To Sipe

[kevin02tahoe]

Not real sure where to ask this, so I will use Light Duty.

 

I am planning to replace the OEM Fire@#$!> P265 rubber with LT BFG All-Terrain.

 

Discount Tires is one of the local stores I have shopped.  They really pushed Saf-Tee Tire Sipe.  However, they do not have any information on their website about it.  Anyone have thoughts on this?

 

I live and drive mostly on the front range and mountains of Colorado. This means; dry, wet, snow, ice both on and off-road.

 

I found the following with a brief internet search:

sipe1

sipe2

sipe3

sipe4

[RyanbabZ71]

whats the charge?

[kevin02tahoe]

whats the charge?

$10 per tire

[RyanbabZ71]

Personally i would say its not worth it.  The bfgs provide more than enough traction (to much when you wanna spin your wheels).  

 

Id take the $40 and spend it on something else. But hey thats my opinion which probably doesnt mean a whole heck of a lot.

[Shaners]

For where you live and drive, I think it may be a good investment.  Believe it or not it makes a big difference when driving on ice and wet roads.  It should help on snow packed roads too...  My Michelin LTX M/S tires are siped from the factory.

 

[Kansas Kid]

If I was in your situation, I would go ahead and get them siped.  I'm not sure how much siping the BFG AT's have, but it probably isn't enough.  Siping makes more of a difference if you have large lugs on your tires, like an AT or MT tire does.  But in your type of driving situations, it will really help the traction.  Especially on snow and ice.

 

I know if I could find somebody to sipe my Cooper MT tires for $40 I would have it done....

[kevin02tahoe]

Bring on the snow!  I got the BFG's this weekend.  I did get them siped.

 

I am having the alignment checked this morning.  I am pulling to the right and certainly do not want to wear out the new purchase.

[Tucson_02Silverado]

There is the general question of: If a SIPed tire is that much better why doesn't the manufacturers offer a warranted version?  Another question is if there is tire failure who is at fault and will honor the warranty?

 

My opinion it kinda sounds like the super duper oil additive only the tire version.  I'm also not aware of any Formula 1 racing teams running their rain tires SIPed, which you would expect to be one of the automotive areas to take advantage of such a godsend.

[kevin02tahoe]

Time to fill you all in on my tire saga the past few days.

 

I got the new BFG's last Friday afternoon at a local Discount Tire shop.  These replaced the stock Firestone Wilderness LE's, on which the truck drove straight down the road.

 

Drove home with the BFG's, truck pulled right.  Return to Discount Saturday morning.  They rotated the right side tires.  Took the Tahoe out, still pulled right.  So, they replaced the front left tire.  Still pulled right.

 

Got the alignment checked Monday, it is all within specs.  They cross rotated the tires, I still pull right.

 

Returned to Discount on Tuesday.  By now I have the attention of everyguy in the shop.  They replace (for free) all four tires, still BFG.  During this time, a Cadillac Escalade shows up.  Low and behold, it's four Discount Tire regional VP's and their boss.  They are out taking a tour of some stores in Colorado.

 

My Tahoe is the only vehicle in the shop, so now I have their attention also.  They get the story and ask a bunch of questions.  Anyway, we get the new tires on and take it out.  Still pulls right.  Rotate the front tires, still pulls right.

 

Now the four shop boys, two store salesguys, and five VP's are all scratching their heads.

 

I have now scheduled it to the local Chevy dealer on Friday to see what they think.

 

Anyone have any ideas?  I have learned that radial pull or push can occur with a new tire.  But, I have now had 9 new tires and rotated them every which way.

 

BTW, the pull to the right is most noticeable above 40MPH.

[Shaners]

That's weird man!!!

 

Maybe a turn or two on the right front torsion bar would cure that for you, but wait and see what the dealer says.

 

Do you have the siped tires back on yet, or are you running all new rubber (un-siped).

 

I know the siping of the tires shouldn't effect the "tracking" of you truck, so that isn't the problem.  So I guess I'm, baffled...   ???

[kevin02tahoe]

Do you have the siped tires back on yet, or are you running all new rubber (un-siped).

Four brand new (I watched them pull the stickers off) and siped (watched them do that also) BFG's.  I have had nine brand new BFG's on the Tahoe, can't complain that Discount isn't trying.

[RyanbabZ71]

my truck pulls slightly right.  Had it aligned and it was all within spec.  Only time i can really notice a pull is if it is windy.  I have heard a SLIGHT pull to the right is normal (safety issue so if something happens your car will go right and not into oncoming traffic).  

 

Im guessing they are LT rated tires?  I wonder if the stiffer sidewall could have an impact on this?

[kevin02tahoe]

Maybe a turn or two on the right front torsion bar would cure that for you, but wait and see what the dealer says.

The Discount Tire guys joked about getting me a left-turns NASCAR setup to compensate the pull right.

[kevin02tahoe]

Im guessing they are LT rated tires?  I wonder if the stiffer sidewall could have an impact on this?

Ryan, Yes LT265/75R16/D these replaced P265/70R16.  

 

Discount Tires said they will try another tire all together if Chevy can not find anything.  Maybe it is just the tread pattern or something.  I will probably go with Goodyear Wrangler AT/S or Michelin if we have to change.

 

Kevin

[Texas Z]

I had the same problem when I first got the BFG's.  I took it to GM to check the alignment (Still under 12,000 miles) and they worked on it then test drove it stilled pulled to the right.  They  swapped the front drivers side tire with front passenger side tire.  After they did that all was good.  The alignment guy said that he has seen this several times with the BFG's.  He couldn't explain why.  This is my third set of BFG AT's on three different trucks and I would not trade them for any other tire.