Siping MTs?

Picking up a set of Hankook MTs, and was considering siping them for better traction on the wet roads and rocks, I am not concerned with winter performance, I have a set of the ATM RF10s for that. What is everyone's experience with siping of MTs, better performance on roads rocks etc., chunking, quick destruction of the tire etc. etc. as well as what type of terrain being used on. I am in CO and mainly to rocky crawly trails, as well as a healthy dose of Moab.

 

Siping of a tire that was not originally designed to have siping can lead to drastically shorter life span and potentially reduced handling characteristics. If your goal is better rock traction, take a look at purpose built rock crawling tires. Little to no siping.

 

There is no siping on the Hankooks, thats the point of the question . . . I would also disagree with your statement about handling and life span. Do you have any experienced with siped MTs, or just speculating?

 

I've seen a lot of short course racers that run Toyo MT's groove their tires for better traction, can't mention anything on tire longevity, but it seems to work very well for them.

 

I sipe all my tires on all my vehicles and have for a long time. It makes a noticeable difference on ice and snow as well a off-road on some of the smaller rock surfaces and dirt. I have yet to chunk one and would not own tires that are not siped. The theory is that they last longer because there is more heat dissipation from siping.

There is a bit of wander and slight darting on the highways where they have removed a layer of asphalt and on broomed concrete roads. A bit annoying sometimes but nothing I can't live with.

 

Jason, are you kooks siped? I meant to mention just the middle lugs in the OP, thanks for the reminder.

 

Thanks for the response, where do you live and what tires have you siped?

 

Is that because you are worried they would chunk under normal off road use?

 

Gotcha, thanks!

 

Dunno about the Hankooks, but I run Toyo MTs that are factory siped (Tundra now, previously on Taco also). Great on-road traction and they hold up extremely well off-road. I spend a fair amount of time in the Nevada backcountry which is loaded with sharp rocks, plus multiple trips through the Sierras in the summer.

 

I guess I should have clarified "aftermarket" siping, not originally on the tires from the manufacturer.

 

Tires with sipes from the factory are designed to have sipes. Tires that don't have sipes from the factory were not designed to have sipes. Most tires built for the purpose of rock crawling do not have sipes. I'm pretty sure if siping was better for traction and longevity, BFG would have included them in the Krawler MT, Super Swampers would have sipes in them, the General Grabber would have sipes.

I'm not saying that siping is a bad thing on tires...I'm saying that I would never take what the manufacturer has deemed is the good enough for production and then cut sipes into them because I think I could do a better job. If a tires comes with sipes for the type of terrain that I use, then great! (The tires I run have quite a bit of siping). If the tires I want for a different type of terrain don't have siping, then I'll leave them alone.

http://automotivethinker.com/tires/aftermarket-tire-siping/

 

^^ Near Colo. Springs. Don't have an MT tire at present but the Kuhmo SAT KL-61 that have the mountain snowflake symbol. They are an all terrain. Not such a good tire.

OP, I see you like the Engineer Pass area. Used to work a bunch in that area.

 

I ran siped KM2s for a couple years out here. I only siped the center lugs, but it definitely helped with winter traction. As you know, non siped KM2s are just plain scary on packed snow and ice. After the siping, my tires became "acceptable". My duratracs are much better than the siped KM2s were in packed snow and ice, though.

 

Thank you Jason, your experience with this is the type that I was looking for!

Still not totally decided on what route to go, but have some things to think about. The good thing is that siping can be added at any time, and not a now or never decision, however it is irreversible.

 

Thanks, if you are referring to my sig, that is actually taken on Radical Hill with Webster in the back. I have never been down to engineer, but definetly plan to the alpine loop this summer!

Thanks Justin, I would not really doing this for winter duty, just better on road and maybe rock performance in the summer. Did you notice improved road manners after siping?