Tire Grooving

[upnover]

Sometime between now and Tellico Dixie Run, I want to groove my 44 TSL's. I have a borrowed tire goover, but the last time I borrowed it, it was not an easy task. I am looking for:
1. any and all idea's/experience's on any different ways to groove tires

2. Pictures of how you grooved your tires

Thanks In advance

 

[JThomas]

Hey chip, you need to rent a movie, buy 10 more blades [they dull fast],clean the tires very well [for extra life of blades]. Plug movie in... roll tires into living room.. pop beer...groove on.

 

[Caver Dave]

It took WHTTRSH the majority of the day to do his 36"s...

While I agree on doing it inside (with AC!), the one big logistic is having somewhere to lean the tire against! It takes a good amount of force, but as long as you can tarp up the wall and floor around it... and the "burned rubber" stank indoors would be pretty rude too!

 

[rokntoy]

Where can you get a good groove tool at? how much do they usually cost?

 

[Jeff B]

Where can you get a good groove tool at? how much do they usually cost?

ebay around $65--85+blades

 

[J.C.]

This is the one I have. $40 - Iron, $10 - Head, $5 - Blades. I've been pleased with it. Got the #4 head and 7/32" blades. Might like to have a #6 - 3/8" too. Fairly light duty iron but it you're only going to do a set every now and then I think it works fine.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/399,,_Tru-Hot-Grooving-Iron.html?itemNo=tire groover

 

[drkelly]

I can't remember where I got mine. I bought it about 3-4 yrs ago. I think I paid about $60 or so. I also bought an additional fatter head and blades for more options.

Here is the one I have:

I did the standard grooving job you see on my old 36" TSL's:

I haven't grooved my current tires yet, but probably will soon.

DK

 

[willness33]

^Yep, that's the way I did my 36" SX's. Only I had to do it with a #4 blade/head. I definitely getting recommend getting the larger blades. I had to do twice the work (doing 2 passes instead of one) to get the same results. Took quite a while.
This is the groover I got:http://www.pitstopusa.com/detail.aspx?ID=11185

 

[rockmafia]

Man you guys are slooow. Get the tire as hot as you can (sun, hot lamp, what ever) it makes it eaiser. I can do a 44 in less than an hr.

 

[BIGWOODY]

Man you guys are slooow. Get the tire as hot as you can (sun, hot lamp, what ever) it makes it eaiser. I can do a 44 in less than an hr.

heck you did all 4 of my 38's years ago in less than a couple of hours.

 

[J.C.]

Like Jim said, helps if the tires are warm, I like the sun lamp idea, tan while you wait Also as I said and DR reiterated, the larger head/blade is a good idea! The main difference between the Speedway groover and the one DR and willness have is that it is 300 watts vs 250. I'm sure they work about the same but I figured bigger is better, that's what my wife says anyway!

 

[Rich]

No substitute for good direct sunlight.

I did one of my 38's in the garage with a heater blowing at it, and it was still twice as hard as leaving them in the sunlight. It was almost easy when they're warm.

 

[upnover]

how about a heat shrink gun to heat it up?

 

[792.5cj5]

Groove the sidewall!!!!

 

[rockmafia]

how about a heat shrink gun to heat it up?

You need something that will heat a larger area, and something you don't have to hold (since you need both hands for the grover.

Set it out in the sun and get it good and hot, then mount it on your jeep on a jackstand so you can cut and rotate the tire easy.