Trying to decide the exact cut pattern for my 36" TSL's
Which way seems to work the best???
All-Around performance, mud, rocks, and dirt, plus minimal chunking...

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#1
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=167615

Center lugs triangulated with the outer lugs vertically cut...

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#2
http://home.off-road.com/~mithrandir/grooving/groove02.jpg

Center lugs triangulated with the outer lugs left stock...

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#3
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=680758

Center lugs triangulated with the outer lugs cut w/horizontal angles *my personal favorite look*...

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#4
http://wheelingpiazzas.com/pictures/misc/DCP00571.JPG

Center lugs horizontally cut in half, outers left stock...

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#5

Leave them stock...

I think siping has more to offer than grooving. Otherwise #3 is kinda cool.

http://www.broncoii4x4.com/tires/siped.jpg

Picture #2 is mine. If I were to do it again, I'd do it the same way. At least on the center lugs. I'd probably cut the outers too.

BUt then, I'm going to 35" boggers someday, so whadda I know? 36s are too big for my tired motor to spin, and the bogger is the tire of choice around here. No rock unless you dig down a couple inches through the clay.

I'd have to go with #3. I read an article somewhere that they tested a bunch of tires and the guys that drove were not allowed to see the tires. They were all swampers that were cut different.
The tires that won were cut just like #3.
I can't remember where I saw this, I just kept in mind that if I cut my new tires I would do them like that.
I will say this: I cut my last set oftires like the pic below and I had never broken a Birfield before. The first time I took it out I broke one and broke 6 more that year. I don't know if it was a coincidence or I was getting that much more traction.

Originally posted by Nobody
I think siping has more to offer than grooving. Otherwise #3 is kinda cool.

http://www.broncoii4x4.com/tires/siped.jpg

Well, i've seen alot of tires that come through our shop that have sipes (semi truck tires) and they chunk ALOT, but I am going to do 2 small cuts per central tread block probably, not very deep just 1/4" deep maybe

I am going to vote for #4 and #2.My tires are cut like #4 and they work way better than stock.I might try like #2 next time.I wouldn't cut the outers they seem to chunk enough without being cut.Blazin:D

I have pattern no.3. I like the groovin by the pool pic!:D

I just put a set of 38.5's on my truck and I went with the pattern like #4. haven't had a chance to go wheeling yet but maybe in a week :D

Originally posted by Snake47720


Well, i've seen alot of tires that come through our shop that have sipes (semi truck tires) and they chunk ALOT, but I am going to do 2 small cuts per central tread block probably, not very deep just 1/4" deep maybe

Well, I've got a pile of worn out siped tires next to the house, and nearly everyone up here in Washington sipes their tires....I have yet to see one fall apart.

Now, I've lost lugs before on tires that weren't siped, and tires that were siped....it just happens sometimes. Never experienced any "chunking" though

I also used work for a tire store about 10 years ago, in the truck department. I don't recall siping ever being a problem, and the truckers swear by it!

1/4" down.....bahhh. Cut them all the way to the wear bars.

In fact...... if anyone out there has a picture of a siped tire that chunked out, Please post it!

I cut mine like #3 but cut the side lugs down the sides also.

Originally posted by 350Samurai
I'd have to go with #3. I read an article somewhere that they tested a bunch of tires and the guys that drove were not allowed to see the tires. They were all swampers that were cut different.
The tires that won were cut just like #3.
I can't remember where I saw this, I just kept in mind that if I cut my new tires I would do them like that.
I will say this: I cut my last set oftires like the pic below and I had never broken a Birfield before. The first time I took it out I broke one and broke 6 more that year. I don't know if it was a coincidence or I was getting that much more traction.

I like those!, but I have boggers....what do I know:rolleyes: :flipoff2: ................lol

I've also found that if you cut all the way through the outter lugs, the pointed part of the lug gets torn off very quick, the circled area is where I'm talking about. Not cutting all the way across helps.

I have some MTR's under my rig. I bought them used from Yota-San. He, being from TN, siped them for better traction. Siping works great in mud, snow and other slippery situations.
But when I took them out to Cali rocks, they chunked like hell. I also bought another one for a replacement/spare (no siping) and have run it through the Hammerz without any signs of chunking. Maybe I'll post a pic tomorrow for the non-believers.

Oh, and when I get my SX's, I'm doin em like #3:bounce: :bounce2: :bounce:

I have 39.5" TSL's with deep sipes about 1/4" apart across the inner lugs. They have definitely chunked worse than non-siped tires, but the traction is awesome. I can run trails at 20 psi, and not spin a tire. If your rig is a DD, i would not sipe swampers, but if it's a trailer queen, then the added traction will outweigh the shorter life-span.

