Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Cutting / Groving / Siping R-4 for snow

KenB2920 · Sep 14, 2015

vacman said:
Hey guys. I am about to take delivery of a new tractor with Industrial Tires and I want to do this to my tires. Does anyone have one of these tools they would want to sell or lend to me? I'm in northern Illinois if you are close. With winter coming, this seems like a topic we'll be discussing soon. Thanks John (815) 370-6491

I second the Amazon one. I bought it and it's worth just paying the $60.

NS Gearhead · Sep 15, 2015

check said:
So which is better, grooving, or siping?

Grooves are better for deep snow. Sipes are better for hard packed snow and ice. With most groovers you can reverse the grooving head and get a double sipe pattern that way.

Bradbilt · Sep 16, 2015

So, do BOTH

gladehound · Nov 12, 2015

NS Gearhead said:
Grooves are better for deep snow. Sipes are better for hard packed snow and ice. With most groovers you can reverse the grooving head and get a double sipe pattern that way.

I only did grooves front and rear. I always thought I could do sipes also if I needed more traction on hard packed snow and ice. But the traction gained from grooves alone was amazing. I never felt I needed to do anything more to the tires.

Now I sold the tractor that started this thread with and I am in the process of cutting the tires on my new tractor. I recently finished the fronts. Now to decide what pattern to use on the rears... to be continued...

I had the tires on the smaller tractor grooved for 3 years and ~200 hours. Never had any chunking or other damage to the tires as a result of grooving them. And the fronts actually lasted longer than I thought they would. It still has the original fronts (I know the new owner) and they still look decent.

gladehound · Nov 12, 2015

NS Gearhead said:
Grooves are better for deep snow. Sipes are better for hard packed snow and ice. With most groovers you can reverse the grooving head and get a double sipe pattern that way.

I only did grooves front and rear. I always thought I could do sipes also if I needed more traction on hard packed snow and ice. But the traction gained from grooves alone was amazing. I never felt I needed to do anything more to the tires.

Now I sold the tractor that started I this thread with and I am in the process of cutting the tires on my new tractor. I recently finished the fronts. Now to decide what pattern to use on the rears... to be continued...

Final report after nearly 4 years since grooving tires.... I had the tires on the smaller tractor grooved for 4 years and ~200 hours. Never had any chunking or other damage to the tires as a result of grooving them. And the fronts actually lasted longer than I thought they would. It still has the original fronts (I know the new owner) and they still look decent.

Mike9 · Nov 20, 2015

I grooved some new R4's today. I'll sipe them and my new Tru Powers this weekend then get them mounted in the next few weeks and fill the rears with washer fluid.