread and compounds were lacking. This place is trying to dig into your pocket book, and probably ruining the tire warantee in the process. I'd go to another dealer...

[dacheedah]

I'd stay away from doing anything like that. Tire company's spend a bunch of money in R&D developing tire treads designed to perform to maximum for the tires intended use. Siping was done back when tread and compounds were lacking. This place is trying to dig into your pocket book, and probably ruining the tire warantee in the process. I'd go to another dealer...

 

2nd that, the smart engineers spend a lot of time finding out what works and what fails, now some guy selling tires thinks hes smarter because he sells them. They do agree you will have better traction and evidence shows that your tires will wear much faster. I'll take a pass

[kevin-vic-b.c.]

I'd stay away from doing anything like that. Tire company's spend a bunch of money in R&D developing tire treads designed to perform to maximum for the tires intended use. Siping was done back when tread and compounds were lacking. This place is trying to dig into your pocket book, and probably ruining the tire warantee in the process. I'd go to another dealer...

 

 

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[Flyinfool]

Back when I was dirt track racing cars, we did do a lot of siping.

As mentioned it does add a lot of traction AND the tire will wear a LOT faster.

 

I would not do it to a everyday street tire.

[Snaggletooth]

The only time i saw any benifit to siping was back when i was doing OTR heavy hauls on spread axle trailers. On the spread axle trailers one axle would be dragged sideways in turns. The siping allowed the tread to "walk" a bit instead of being slid across the surface. When we changed to air ride axles with capabilities to lift the forward axle during turns we stopped siping. Can't say it increased the tire.mileage life other than not tearing the tread off in tight turns. On a car can't i can't see the need or it.

 

 

From my Droid wherever I may happen to be at any given moment.

[SilvrT]

There is (or was) a type / brand of tire called Blizzak ... the tread is siped from mfg. They are awesome on hard packed snow and icy roads. Had a set on my Villager van years ago when I was doing a lot of long distance winter driving. They stuck like glue to the roads.

 

If I was doing similar driving and all I had was a set of standard winter tires, I would not hesitate to have them siped.

 

Tires with a siped tread should only be used during winter when the roads are cold, snowy, or icy. Any other time and they will wear out very quickly.

[JohnT]

Back when I was dirt track racing cars, we did do a lot of siping.

As mentioned it does add a lot of traction AND the tire will wear a LOT faster.

 

I would not do it to a everyday street tire.

From the same background.

[GolfVenture]

Glad this was posted. I normally buy tire from Les Schwab and I had it done once. At the end of the tire life, I did not think it improved the tire life. Didnt get it done anymore.