There's a tire store here in town that is advertising a tire siping service. I guess it involves putting these grooves in your tires to give you better traction? Does it work or is it hype?
The sipes (grooves) cut into the tire tread blocks allow the grooves to spread on contact with the ground. That pushes water away from the tread which gives the tires more "grab". People swear by it.
Does that weaken the tire in any way? I'd be nervous about cutting into my tire when it seems they're always encouraging you to change them at any significant sign of wear.
You can buy tires that are pre-siped or you can have them siped after you purchase un-siped tires. It's best to take them where you bought them to have it done by their machine so as to not void the warranty.
I must be getting old, I've never heard of it. It sounds like something I would like to have done though. Anything that would help driving on slick or wet roads would be great in my book.
I have read that siping actually extends the life of the tire. The basic reasoning is that the siping improves heat dissipation, which reduces some wear and tear.
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Tire Siping
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