Regrooving TSL's

cj777

cj777

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Location
Durham, NC
I think there was another thread about this on here, but I couldn't find it. I have some bias TSL's that I want to get regrooved if possible. They are almost down to the wear bars. If it's possible, does anyone know someone in the area that does it?
 
Search for tire grooving irons. They are cheap. Then all you have to do is sit and cut them up any way you want.
 
Ist set of tires I groved took me around an hour a piece. The last set took a little over an hour total.
I know in the past I have posted some pics of the tires I grooved but that may have been lost with the changes in the board over the last few years.
 
Guys, whoa... he's talking about re-grooving, not grooving or siping..

I wouldn't recommend it.
 
cj777 said:
I have some bias TSL's that I want to get regrooved if possible. They are almost down to the wear bars. If it's possible, does anyone know someone in the area that does it?
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As I understand the question, the tires are worn down to the wear bars and he wants to groove them so they won't be as slick. I think Rich's comment is related to safety but I personally wouldn't have any problem cutting some worn TSLs for trail use. The TSL carcass is plenty tough and it would be a good way to get some more use out of the tires. Definately NOT recommended for street use! If so, a grooving iron would work fine. I got mine at Speedway Motors, http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/6583,185_Ideal-Grooving-Iron.html , http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/399,185_Tru-Hot-Grooving-Iron.html , works good, @$60 + 8 shipping. They have a couple of models. I got the red, 300 watt one. Cut my four 42" TSLs, just cut the large chevrons in half , in about an hour. Testing at DPG this weekend :)
 
I was just thinking about cutting out the wear bars, so that the existing tread would be consistantly deep all throughout the tire. I wouldn't be going into the carcass any deeper than the existing factory tread goes. Would that still be a safety issue? A quick google found this,http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68854, at least I'm not the only one who thought of it. Safety is my utmost concern, although these tires will see 99% trail
 
Your defiantly not the first to think about it. People have been doing it for years. And it will give you a lot more traction. At the same time if you rotate left and right sides(if you hadn't already done it) it will give you a sharper edge for traction too. It takes some time, but for a tired(pun intended) tire, it will bring back a few more good trail miles.
 
you can get down into the carcass about a 1/4" before you hit cords. I'm doing my worn out 36's right now and it take a lot of time, but I figure if I can get a little bit of trail time out of them, they will be worth the investment ($100 for 4 tires, groover was a gift). I won't be driving these on the highway, or at any high speed. maybe some doughnuts at the mall, but you know :D
 
CYJKrawler said:
I think Rich's comment is related to safety but I personally wouldn't have any problem cutting some worn TSLs for trail use. The TSL carcass is plenty tough and it would be a good way to get some more use out of the tires.
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I disagree... In his case, I would have no problem, since he just wants the wear bars gone.. the rubber is just thicker there.

If you start grooving into the rubber of the tire, you're making it more susceptable to be cut down, which is precisely why you are running a bias ply TSL in the first place.. The thickness of the rubber has ALOT to do with the "toughness" of the tire.

My old SX's had plenty of cuts in the rubber that would have gone to the cords/belts should I have taken thickness out of that rubber beforehand.

Just my $.02
 
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