Originally posted by elf_cruiser
I have 39.5" TSL's with deep sipes about 1/4" apart across the inner lugs. They have definitely chunked worse than non-siped tires, but the traction is awesome. I can run trails at 20 psi, and not spin a tire. If your rig is a DD, i would not sipe swampers, but if it's a trailer queen, then the added traction will outweigh the shorter life-span.

Well I've got a *free* set of 35" bfg all terrains i'll devote to daily duty and trailer I'll use to bring my tires to the trail...The tires are the only trailer queens ;-)

I run a combo of 3 & 4. Two 3's then two 4's. It works well.

I did a test lug with a real 3-4 combo where each lug gets 3 cuts (center and two diagonals) to see if it would chunk. No chunks yet and the blocks are very soft. I will use that pattern, or adjust mine to it, if I get a wild hair one weekend.


Here's what I have now
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid21/pe3bc5ae5f8e5551b31caab6139cf5052/fdb1111f.jpg

Originally posted by elf_cruiser
I have 39.5" TSL's with deep sipes about 1/4" apart across the inner lugs. They have definitely chunked worse than non-siped tires, but the traction is awesome. I can run trails at 20 psi, and not spin a tire. If your rig is a DD, i would not sipe swampers, but if it's a trailer queen, then the added traction will outweigh the shorter life-span.

just for those that don't know, and not saying you don't:) sipes are done close togather and not real deep for the street. It helps tread life by letting the tire stay cooler, and helps wet weather traction. yours are "one-off" sipes:D

Cut #1 looks the coolest, probably would do well on rocks, not sure about mud. I rarely see mud. Just thought I would throw my 2 cents in.

Originally posted by zags
I have pattern no.3. I like the groovin by the pool pic!:D

Yeah, it was a hot bitch that day!

They seem to work well. A combo of breaking them in more and more and cutting them and I can run 6# of air versus the 3# I used to have to run.

I like this grove,

have you guys had any luck with it?

Edit: 350Samurai, this may be yours, didnt see your new pic...

I vote 3. Mine are cut like #4 and I they climb excellent straight on but they are more apt to slice lateraly on a rock then I think they should. I think traigulating the center lugs would help this.
Travis

Got the groover today Daniel, saweet...Fedex beat the box up pretty good, the groover base's feet were poking through the box:eek: , but I looked it over and everything seems alright.

When I send it back I'll put it in a lil bigger box for ya.


ALSO...

For those viewing these pics...

Shoulder lugs... Cut them from outside to 3/4 way inside similar to PYRO's

OR cut them like #3?

Also, cut the shoulders at factory tread depth or half that...I want good performance but as little chunking as possible, these tires will be trailered as I have a set of AT's for everyday running around...

SO is it bad to cut deeper than the wear bars?

Originally posted by Daniel
Ummmmmm YEAH! the plies are right under that and right under those is the air part...



Glad ya got it steve... now post pics... BTW shipping was only 6$ so Ill send you the refund too..

You want pics of your groover? hehehe

I'll get them as I do the tires, soon as I figure out where I put my digicam lol...I'd like to find out the shoulder cut opinion before I leave for class in an hour so I can start cutting the tires as soon as I get off work (that is where I have them since it is a tire shop :-P)

THREE CUTS PER INNER LUG :D

Cut thm in half then trangulate them. They'll hook up like mad, I'm positive. I'll be doing mine soon (you hear that rkcrawl).

I would cut the shoulder lugs about half tread depth through. It would suck to start tearing them off. Better safe than sorry.

#3 is the best. And the pool in the background looks refreshing.:flipoff2:

Originally posted by Snake47720
Fedex beat the box up pretty good
Probably one of the unfortunate boxes that get caught between the rail at the bottom edge of the conveyor and a 88 lb. Dell monitor. :eek: I see that crap happen ocassionally duing the sort.

Originally posted by 68BRONCO
SO is it bad to cut deeper than the wear bars?


If you remove the wear bars they flex better too.

Do you really need to know when your swampers are no longer street legal??????

:flipoff2:

I didn't mean to sound like an idiot in the other post about the wear bars but....

I have 4 regular Bias ply 36" TSL's and my spare is a Q78 TSL, the Q doesn't have wear bars as high as the others. the 36x12.50's are almost down to the wear bars- am I out of luck for grooving now?