OK, we have enough snow that I could see how my 31X10.50 15 BFG mud terrains perform in the snow (street driving). Now if I decide to "sipe" the tires, where can I get info on that, such as the tools to use and how wide the cuts/grooves should be?
Thanks.

Call around to a few tire shops and find one with siping maching. I was quoted $15 a tire a few years ago but I didn't do it. I wish I had...

I just had the tires siped on my Subaru, Discount tire/Americas tire did all 4 for $40.
($10/tire) I don't think it matters how big of tire it is, just that it needs to have a decent amount of tread left.
It's well worth the $40 to have them do it. The sipes are about 1/4" to 1/2" apart all around the tire. How long would it take to cut that by hand? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />
Don't really have a before/after handling of it though, but the car handles nice in the snow! (Part of that is the AWD).
Todd

DIY Tire Siping. If you don't want to spring for the heated knife, a utility knife with a new sharp blade will work fine.

I only use an old utility knife blade, works great for me:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/TireSiping.shtml

I most recently siped my 33x10.50 BFGs:





And the SST I use for the process



Slits spaced ~1/4" apart, start and stop ~1/2" from either end of the tread block.

Traction:
wet pavement = good
deep snow = good
slush = could be better
There were some spots where the rear end did slide around some. I think this is because of my open diff. Some type of limited slip would definitely help. I drove around in 2WD and 4WD.
Oh, I have my fair share of tools, so what's one more?

How do they perform? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

My Trxus come presiped, thank you <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

where did you get that qoute from rodeo guy? b/c im not seeing it.

I know this is probably a stupid question....but that's what i'm good at, and sorry if i'm pirating, but theres something i don't understand. Why isn't siping just a standard feature with the mt type tires? You would think with the many terrain variations that our rigs see, more than other civilian tires/vehicles, that it would just be natural for them to be on there. Are they bad in any way for what we do? Do they cause more wear or something? And if not why aren't they put on all tires? It seemed to be an important requirement when talking to a local tire shop and fellow 4wheeler on the issue. I've got mud terrain style tires, and am wondering wether or not siping is needed. I am planning on seeing snow hopefully over this winter. and again sorry for the stupid question.. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />.

Some MTs have siping to some degree (like the Procomp MTs, the Swamper SSRs, etc.). You would probably have to ask the tire mfgs. that don't sipe why they don't. I suppose that it would cost more to sipe after the tread is molded and they probably feel it makes the tire look less aggressive if they mold the sipes into the tread. I've found no drawbacks to siping my tires (have done it to 4 sets so far).