Any tried micro-siping? How did it turn out? I may it on the non-grooved center blocks of a DHF to see if it improves braking on hardpack.
Anyone tried micro-siping their tires?
- Thread starter djjohnr
- Start date
For what it's worth, I look at it this way: If custom-siping tires had any noticeable advantage you'd see factory mechanics doing it. And while they did get a little high on the kool-aide about 5-6 years ago everyone seems to have sobered up and settled down (with the exception of Kenda who are really just struggling to prove their relevance). Trimming spikes and ramping knobs for better rolling resistance notwithstanding, you just don't really see the elite racer crowd getting too carried away with the dykes. I say go ahead and do it if you want to, but personally I can think of better ways to waste 15 minutes of my time.
*and all that micro-siping will be useless soon as you wear a bee's dick worth of rubber off the knobs.
*and all that micro-siping will be useless soon as you wear a bee's dick worth of rubber off the knobs.
I guess that means you haven't tried it.
In all seriousness, I'd take what pro DH teams do/don't do with a grain of salt. We're not talking about scientists/engineers in the pits here. You see a lot of micro-siping in off-road motor sports. 15 minutes isn't much time to try an experiment, and it someone else has tried it and has some tips I'd love to hear them.
Not tried it, but I believe the tyres we run are far from as perfect as they could be, and think you should give it a go. Let us know what you think you discover.
In other news, I don't believe that ramping knobs makes a tyre roll faster. In fact if anything, I think it probably slows it down. Anyone done any back-to-back tests that say otherwise?
In other news, I don't believe that ramping knobs makes a tyre roll faster. In fact if anything, I think it probably slows it down. Anyone done any back-to-back tests that say otherwise?
I think you should ask Alpine Slug, he seems to be the current expert on everything.
it depends on the trail conditions.
it wet deep soil, a squared leading edge is faster as it has less surface area to drag into the easily deformed soil.
on true blue groove hardpack, a ramped knob is faster because the tire does not use as much kintetic energy (your forward momentum) to deform into the ground as it rolls.
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As a point of reference, I cut ramps onto the leading edges of the center knobs on a set of Bontrager Big Earl trail tires a couple seasons ago...didn't really notice a difference. So, who knows if it was just too small of a change for me to notice, or maybe since those had a pretty soft rubber it was less effective?
But, I'd be interested to know the results of some siping if somebody tests it out. It's pretty well proven on car tires, so I would think it should help.
But, I'd be interested to know the results of some siping if somebody tests it out. It's pretty well proven on car tires, so I would think it should help.
Just like you were an expert on the early 2010 boxer?I think you should ask Alpine Slug, he seems to be the current expert on everything.
Agree, my "test" should be taken with a grain of salt. But, if it was a very large difference, it should have been noticeable with the "feel" test.
Most tires are designed to look good rather than being based on actual functionality. Trust me on that one.
So altering the knobs to better suit the track conditions is often a good thing. Every serious racer should own a knobby knife and/or siping tool to make their own custom tires for the track. Especially if you're stuck with a tire that has large knobs that have enough space to be cut. Most often it won't hurt.
So altering the knobs to better suit the track conditions is often a good thing. Every serious racer should own a knobby knife and/or siping tool to make their own custom tires for the track. Especially if you're stuck with a tire that has large knobs that have enough space to be cut. Most often it won't hurt.
Trumpores are expert on everything.
Especially arrogance.
DOH, I'm in for it now......
<~cringe>