Does tire grooving really work?

[Kennyd4110]

Yes, it is amazing how well it works! I've done two tractors now and lent my tool out to some friends to do theirs, and they all say the same.

 

[coachgeo]

Siping is great on small flexible lugs. I do not think they would work well on R4's due to how stiff the lugs are. You would have to cut awfully deep to get them to flex enough for the siping to work.

from what have read in reference to "snow" it is not the flex of the lug that siping creates that makes the difference. It is something entirely different. It provides a different kind of ruff surface that improves grip.

 

[NHSleddog]

from what have read in reference to "snow" it is not the flex of the lug that siping creates that makes the difference. It is something entirely different. It provides a different kind of ruff surface that improves grip.

Siping to be effective needs to have flexibility. It is why you do not see it on solid tires. There needs to be flexibility for it to work.

There are two trains of though on siping. One, the added flexibility increases the contact with the road (the "footprint") the other is; with flexibility between the sipes, snow, ice etc. particles get trapped and increase traction (snow on snow has more traction than rubber on snow).

 

[dfixit1]

sipes are just very tiny tire groves. Pretty sure a tire grover has blades available for siping.

My tire groover says for siping to install the cutting blade backwards. So instead of a square cutting edge you have two narrow blades, sipes. Hope that helps.

Also some have commented, why not groove to the edge of the lug?
Some believe it may cause with use, tearing or chunks coming off. So I just followed the method of staying away from the edge of the lug.
It is my understanding R4 tires are hard nylon tires and have a higher weight carrying capacity over the softer turf tires.

 

[fruitcakesa]

My grooving tool is down at the post office awaiting pick up.
I will be giving it some use soon.

 

[D2Cat]

For anyone want additional first hand information on grooving R4's might go over to that other tractor form and do a search. Kennyd4110 has thread there showing how his was done and how it has worked for traction. Very interesting!

 

[SidecarFlip]

For anyone want additional first hand information on grooving R4's might go over to that other tractor form and do a search. Kennyd4110 has thread there showing how his was done and how it has worked for traction. Very interesting!

The 'other' forum?????

 

[Kennyd4110]

The 'other' forum?????

The Green side of things:

https://www.greentractortalk.com/th...ving-for-improved-traction.17633/#post-189318

 

[D2Cat]

Ole' 5030 know darn well what forum. He lives over there on that HF tool thread!

 

[fruitcakesa]

I spent a pleasant 45 minutes or so grooving my front R1's.
Very handy tool.
Have not had a chance to give it them real traction test yet but with the current extremely variable weather we are having , it will be sloppy pretty quick.

 

[tthorkil]

I spent a pleasant 45 minutes or so grooving my front R1's.
Very handy tool.
Have not had a chance to give it them real traction test yet but with the current extremely variable weather we are having , it will be sloppy pretty quick.

Please do add your experience with the grooved R1s as I was wondering how much if any that would affect the traction with such a deep tread. I plan on trying the grooving on my skid-steer tires to hopefully improve the snow traction.

 

[MadMax31]

The Green side of things:

https://www.greentractortalk.com/th...ving-for-improved-traction.17633/#post-189318

Ohhhhh.... I just figured TBN. Forgot about those Green Boys!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Ohhhhh.... I just figured TBN. Forgot about those Green Boys!

He's on TBN too!

 

[dfixit1]

Update! Just pushed 4 tenths of a mile of snow with temperature at 34 degrees. We had several small snowfalls and after settling it was 4 inches, wet and heavy. I cannot be more pleased with the grooving of my tires. Pushed downhill and off driveway into piles and stacked. Not once did I get stuck or any indication of trying to! I was even able to push uphill!
Best $86 I ever spent!
Sure glad the supplier was out of tire chains for my front tires!
If your mule has tires that act like slicks in snow and ice, groove your tires!

 

[Dvan]

Great to hear it’s so effective, I think I will do it as well and I might not need to be In 4wd so much while plowing my concrete driveway. I can’t understand why, if it is so much better, why don’t they just do it to new tires?

 

[fruitcakesa]

Gave the tractor a good workout in the slick, wet muddy conditions and it seemed to grab better when turning.
We need some snow here to give it a real test.
Stay tuned

 

[Fatfenders]

Just bought a tire groover and haven't even purchased my tractor yet!
Thanks for the info in this thread. Saved me a bunch of money on chains.

 

[NHSleddog]

Just bought a tire groover and haven't even purchased my tractor yet!
Thanks for the info in this thread. Saved me a bunch of money on chains.

Regardless if you go chains in the future, you won't regret the purchase. It makes a big difference on the R4's on my B2650.

 

[fruitcakesa]

First snow to plow in a month and the tires do seem to hold a line better than before when turning with a load of snow
Tomorrow will be the real test as it is currently freezing raining and predicted to continue with mixed precip till Friday night.

 

[fruitcakesa]

Driveway is solid ice, so I made a few passes up and down chewing up the ice with the rear chains.
Pushed off excess snow in a few spots I missed yesterday
All in 2WD with no steering issues at all.
Another vote for groovin'