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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: keith on November 24, 2004, 12:10:53 AM

Title: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: keith on November 24, 2004, 12:10:53 AM
Due to lack of siping my M/Ts tend to slide around in the rain when braking hard.  I'm wondering how they will do in light to moderate snow.  I think they will do great going through deep snow off road, but I'm not so sure about driving in traffic with it when it is snowing.  
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: explosivo on November 24, 2004, 02:27:32 AM
From what I've heard, MT's will do better in the deep stuff than normal winter tires, but will slip and slide around on the hard-packed stuff/ice due to the lack of siping :-/
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: r3cc0s on November 24, 2004, 02:36:46 AM
living in wpg
I've talked to a few people

mudders like the dunlop, cooper stt, and even the mud terrain from what I heard are mediocre depending on the situation
if it's an ice/snowy area w/ large rocks
you'll slip all over the place, they will dig through deep snow (acctuality work better on deep snow) but the lack of siping will make you slip on the ice and their compounds are quite hard at anything below 27ish farenheight
however the goodyear mt/r appear to be soft enough to give decent traction in ice for a mt style

i've been told the good year mt/r is wicked if the center parts are siped like every 3/8th inch, but still aren't a solid winter performer

i've been told the bfg all terrains are great due to their design for winter and even the cooper m/s st's with stud'd

however i'll assume that light chains with a mud terrain should still be able to clear anything pretty well
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: jdraper on November 24, 2004, 03:47:05 AM
I have a set of 32 x 11.5-15 BFG M/T's on my Sammy, and it slips and slides around in the snow.  It's controllable, but the BFG A/T ko's are much better (I had them on my Explorer).
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: Drone637 on November 24, 2004, 04:06:57 AM
I run 33x12.5 BFG MTR's and last year they were all over the place on the icy snow.  Once I let some air out they came right in line.

That may not be an option though.
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: DirtDevil on November 24, 2004, 05:47:10 AM
trxus MT's are the only mt's id run in the snow, second choice would be mt/rs .. but the trxus mts have lots of factory siping and are a good compound for street driving or wheelin... if your doing alot of snow wheelin or driven, AT's are the way to go normally
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: keith on November 24, 2004, 05:50:46 AM
If I have the center lugs siped by discount tire how do you think the tires will perform?
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: lil_Truck on November 24, 2004, 08:28:28 AM
I had a fried with Goodrich MT's that were siped and he claims they were the best snow tires he's ever had on is Jeep.

I have a new set of Goodrich All/T's (on a full size Chevy 2wd w/limited slip) that were siped.  We have about 1-2 inchs of snow on the ground now and they did great.  Was unable to get the tires to spin after the truck was rolling.
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: Drone637 on November 24, 2004, 08:42:32 AM
Quote
If I have the center lugs siped by discount tire how do you think the tires will perform?


Have you run on the sipes long?  Sometimes it takes a little while for the tires to be able to flex properly.

I wouldn't want to sipe the outside lugs on my tires.  They get torn up to easily that way.
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: Mikerpm4x4 on November 24, 2004, 09:19:06 AM
I sipe tires at my job all the time. The best winter tire Ive ever had was a radial swamper with the center lugs siped. Even at max psi they are amazing. If you drop to 15psi they are even better. The MTRs and Bfg mt's are also a good tire to sipe the center on. The only real downside to siping is if you do a lot of burnouts they will chunk. However with Suzukis thats really not an issue! ::)

Mike
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: wildgoody on November 24, 2004, 02:06:34 PM
Quote
The only real downside to siping is if you do a lot of burnouts they will chunk. However with Suzukis thats really not an issue! ::)

Mike


Says Who  
;D

Wild
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: mrfuelish on November 24, 2004, 03:48:44 PM
I can spin my swampers on the street  ;D I have run bfg mt's for about fourteen years, after ten years the tires start to get a little hard and will slip a little bit(all my rigs have streight axels) my cj7 I had them siped and added 200 lbs to the rear with a steel plate it worked great with 35's 410 gears and a 350 vortex I could go up a steep street in two wheel drive no prob. om my samurai I run nine psi in the winter on my tsl radials they work great,I just keep it under sixty.
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: Digger on November 24, 2004, 04:01:24 PM
Quote
I sipe tires at my job all the time. The best winter tire Ive ever had was a radial swamper with the center lugs siped. Even at max psi they are amazing. If you drop to 15psi they are even better...


