Tire grooving for rallyX

[9one9racing.com]

Ive got two sets of RallyX tires. I would like to add some groves to one set, but heck if i buy the groover (~$60) then i might as well do both sets. Ive read/heard some great results with traction from various forums online. for the tires sake, Im going to stick with the center of the tire


This is the first tire.. it desperately needs extra groves. But i wanted to get some ideas on where to groove, or patterns really.

http://www.9one9racing.com/tiregroove1.jpg






This is the second tire, this one is decently spaced.
http://www.9one9racing.com/tiregroove2.jpg

[rollo]

+1, I've been thinking about this too..

[KevinWelker]

Before you cut any tires you need to understand the surface you are racing on. Your Pirelli on top is setup for more dry gravel than mud, so if you are on muddy, grassy terrain, you are right, they will not clear as well as the lower set but you don't want to chop up the blocks into smaller ones, you just want to enlarge the grooves that are already there so they sling the muck out better.

Second, grooving in the center will give you very little results. Grooving at the edge is where you get gains. This will help the tire bite better in turns as well as going straight and clear better as I said above. Here is a link to the recommended grooving for the K series Pirellis. If you can find the KM series Pirellis, they come with slightly wider grooves, since the 'M' is the "mud" designation.

http://www.fourstarmotorsports.com/Products/Tires/PirelliTechnicalInfo/TireCuttingTechnicalInfo/tabid/449/Default.aspx

The lower tires don't look like any additinoal grooving would really benefit, but if you square off the edges of the tread blocks the grip will improve vs. rounded off edges.

If you can search around, most rally tire manufacturers publish their recommended grooving patterns, as Pirelli did above.

Best of luck and take you time when you do start cutting, going too deep can cause the tire to loose air.

[9one9racing.com]

thanks for some good info kevin.

the conditions are pretty much always damp grass/mud and other times sand.

good call on the corners. I even read about squaring off rounded corners. so that is also something i will be doing.

ill also look into grooving the edges.

thanks agian

[noisycricket]

I wouldn't try cutting the lugs in half. Small lugs tear out easier.

[kturner]

I've had good results running "mud cut" Michelin M4's on loose or muddy surfaces. you can also recut tires as they wear to get a little more life out of them. The cut was straight from Michelin.

When looking for a groover the advise that I got was the cheap groovers aren't worth the trouble. so I got one of these....

http://www.vanalstinemfg.com/products/groover/groover.htm

it's pretty sweet.

[MConte05]

Anyone have any suggestions for cheaper groovers?

[KevinWelker]

I've used this one with OK results. Don't try to use it at an event or be in a hurry, it takes a while and you WILL go through a couple of blades for a set of tires, but it's ok on a budget.

http://www.pmzracingproducts.com/tire_groover_1.html

[mcraewrx]

is that u kourosh?
I can't wait for another season hopefully next time i'll know how to drive and get a podium finish!!

[mcraewrx]

THSCC RallyCross FTW

[9one9racing.com]

sup colin!

[TylerSti]

I hand cut my First set of rallyX Tires. I made a set of Hancook Ice Bears much more aggressive. I used a old skanky Tire groover, it was a huge pain in the ass :( Also it will stink out your garage bad! "Burning Tires that is" I have heard that newer tire groovers are easy though. Good luck!:o

[WAM]

Note for those running CRS/FRX, the rules don't allow grooving in stock or streetmod classes. So if you groove snows or street rubber, you'll be running them against rally tires. Same thing for SCCA types in stock classes.

Here's a zak I cut for a mudder in SCCA prepared class:

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k151/martin_93555/CutZak2.jpg

[TylerSti]

Note for those running CRS/FRX, the rules don't allow grooving in stock or streetmod classes. So if you groove snows or street rubber, you'll be running them against rally tires. Same thing for SCCA types in stock classes.

Here's a zak I cut for a mudder in SCCA prepared class:

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k151/martin_93555/CutZak2.jpg

HAHAH! OPPS! oh well 2 years ago :mrgreen:

[cghstang]

WAM, How did the cut Blizzaks work out for you?

[WAM]

WAM, How did the cut Blizzaks work out for you?

At the time, I could only fit 18" wheels/tires. These were the best I had tried for loose and muddy terrain. On firmer dirt my BFG G-Force all seasons were better.

But 18's suck in general off-road and I've since changed brakes to allow use of 16's. My 16" Winterforces are much better.

[cghstang]

But 18's suck in general off-road and I've since changed brakes to allow use of 16's. My 16" Winterforces are much better.

Plain 16" Winterforces worked better for you on loose or muddy surfaces than the cut up Blizzaks? Interesting ...