RCCrawler Forums

WIREPULLER · 05-30-2007, 09:22 AM

How does one do this? Some 1:1 crawlers sipe their tires, and I would like to do this.

WP

Rubbaneck · 05-30-2007, 09:43 AM

Get a dremel and a cut off wheel attachment. Put a towel in your lap and tuck it in like a bib. Then start slow so you can feel it cut, then enjoy then smell of burnt rubber

TURTLE · 05-30-2007, 09:54 AM

yeah or a hobby knife and a lot of time!

run2jeepn · 05-31-2007, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rubbaneck

Get a dremel and a cut off wheel attachment. Put a towel in your lap and tuck it in like a bib. Then start slow so you can feel it cut, then enjoy then smell of burnt rubber

Using a Cut off wheel won't get the effect his after. Using a cut off wheel will leave to large of cuts. That would be like groving the tires instead...Using a Hobby knife or razor blade will do the trick. But also remember this will allow your tires to chuck out easy aswell. Make sure you don't cut to deep to help fight that. You don't need to cut that deep at all.

racerx · 05-31-2007, 10:20 AM

I siped a set of my Swamp Dawgs with a single side razor blade and I kept the tire wet with water and a drop or two of dish soap (so the blade slides through the rubber easier) just be carefull not to cut your fingers off!

By the way.... they work WAAAAAY better now!

BrandonW · 05-31-2007, 12:26 PM

i had no idea was siping was until today. pretty cool idea. for other people that havent a clue read this:

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...reSiping.shtml

The Muscle · 05-31-2007, 12:26 PM

for us idiots that don't know what siping is.... can you post a picture?

PaloAltoK5 · 05-31-2007, 03:06 PM

Ckick link, copy picture, post picture.

braceysdad · 05-31-2007, 03:17 PM

Has anyone ever tried a solder iron with a really small tip?

racerx · 06-01-2007, 10:27 AM

I think some wood burners have a tip that looks like a X-acto blade, I would think since the rubber is so soft if you used a hot knife it would probably fuse back together as you made the cut???

BJoe · 06-01-2007, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racerx

I think some wood burners have a tip that looks like a X-acto blade, I would think since the rubber is so soft if you used a hot knife it would probably fuse back together as you made the cut???

Can;t remember the price, but X-Acto makes them like that and those use #11 blades too.

PaloAltoK5 · 06-01-2007, 11:42 PM

Don't use heat to sip your tires.
Use heat to "groove" your tires.

sip'ing is just meant to allow your tires a little flex in the rubber without removing rubber, and as the tire shifts (forward, reverse, side to side) the the sips will allow the rubber to slip apart and little edges to grip the surface you are traveling over. As in the pictures, it's barely visible unless you flex the tire, then it becomes more obvious.

Sip'ed tire:

Grooving actually leaves visible grooves in your tires, i.e. rubber is removed. Racers commonly use this to prepare special tires for racing in the rain and such when they need to move water in a specific direction due to track conditions. Every tire guy has different opinions on what works best. Here's pictures of commonly "grooved" race tires, keep in mind these started life as full race slicks!!

Intermediate Grooved Race Tire:

Full Wet Grooved Race Tire:

WIREPULLER · 06-05-2007, 08:21 AM

Thanks guys, I fiiggered it would help lots. Now I've got some *** time in front of the TV to get this done.

WP

duleonar · 07-30-2007, 12:53 PM

I starting grooving my stock WK tires this past weekend with a hobby knife kit I got at Home Depot. It came with multiple blade types and a case. Once I figure out how to post a pic, I will show you my first attempts at grooving.

grapegoat · 07-30-2007, 02:14 PM

this "siping" method will do wonders to imex tires since they are a little too firm for my taste. if you do this, it will make the tires more flexible and even more so if you removed every other lug.

duleonar · 07-31-2007, 12:55 PM

I guess I do not have permission to attach pics. Is there some probation period or what?

duleonar · 07-31-2007, 01:14 PM

Okay, I think I've got it now. Here are some pics of my stock wheely kings tires going under the knife.

http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=100_3501.jpg

http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=100_3502.jpg

http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=100_3504.jpg

http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=100_3503.jpg

dotson · 07-31-2007, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duleonar

Okay, I think I've got it now. Here are some pics of my stock wheely kings tires going under the knife.

http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=100_3501.jpg

http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=100_3502.jpg

http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=100_3504.jpg

http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=100_3503.jpg

Siping is a process that involves no removal of rubber, just the creation of slits into the tread blocks

duleonar · 08-01-2007, 12:46 PM

I guess I am grooving my tread rather than siping it. It is actually coming along nicely. The 1st pics are a bit on the rough side. I cleaned up the grooves I had already done, and now as I continue on, I make my cuts cleaner. The only problem I can see is it is going to take me a long time, but if you are on a budget of $0 then grooving is something to keep you "building/improving" you rig. If you aren't trying to build a "budget" truck then just buy better tires.

