Downsides to cutting tires?

[kduchow]

I just purchased an Axial Ridgecrest and a lot of posts and Axial's blogs talk about cutting the tires for more traction. I'm curious what the downsides of cutting the tires are? I assume there must be some, otherwise they'd come that way?

Thanks!

[StraightCreepin87]

the downside is that once you cut em your stuck with em. and if your going to cut, do it a little at a time if your unsure. factory tires are also installed as an all around trail/crawl tire. some folks gear more toward crawling and cut the tires. so it's all in what you wanna do with your rig!

[Tom G]

Cutting or sipping tire's is at best SWAG engineering ( scientific wild ass guess ) unless you have had some experienced training by some one knowledgeable in this dark art.

I myself have learned it the hard way as have most people. By ruining several sets of rubber . But on the plus side I gain some knowledge.


That being said get off your wallet LOL and give it a try . Pick up some used tires on the website and butcher away .

All you can do is learn a new craft

[kduchow]

Thanks for the replies!

So if I want it to be more of a trail rig, it sounds like I shouldn't cut the tires? What problems does it cause for a trail oriented rig if I do cut them?

[EverettY]

The main reason the tires don't come cut from the factory is so there are options for people cause not everyone will want them that way... Plus the factory would have to make a new mold for a version already cut...

[Olle P]

Originally Posted by EverettY

... the factory would have to make a new mold for a version already cut...

... or rather add cutting of the molded tires to the process, increasing the cost quite a bit.
(You can't mold the cuts!)

The main downside of cutting (yourself) is that the tire will wear out faster. That downside is academic, since worn tires are generally better than new ones (at least for rock crawling) plus that you'll more likely get new (different) tires before the stock tires are worn in anyway.

[RCTogether]

Depending on what tool you use and how much cutting you do, be aware of carpal tunnel. This can be a very repetitive movement.

That being said the factory trepadors on my AX10 seemed to grip much better once I cut them and reversed the treads. At least on rocks and hills. It had a better bite.

[ben h]

i cut my 2.2 mud slingers and i love em