Has anyone purchased the optional tire siping service offered at Discount Tire? They offer many good arguments for getting it done like improved braking and traction, and a smoother, quieter ride. Is this reality or another way to part with an extra $10 per tire? Any real life experiences?

 

WTF is siping

 

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/tireSiping.dos

i never did this, but i would think if this was really that beneficial, the tire companies would do this from the factory. an article i just saw on 4x4wire.com said many all season and multi terrain tires come with this from the factory, but i dont know about tires like we use, low profile and High perforance tires.

 

I would pass ..... unless you want it for snow and ice, and then I would just buy a snow tire.

 

Only thing I got was noise increase from my tires.

 

That's funny because they claim it will reduce road noise because the whole tread block is not slapping the pavement at once.

Anyone else?

 

You could look at it this way, ever hear jacked up 4x4's with their huge off-road tires going down the road at 20mph but sounding like they're going much faster?

It's the same principle.

 

My Michelin snow tires are designed with large sipes from the mfg. I wonder if it increases wear having all those edges being put down.

 

Looks like an advantage for those who want straightline performance. Doesn't say much about traction in turns. I'll pass. I like my slicks.
Jae

 

Check out www.sipers.com. They claim that the tire will run cooler with siping thus wearing slower. Their arguments sound rational but do they hold up in the real world?

 

Traction in turns is gonna hurt. The best DOT racing tires and street tires all have as few voids and as much flat rubber as possible molded to avoid tread squirm. Siping can only promote squirm.

 

Yeah I can only see this being done for winter tires. I've heard of it being done to all seasons to increase their winter traction. As some of the other posters have said, you don't see this being done for racing tires where they would want take advantage of any traction gains no matter how small.

CM

 

This is ONLY for winter tires.

Siping is done to increase traction in rain/slush/snow. NOT on dry pavement.

if you do this to a tire, expect to only use it during the winter, at it completely ruins them for dry performance driving.
it turns those $600 performance tires into some $200 all-seasons.