I want to get my tires siped if it really works to improve traction on ice and snow. Does it really work?
Renegade, I have been driving for 46 years myself and never heard of siping . Must be something the yuppie crowd has come up with.
www.okorder /. Be aware it will void the warranty on your tires. Goodyear Tire Rubber Co. does not recommend that passenger tires be siped, because the tread depth and the tire body are not designed for siping. But yes, it does work.
You could get sipes cut in the tires, and it might help a little, but the rubber compound is still too dense and will not grip icy surfaces. You need a specific winter tire for good winter performance. Bridgestone Blizzak, Yokohama Ice Grip, etc... You still have to slow way down for snow, but at least you'll have a better safety margin with proper tires.
Siping tires can work when done correctly, but if the tire is way wrong for the snow it won't help much. If the other guy has been around automotive for so long, but has never heard of this he must be under a rock. Having your tires siped at a shop used to be the only way to get siped tires. It has recently seen a bit of a comeback due to rock crawlers, but can negatively affect some tires lifespan etc, so make sure you have a good shop cut your tires. There is no doubt that siped tires have better traction on Ice and snow, the hard part is not destroying the characteristics a tire company built into their tire.