06-01-2007, 11:42 PM	#12
PaloAltoK5 RCC Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Saving for Nationals!! Posts: 1,696	Don't use heat to sip your tires. Use heat to "groove" your tires. sip'ing is just meant to allow your tires a little flex in the rubber without removing rubber, and as the tire shifts (forward, reverse, side to side) the the sips will allow the rubber to slip apart and little edges to grip the surface you are traveling over. As in the pictures, it's barely visible unless you flex the tire, then it becomes more obvious. Sip'ed tire: Grooving actually leaves visible grooves in your tires, i.e. rubber is removed. Racers commonly use this to prepare special tires for racing in the rain and such when they need to move water in a specific direction due to track conditions. Every tire guy has different opinions on what works best. Here's pictures of commonly "grooved" race tires, keep in mind these started life as full race slicks!! Intermediate Grooved Race Tire: Full Wet Grooved Race Tire: Last edited by PaloAltoK5; 06-07-2007 at 04:50 PM.

05-30-2007, 09:22 AM	#1
WIREPULLER Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: stony plain Posts: 7	Siping tires How does one do this? Some 1:1 crawlers sipe their tires, and I would like to do this. WP

05-30-2007, 09:43 AM	#2
Rubbaneck RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chucking rocks at your little truck! Posts: 1,353	Get a dremel and a cut off wheel attachment. Put a towel in your lap and tuck it in like a bib. Then start slow so you can feel it cut, then enjoy then smell of burnt rubber

05-30-2007, 09:54 AM	#3
TURTLE Gettin’ back on the horse Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hoonsville Posts: 6,671	yeah or a hobby knife and a lot of time!

05-31-2007, 10:20 AM	#5
racerx I wanna be Dave Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: R.I.P. Chip Posts: 2,024	I siped a set of my Swamp Dawgs with a single side razor blade and I kept the tire wet with water and a drop or two of dish soap (so the blade slides through the rubber easier) just be carefull not to cut your fingers off! By the way.... they work WAAAAAY better now!

05-31-2007, 12:26 PM	#6
BrandonW RCC Addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,043	i had no idea was siping was until today. pretty cool idea. for other people that havent a clue read this: http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...reSiping.shtml

05-31-2007, 12:26 PM	#7
The Muscle Rock Crawler Join Date: May 2006 Location: san diego Posts: 607	for us idiots that don't know what siping is.... can you post a picture?

05-31-2007, 03:06 PM	#8
PaloAltoK5 RCC Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Saving for Nationals!! Posts: 1,696	Ckick link, copy picture, post picture.

05-31-2007, 03:17 PM	#9
braceysdad Adilynsdad too! Join Date: May 2004 Location: G ville Posts: 8,844	Has anyone ever tried a solder iron with a really small tip?

06-01-2007, 10:27 AM	#10
racerx I wanna be Dave Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: R.I.P. Chip Posts: 2,024	I think some wood burners have a tip that looks like a X-acto blade, I would think since the rubber is so soft if you used a hot knife it would probably fuse back together as you made the cut???

06-05-2007, 08:21 AM	#13
WIREPULLER Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: stony plain Posts: 7	Thanks guys, I fiiggered it would help lots. Now I've got some *** time in front of the TV to get this done. WP

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07-30-2007, 12:53 PM	#14
duleonar Rock Stacker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 96	I starting grooving my stock WK tires this past weekend with a hobby knife kit I got at Home Depot. It came with multiple blade types and a case. Once I figure out how to post a pic, I will show you my first attempts at grooving.

07-30-2007, 02:14 PM	#15
grapegoat Rock Crawler Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: portland Posts: 584	this "siping" method will do wonders to imex tires since they are a little too firm for my taste. if you do this, it will make the tires more flexible and even more so if you removed every other lug.

07-31-2007, 12:55 PM	#16
duleonar Rock Stacker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 96	I guess I do not have permission to attach pics. Is there some probation period or what?

07-31-2007, 01:14 PM	#17
duleonar Rock Stacker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 96	Okay, I think I've got it now. Here are some pics of my stock wheely kings tires going under the knife. http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=100_3501.jpg http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=100_3502.jpg http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=100_3504.jpg http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=100_3503.jpg

08-01-2007, 12:46 PM	#19
duleonar Rock Stacker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 96	I guess I am grooving my tread rather than siping it. It is actually coming along nicely. The 1st pics are a bit on the rough side. I cleaned up the grooves I had already done, and now as I continue on, I make my cuts cleaner. The only problem I can see is it is going to take me a long time, but if you are on a budget of $0 then grooving is something to keep you "building/improving" you rig. If you aren't trying to build a "budget" truck then just buy better tires.

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