Can you be any more specific? Better yet any pics of how you had them siped? I now run radial swampers and if I'm not happy with their snow performance, I want to get them siped...
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: mrfuelish on November 24, 2004, 04:46:46 PM
I have radial swampers on mine and they come with some siping from the factory, if they are somewhat new they should be ok just let some air out.  the siping just looks like a streight knife cut going streight across the tire but not hitting the out side lugs about 3/8 of an inch deep.
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: Mikerpm4x4 on November 25, 2004, 11:59:05 AM
Quote


Can you be any more specific? Better yet any pics of how you had them siped? I now run radial swampers and if I'm not happy with their snow performance, I want to get them siped...



I will take a pic of my sisters radial swampers tomorrow with the digital. ;)

Mike
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: Digger on November 26, 2004, 12:08:56 AM
Sounds great, thanks! ;D
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: Mikerpm4x4 on November 29, 2004, 01:43:08 PM
Quote


Can you be any more specific? Better yet any pics of how you had them siped? I now run radial swampers and if I'm not happy with their snow performance, I want to get them siped...

I just E-mailed you a photo. I dont have a way to upload it.

Mike
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: Digger on November 29, 2004, 03:31:02 PM
I got it, thanks again! I'll chop it down a little and put it up here...

For all those that want to see it:
(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/4978461/75081626.jpg)

Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: Speedracer7c on November 29, 2004, 04:02:40 PM
Looks badass.
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: HotRod on November 30, 2004, 03:25:42 PM
looks better than the job I got.
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: Cwkick on December 01, 2004, 12:38:23 AM
So, how exactly do they sipe tires.  I realize sipes are cuts in the tread blocks, but isn't it more than just taking a knife and cutting through the block?

Cwkick
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: r3cc0s on December 01, 2004, 04:26:04 AM
i think that's pretty much it

tires stores can have siping machines
essentially the same just using a saw and cutting at every interval you'd like like 3/8" for instance and how wide you want it

for myself i'd only sipe the center blocks and just run low tread
if you cut the shoulders, you could rip chunks out while crawling
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: bzzr2 on October 03, 2006, 09:17:25 AM
waking up an old thread here.....  anybody ever do this themselves at home?  i've called a couple tire shops in my area and they have no idea what i'm talking about...  at all..  any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated, thanks.  i dunno what kinda cutting tool will work best on my swampers.
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: Drone637 on October 03, 2006, 09:41:45 AM
http://www.sipers.com/sipers/index_large.asp

:)

You can use a heat knife to do it yourself, it just takes a while.  One of the other Zuki's in my club siped his swampers without a problem.

4x4 Wire Guide to Siping your own tires (http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/sipe/).
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: Quaddawg on October 03, 2006, 12:09:30 PM
you can sipe Swampers with a utility knife, no problem.

You can even cut grooves with a utiliy, it's hard to get them uniform, but you can do it.

As far as basic sipes,   a utility blade, cut down to the EXACT depth you want to sipe, works fine.
Title: Re: How do M/T tires do when it is snowing?
Post by: cablesmurf on October 03, 2006, 12:47:50 PM
I have run alot of tires o my Jeeps and such. IMHO, BFG AT TA/KO's are the best winter/all around tire made.  But since we're talkin mud tires...I like the Superswamper TSL SSR's. They are siped from the factory, and wear very well. Pricey, but woth the money. I'm running them on my Tracker right now.

Here's a review page:

http://www.off-road.com/suzuki/reviews/interco.htm

(http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Images/47430/47430-lg.jpg)