Should I sipe my MT/R's for wet pavement/ice?

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Handywired - 21 Jul 2004 04:31 GMT

After much research I just bought some 31" MT/R's. I am not going to have them
put on the TJ until probably september just to get the most use out of my BFG
AT's. Question is, should I have the MTR's siped? One consideration is that
I'd like the maximum traction available on wet pavement, which is 6 months of
the year here, and ice, which would be much less common but does happen. OTOH,
I bought the dang things because I wanted a more aggresive tread than the 30"
AT's on there now, and I don't want to mess up my mud/snow/other performance.

T'ank-a-tu! (as my 3-year-old says)

-jeff

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John Davies - 21 Jul 2004 22:02 GMT

>After much research I just bought some 31" MT/R's. I am not going to have them
>put on the TJ until probably september just to get the most use out of my BFG
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>I bought the dang things because I wanted a more aggresive tread than the 30"
>AT's on there now, and I don't want to mess up my mud/snow/other performance.

I had mine siped, and I did notice a _small_ improvement in straight
line wet traction. However, a siping machine cuts grooves at 90
degrees to the sidewall, so the siping does nothing/ nada/ zilch to
help lateral stability (steering). Siped MT/Rs still are not the good
choice for ice. I like the Yokohama Geolander I/t for that. They start
and stop great and keep you out of the ditches.

If you decide to sipe yours, do just the center part of the tread so
you don't weaken the outer lugs.

John Davies TLCA 14732
http://home.comcast.net/~johnedavies/
'96 Lexus LX450
'00 Audi A4 1.8T quattro
Spokane WA USA

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Lee - 21 Jul 2004 22:10 GMT

jeff,
I've had 33" MTR's on my TJ since march. I live in the mountains in
colorado, so they have seen plenty of action. So far, they are
fantastic. I considered siping but in the end decided against it. I
figured I could alawys have it done later if it became an issue. I've
had them in lots of heavy rain - they are great. I've had them in deep
snow - again they are great. Not perfect on packed snow or ice, but
then what tire is?
Lee

> After much research I just bought some 31" MT/R's. I am not going to have them
> put on the TJ until probably september just to get the most use out of my BFG
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> -jeff

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Mike Romain - 21 Jul 2004 22:15 GMT

I have 33's also, but 9.5's and haven't seen the need to sipe them yet.
Had them on for 4 years up here in Canada so far. Never aired them down
either.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

> jeff,
> I've had 33" MTR's on my TJ since march. I live in the mountains in
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> >
> > -jeff

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PeterP - 22 Jul 2004 14:38 GMT

I've winter-driven 33x12.5 MT/Rs and can't really complain about them in
snow and ice. The 33x10.5 BFG ATs I use on the street now have not proven to
be any better in the snow and ice, and have significantly less traction on
dry pavement than the MT/Rs did.

/Peter

> I have 33's also, but 9.5's and haven't seen the need to sipe them yet.
> Had them on for 4 years up here in Canada so far. Never aired them down
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> > >
> > > -jeff

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