Whilst in Discount Tire Co I was reading a sign promoting 'Tire Syping' which involves cutting a series of slits at right angles across the tread of the tires.

They claim that it can reduce wear and increase grip.

Anyone had any experience with this on performance tires, I'm ready for a new set of rears and wanted to know if this was worth doing or not?

Joel

 

I suspect it's a waste of time. The cuts aren't wide enough to make any difference with wet-water behavior, and having a jagged surface doesn't help with grip (otherwise treaded tires would have a grip advantage in dry weather over slicks).

I suspect it might also increase the wear on the tire, but have no evidence either way.

But, if you do it, they get to pocket extra money from you, so in their eyes, it's a Good Thing =)

 

I've done it on one set of performance tires for the Prelude....I did get much improved traction, especially on wet roads, but it did kill mileage on the tires....I lost about 10k miles on the set. I replaced the tires with same tires without siping. This next set lasted me longer (about 10k miles more), but traction was definitely less than the set with siping.

 

Overall...I wouldn't try it on the S02's...

 

Siping is VERY effective for driving on snow. However, though I don't have actual experience doing so, I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that the S2000 is NOT an effective snow vehicle!!

 

If it were that good, the tire manufacturers would be doing it, especially on high-end products. Snake oil is snake oil, regardless of whether it's magical oil additives or tire siping...

 

I used to tire sype my sport bike tires all the time. Usually it was a slick tire we siped with a potential of a little rain hitting. Extremely effective.....that said; there's no way in hell I would sipe a set of performance tires.....especially at a firm with "Discount" in their moniker.

Utah

 

Many tire manufactures are incorporating siping into their designs now. I know that most plow truck drivers up here sipe their tires, and swear by it. The studded snows I bought for my GMC 2500 plow vehicle were factory siped. But the only thing that truck has in commom with my s is that they both use gas (5 mpg plowing!).

I asked this question regarding the so 2's a while ago. I'm almost willing to give it a try when I need new ones, having read all the threads about a loss of traction when it gets wet...

I've only got 1000 miles on the car - it will be a while...

 

DO NOT get aftermarket siping on your tires, especially for a performance car!

The last thing in the world you want on your S2000 is tread squirm.

 

Contact area is for grip. Channels are for water extraction. Grooving slicks with an iron is not the same as siping.

Sipes are little slits with or without a keyhole shape at one or both ends. Siping is for traction on snow or ice only. Snow and all-season tires have sipes. If you need siping, buy tires that already have it.