tractionizing tires for ice, anybody?

pjtoledo · Jan 17, 2019

anybody perform tractionizing on your tires? did it really work? does it ruin the handling on dry roads?

my BFG all terrain K02s are a bit slippery on ice. I'm wondering if poking them full of hundreds of tiny holes will improve ice traction much.
I've had Bilzzaks and other dedicated winter tires on several past vehicles, but have the All-Terrains now. they are great in snow, ice, not so much.

rusty ol ranger · Jan 18, 2019

I wouldnt reccomend it. If the tire wasnt designed for it your liable to end up blowing chunks of rubber everyrhere.

Studs or chains are the only way to get real good ice traction.

sgtsandman · Jan 18, 2019

I agree with Rusty Ranger. Studs installed when you buy the tires or chains.

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rusty ol ranger · Jan 18, 2019

sgtsandman said:
I agree with Rusty Ranger. Studs installed when you buy the tires or chains.

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Make sure to check your state/county laws regarding studs/chains though. Somethin bout metal spikes on ashpalt pisses off lawmen.

sgtsandman · Jan 18, 2019

rusty ol ranger said:
Make sure to check your state/county laws regarding studs/chains though. Somethin bout metal spikes on ashpalt pisses off lawmen.

Yep. Good point. In PA, one can’t have studded tires on from April 15th to November 15th, or there about. It tears up the pavement more than it already is.

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adsm08 · Jan 18, 2019

sgtsandman said:
Yep. Good point. In PA, one can’t have studded tires on from April 15th to November 15th, or there about. It tears up the pavement more than it already is.

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Wait, you have pavement that far north?

When I live in Northumberland we didn't get pavement.

sgtsandman · Jan 18, 2019

adsm08 said:
Wait, you have pavement that far north?

When I live in Northumberland we didn't get pavement.

In various states of disrepair.

EDIT: Our state flower is the road construction barrel after all. They pop up everywhere like dandelions in the spring. LOL

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91stranger · Jan 18, 2019

I don't think drilling holes will help. Winter tires are made of a softer rubber to allow better grip on ice and snow. all terrains are more of a mud tire that does good in snow so drilling holes wont add much benefit, if any at all. Either get a set of snow tires with studs or deal with it and learn to drive on ice. only way I know to tractionize a tire is to add chains or cables. There are a lot of neat traction enhancers like the snow socks. That one was interesting. or the home made rubber chains made from old tires.

Shran · Jan 18, 2019

You could sipe them. Some tire shops will do it. Studs work well but are basically permanent and the tires have to have stud holes in the tread lugs already IIRC (can't just add them to any old tire.)

Siping does reduce your tire lifespan a little bit though.

Add more weight in the bed - it helps

6.2 · Jan 19, 2019

Siping makes a HUGE difference. When I was running my hankook MT I had them siped. was fantastic. on tires with no siping, only sipe the center portion. as siping the edges when it wasn't designed for it will wear it out, as its on the edge.

aside from that, studs if legal (and your tire accepts them) make a world of difference on ice.

that being said, BFG AT are horrid on ice and packed snow. don't think you'll be able to improve em much.

alwaysFlOoReD · Jan 20, 2019

One day, whenever that comes, in going to sipe my MT's with an oscillating saw. I'll draw a line on the blade so I don't go too deep.

pjtoledo · Jan 20, 2019

6.2 said:
Siping makes a HUGE difference. When I was running my hankook MT I had them siped. was fantastic. on tires with no siping, only sipe the center portion. as siping the edges when it wasn't designed for it will wear it out, as its on the edge.

aside from that, studs if legal (and your tire accepts them) make a world of difference on ice.

that being said, BFG AT are horrid on ice and packed snow. don't think you'll be able to improve em much.

wish I knew that before I bought them, the reviews missed that part. they do good in heavy snow, but ice and packed is more of what we see in the 'burbs.
I'll look into siping, good excuse to head up into northern Michigan searching for sipes, or snipes, or whatever.

Shran · Jan 20, 2019

I've never found a tire that is just awesome on ice that isn't either a dedicated snow tire or studded. BFG AT's excel in so many other ways that it's worth the trade off. I ran them on a 2wd truck for years and they kicked ass in the winter with some weight in the back.

tractionizing tires for ice, anybody?

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