What is tire siping?:

Perhaps you are not familiar with the process called "siping" that some tire retailers like Les Schwab are offering these days on car tires. When you have your tires siped, a machine rotates your tires and makes a very small 90 degree cut into the tread. Once the tires have been siped, you will experience improved braking, better traction, and a potentially smoother ride. The small cuts in your tires don't actually harm the tread or the life of the tire at all, but they do allow for more performance when it comes to braking in wet and icy conditions on the road. I moved to Oregon a few years back and had never been exposed to this process before until a salesguy at Les Schwab tires offered to show me an example they had setup in the store. They wet down a simulated road surface and then pull a piece of rubber that has been siped across the surface so you can see just how much more efficient the tires that have been siped are when you simulate the braking of a car. The non-siped tires don't stop nearly as well on the wet surface. I was sold when I saw this test and think it is well worth the minor investment for the added safety of my family on the roads.

---

If you live in a wet or potentially snowy and icy climate, then it's worth taking a look at getting your tires siped. The process is quick and you may notice the difference immediately with a smoother ride and improved traction on wet surfaces. At this time, we could not locate any manufacturers that sell pre-siped tires so you will have to get them done at your local tire outlet (like Les Schwab). I read an article on siping tires done by Consumer Reports and they said their findings are not conclusive enough to justify the process of siping. They tested 2 all-season tires (H-rated Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus and a V-rated Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S) to see how they performed. One set was siped and the other was not for the testing. CR did see improvements in the siped tires when it came to ice-braking and snow traction but no significant difference for braking on dry and wet pavements. Their final decision was that the extra cost is not worth it. I do trust Consumer Reports almost all the time, but other findings show that siped tires give you enhanced performance when you need it most - in wet and icy conditions. Again, if you live in California where the weather is dry most of the year it's probably not worth it to sipe your tires. In Oregon, the rain is a given and icy conditions are not abnormal so siping just makes sense given the cheap cost to get it done. The good news is that even if your tires are not brand new you can get the siping process done on them. The cost is the same whether the tires are old or new and siping does not harm the overall life or tread of the tire in any way. Siping gives your tires more gripping edges versus non-siped tires and therefore the energy it takes to brake is spread over more area making it more efficient and faster. Another thing to consider before having your tires siped is that some manufacturers may void the warranty on your tires if you have this done. Seems that not all people are convinced that siping extends tire life if the manufacturers think it may damage the tires to the point of voiding the warranty.

Benefits of Siping Tires:

The biggest benefit of having siped tires on your car is that the braking will be improved significantly. The siped tires have more edges that can grip to the road when you suddenly hit the brakes giving you the chance to stop much faster than with non-siped tires. The same goes for the traction improvement on siped tires. The tread blocks will have a lot more "sharp edges" once they are siped leaving your tires the ability to really grip the road even during harsh weather. I noticed a big difference driving up and down the hills to my house when the rain was coming down hard. Our Mercedes E420 has a V8 motor and the traction control light used to come on often when I would start from a stop and go uphill in the rain, but with the new siped tired I don't see that warning light anymore. I figure I can attribute that directly to getting the tires siped. Brochures on tire siping also claim you get a smoother ride and increased tire life. I will let you know as I update this article in a few years as to how my tire tread is wearing. One reason you are expected to increase the life of your tires is because siped tires reduce the amount of heat generated on the tire. Siped tires disperse heat much better than non-siped tires and heat is a direct reason for faster tire wear. Cooler running tires means longer life for them.

Cost to get siping done:

If you are going to spend $100/tire then adding the siping will only increase your payout by 15% since they are roughly $15 per tire to have done. The cost benefit analysis is a tough one to determine since it's hard to tell how often the siped tires will actually come into play. Knowing that I live in a wet climate 7 months out of the year it was a "no brainer" for me. Anyone living in an area with mild winters and no snow may forego the tire treatment, especially if you are buying cheaper tires to begin with. I look at it as a safety benefit that could potentially help stop my car in icy or extremely rainy conditions just a little faster and smoother meaning I could avoid hitting another car or object. Check with your local tire retailer to see if they offer this service and how much it costs. $15 was the average price per tire that we found in our area.

Can you get tires that are already siped by the manufacturer?:

There are a few manufacturers that will sipe tires at the factory, but the process is supposedly too labor intensive once the molding process has been completely that it's hard to find them sold in stores that way. It's more likely you will have to get your tires siped after you buy them brand new. When we did a search online for the term "siping tires" it appeared in many 4 wheel drive forums and in Automotivehelper.com forums. Many people are still unfamiliar with the term and were not up to date on the latest technology brought to the world of tires. Do your research and see if your current tires are ok to sipe and then check with your local tire store to get their opinion.

Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.

Review and Internet Guide Index: Computers and Internet: - Amazon Kindle Review - Best Selling Wireless Routers Household/DIY: - Replacing a Furnace - Most Popular Bread Makers Cars and Automobiles

Audio/Video Electronics - Best 50" LCD TVs - What is Tivo and how does it work? Top-Rated Digital Cameras and Photos: - Top HD Video Cameras - Buying a Digital SLR Camera Entertainment/Hobbies

Health & Fitness: - Teeter Inversion Tables - Recumbent Exercise Bikes Travel - Disneyland Hotel Guide - Hotels and Lodging - Top 10 Things to Do in New York Sports and Outdoors