One tire shop we spoke with says yes
ISHPEMING -- U.P. residents are no strangers to snow and tough road conditions. Driving slowly and leaving plenty of stopping distance are two tried and true methods to stay safe.
But what if you want to do something more to protect yourself while out on the roads this winter. You could get snow tires or all season tires or purchase a car with four wheel drive. Another possibility? You could sipe your tires.
Steve Beauchamp of Willey's Tire in Ishpeming says he's been siping tires for years, and his customers love them.
"If we sipe a set of tires, they come back and they can't believe the difference," says Beauchamp.
What is tire siping? It's a machine that cuts small incisions into the tire, which spreads on the road to provide more traction.
"It's a spiral tread that leaves gaps, called tie boxes, and that keeps the tread area strong," Beauchamp says.
The cuts are so small, Beauchamp says you won't even see the difference, but you'll be able to feel it while out on the roads.
"After I siped them, they were sticking right to the roads no matter if I was in snow, slush, anything. It just goes," says Cory Heikkila, who's had his tires siped and is an employee at Willey's Tire.
And as for cost, Beauchamp says it's $34 to sipe new tires and $60 to sipe old ones.
Beauchamp claims you can keep your siped tires on all year-round.
One word of caution though: make sure you check with your manufacturer before siping your tires to ensure it won't affect your warranty.
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