Siping -- Worth it?

[XT Utah]

I’m sporting some BFG Mud Terrains and they’re fun in the mud just like I expected. I knew they were not going to be great in snow or the rain. However, they are worse in snow and rain than I expected.

Has anyone with these types of tires ever had them siped? If so, was the difference in performance significantly better in snow and on wet roads?

It makes sense that performance would improve but I’m wondering if it’s noticeable enough to make it worth the time and $.

Thanks!

 

[Herzog]

The set of BFG Muds on our Cherokee are siped and it seems to do quite well on the ice / snow... with that said, I don't have any experience with non-siped BFG muds.

 

[Panos]

yes sipe the middle part of the tread not the outer lugs....discount tire does a really nice job...it helps a ton!!

 

[Houndoc]

Probably the only option to get you around, esp on ice.

 

[ID Bronco]

yes sipe the middle part of the tread not the outer lugs....discount tire does a really nice job...it helps a ton!!

X2.....I have done this to many mud tires including BFG Muds. It works great, and you won't have much chunking if you just do the middle. Had them on my family rig in Idaho and no complaints.

 

[mbryson]

I just put Toyo MTs on my truck. They grip quite well in the snow (at least the three storms I've had them in), esp. for a mud terrain. No siping.

 

[Jay5.9L]

I thought the Toyos had a little factory siping? I heard they are great tires but man are they expensive.

 

[mbryson]

I thought the Toyos had a little factory siping? I heard they are great tires but man are they expensive.

I got quoted $245 for Toyo MT, $210ish for Open Country AT, and $210ish for BFG AT in 285/70 16. The Toyo is the only one available in the 'E' rating. I don't see any real 'siping' there is a single groove cut in the outer lugs that probably helps, but it's not a 'sipe'. For the difference in price and a few places my truck was in this fall, I bought the MT. So far, I'm pretty happy with them. They will be rotated, balanced and pressure checked religiously. Supposedly people are getting 40-50K out of them if that is done.

 

[Jay5.9L]

I know the people over at Les Schwab LOVE those MTs. Every time I called one and told them I have a truck they told me about them. Quiet and long lasting but heavy. I had the Open Country ATs before I got my BFG ATs. The Open Counrtys were at 30% and slicker than snot in the snow.

 

[mbryson]

I know the people over at Les Schwab LOVE those MTs. Every time I called one and told them I have a truck they told me about them. Quiet and long lasting but heavy. I had the Open Country ATs before I got my BFG ATs. The Open Counrtys were at 30% and slicker than snot in the snow.

I got them from my Goodyear guy. He recommended them to me over the Goodyear 'silent armor' and the MT/R for my truck and it's use and my intended tread design. He'd recommend the 'silent armor' but I told him a few places I was at offroad and he went with a more aggressive tread design.

 

[zukgod1]

I got quoted $245 for Toyo MT, $210ish for Open Country AT, and $210ish for BFG AT in 285/70 16. The Toyo is the only one available in the 'E' rating. I don't see any real 'siping' there is a single groove cut in the outer lugs that probably helps, but it's not a 'sipe'. For the difference in price and a few places my truck was in this fall, I bought the MT. So far, I'm pretty happy with them. They will be rotated, balanced and pressure checked religiously. Supposedly people are getting 40-50K out of them if that is done.

I had a hair over 50k on my 38's when I sold the truck and they had a little over half tread left. just using new 32nds vs where they where when I sold it.
Toyo M/T's and yes I had them siped as well. Awsome in the snow and wore great.

dan

 

[PolarXJ]

I had it done to my 33 MTRs, I've enjoyed it also. Plus I think it rides alittle quieter.

 

[jcanderson33jp]

If you get your tires siped does it make the tires ware quicker on the road? And does it make them louder?

 

[Jay5.9L]

they say it makes them wear longer since the tire if more flexable and creats less heat

 

[jeepdude89]

i know this is probably stupid but what the heck is siping? i know i most be stupid but oh well

 

[Rusted]

i know this is probably stupid but what the heck is siping? i know i most be stupid but oh well

I started here, and the info is pretty good

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siping

Basically you take a set of new fancy tires and you cut deep slits into them. It is suppose to help them grip better, stop better, flex around objects better, etc

Here is a a photo that kind of shows what it looks like

 

[jeepdude89]

sweet! thanks rusted that helps i've seen this i just didnt know what it was called

 

[Verceingetorix]

tire

As for the toyo MT's they are a great tire except for the price. The toyos are a much better tire than the BFG MT's IMO. As for the sipping I am not a big fan.

 

[Jay5.9L]

Siping was named after its inventor John Sipe (I think that was his name) that discovered little cuts in a tire give it better traction due to the increased number of edges. This is very helpful in snow and ice. If you look at a all season or snow tire they have tons of little cuts or groves to help when its slick.

 

[waynehartwig]

I have Baja Claws on my Rubicon and it does very well in the snow, ice, mud, dirt, sand, rocks, rain, etc - with no siping or airing down, airing down it does even better on some things. The tires I have now have over 30k miles on them, and if it weren't for driving with alignment issues for ~20k miles, the tires would be about half worn.