Probably worthwhile for really rainy or snowy areas. Though I have to expect that autoxing or track event on them would
A) melt the sipes shut
B) tear the tread blocks at the sipes
C) decrease dry grip
D) all of the above

 

The answer is B and C. Tread squirm is the term that your looking for. Sipes are for snow tires.


[Modified by LSIntegra94, 12:55 AM 6/18/2001]


[Modified by LSIntegra94, 12:55 AM 6/18/2001]

 

I work at discount tire co. and we sipe tires all the time, just dont do it if you constantly just sit and burn out your tires, a little chrip or even a two or three second squeel of the tires is ok, but prolonged white smoking chews the tires up, it happened on the rear of my 68 chevelle, but I have never had any problems with the sipes on my GS-R, so I would get the sipes, heck I do it, and the little cuts help to keep the tire from wearing unevenly as well.(something about the distribution of weight)

 

Not to argue with any one, but. You would have to be crazy to do this. In the six years i've been involved with Auto-Xing, and the twenty some odd years I've been interested in racing, one of the many things that I've learned is that more tread blocks (and yes this has got to do with their depth) on a tire the worse the traction becomes. Why do you think that race cars use slicks? It's because no tread blocks work better than any tread blocks. And as far as tread depth goes the shorter the better, thats why when you have to run a treaded tire in a series most competitors will have their tires shaved to about 3/32nds of an inch. The shorter the better.

 

EXACTLY. Believe it or not, companies like Pirelli, Michelin, and Dunlop actually have some clue about how to make tires for the dry. I somehow doubt that they need help from "Discount Tires" to make a better product.

 

I've heard of it, and seen what siping looks like.

My take? If this is the last winter you think you're going to use this set of tires, go for it. I've heard from people who've had it done that it really does help in snow, and some in rain. However, your tires will wear faster, so if you're going to have them awhile, I wouldn't. It might also increase tread noise.
My Dunlops have a fair amount of siping in them already, standard. I love how they handle in rain, we'll just have to see what goes in snow.