Tire Groover

T-bird · 07-16-2012, 06:02 PM

I am thinking about cutting the lugs on my LTB's because I don't think my tires contour to the rocks as well as they could under my light TJ. Does anyone have a tire groover or an easy way to cut the lugs?

rilynsdad · 07-16-2012, 06:25 PM

I used a 1 1/4 wood chisel and a map-gas torch and heated up the chisel's tip to cut the small lugs on my bogger's it work pretty fast two tires in a hour not bad, it cut through like butter... I check out youtube first.

JeffK5 · 07-16-2012, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rilynsdad

I used a 1 1/4 wood chisel and a map-gas torch and heated up the chisel's tip to cut the small lugs on my bogger's it work pretty fast two tires in a hour not bad, it cut through like butter... I check out youtube first.

This ^^

Doing it this way is 10x faster than messing with a Ideal type groover..

blazerbrad · 07-17-2012, 08:56 AM

I'm sure the 1 1/4" wood chisel would be faster for cutting out the small lugs of a Bogger, but for cutting a 1/4 - 1/2" groove across a tread block the groover should be faster. Exact same concept with the exception you don't have to stop and heat up the blade with the torch. I cut a 1/2" groove through the middle of each tread block on my 39.5" TSL's in about 15-20 minutes per tire.

cheapthrills49 · 07-17-2012, 10:07 AM

Don't b a girl, use a chainsaw........faster than any grover out their. If you have a small battery powered or electric saw its one handed and effortless.

T-bird · 07-17-2012, 11:33 AM

I was looking at something more like this

and not removing an entire lug.

blazerbrad · 07-17-2012, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-bird

I was looking at something more like this

and not removing an entire lug.

I did the center lugs of my previous Swampers (13/38-16s) like that with the smaller 1/4" blade. Twice as many cuts but not much more time since it cuts quicker.

JeffK5 · 07-17-2012, 07:23 PM

From your first post I was thinking you where wanting to remove whole lugs to let the tire flex better.

Would cutting a 1/4" wide 1/4" deep groove in each lug really improve flex that much.

u&k metal works · 07-17-2012, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheapthrills49

Don't b a girl, use a chainsaw........faster than any grover out their. If you have a small battery powered or electric saw its one handed and effortless.

He's right

cheapthrills49 · 07-17-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffK5

From your first post I was thinking you where wanting to remove whole lugs to let the tire flex better.

Would cutting a 1/4" wide 1/4" deep groove in each lug really improve flex that much.

O yeah, it adds 100 or so more pinch points per tire.....have you ever seen a late model tire? Thats the principle then air down

cheapthrills49 · 07-17-2012, 08:29 PM

Just order the EL-CHEAPO from speedwaymotors.com

T-bird · 07-19-2012, 09:57 AM

I have a good buddy that has one and is going to let me use it. I think it will really help in the rocks because right now my tires don't even start to bulge with 10 psi (no beadlocks). I think breaking up the lugs will help them flex and give them more edges to grab on.

T-bird · 08-29-2012, 05:55 PM

I picked up the tire groover from my buddy and trying to figure out exactly what pattern to go with now. I will be gone this weekend so I should have them done sometime next week.

underpowered · 08-29-2012, 07:03 PM

chainsaw method FTW for grooving.

kentuckytwostep · 08-31-2012, 01:50 PM

I've got the center lugs on my XS's split in thirds with about 3/8" or 1/2" grooves and at 8psi they wrap around rocks like a hookers lips around a crack pipe :cheerleader:

T-bird · 09-05-2012, 11:13 AM

I finished the first trail of tire cuts last night and I am pretty happy with them. I only did one cut per lug and could not belive how much more flexible the tires are. Before I had ran 10 PSI and the tire would hardly buldge at all when I hit a rock on the center of the tire. Now they will buldge out an inch with just the weight of the Jeep.

I am happy that I did not cut more than this for now because I still drive the Jeep to work on nice days and didn't want to ruin them. I will test the grip out next weekend at Slade and see if I want to cut anymore, but I wanted them to flex more and I am surprised how little of cutting it took to make sure a drastic differance.

07-16-2012, 06:02 PM	#1
T-bird Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Centerville Posts: 123	Tire Groover I am thinking about cutting the lugs on my LTB's because I don't think my tires contour to the rocks as well as they could under my light TJ. Does anyone have a tire groover or an easy way to cut the lugs?

07-16-2012, 06:25 PM	#2
rilynsdad Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Liberty, IN Posts: 44	. I used a 1 1/4 wood chisel and a map-gas torch and heated up the chisel's tip to cut the small lugs on my bogger's it work pretty fast two tires in a hour not bad, it cut through like butter... I check out youtube first. __________________ HOLD MY BEER!

07-17-2012, 10:07 AM	#5
cheapthrills49 VANILLA GORILLA Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: blanmolester, ohio.......stonelick lake Posts: 192	Don't b a girl, use a chainsaw........faster than any grover out their. If you have a small battery powered or electric saw its one handed and effortless. __________________ I EAT BURRITOS ON EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!

07-17-2012, 08:29 PM	#11
cheapthrills49 VANILLA GORILLA Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: blanmolester, ohio.......stonelick lake Posts: 192	Just order the EL-CHEAPO from speedwaymotors.com __________________ I EAT BURRITOS ON EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!

08-29-2012, 07:03 PM	#14
underpowered They call me......Scuba Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Burlington, KY Posts: 292	chainsaw method FTW for grooving. __________________ beat up rusted out k5

07-17-2012, 08:56 AM	#4
blazerbrad - CORE Member - Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 831 Images: 6	I'm sure the 1 1/4" wood chisel would be faster for cutting out the small lugs of a Bogger, but for cutting a 1/4 - 1/2" groove across a tread block the groover should be faster. Exact same concept with the exception you don't have to stop and heat up the blade with the torch. I cut a 1/2" groove through the middle of each tread block on my 39.5" TSL's in about 15-20 minutes per tire.

07-17-2012, 11:33 AM	#6
T-bird Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Centerville Posts: 123	I was looking at something more like this and not removing an entire lug.

07-17-2012, 07:23 PM	#8
JeffK5 Tiny Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Colerain Posts: 798	From your first post I was thinking you where wanting to remove whole lugs to let the tire flex better. Would cutting a 1/4" wide 1/4" deep groove in each lug really improve flex that much.

07-19-2012, 09:57 AM	#12
T-bird Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Centerville Posts: 123	I have a good buddy that has one and is going to let me use it. I think it will really help in the rocks because right now my tires don't even start to bulge with 10 psi (no beadlocks). I think breaking up the lugs will help them flex and give them more edges to grab on.

08-29-2012, 05:55 PM	#13
T-bird Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Centerville Posts: 123	I picked up the tire groover from my buddy and trying to figure out exactly what pattern to go with now. I will be gone this weekend so I should have them done sometime next week.

08-31-2012, 01:50 PM	#15
kentuckytwostep corsets make it tighter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Berea, KY Posts: 185	I've got the center lugs on my XS's split in thirds with about 3/8" or 1/2" grooves and at 8psi they wrap around rocks like a hookers lips around a crack pipe :cheerleader: Attached Images __________________ ------------------------------------ my rig

09-05-2012, 11:13 AM	#16
T-bird Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Centerville Posts: 123	I finished the first trail of tire cuts last night and I am pretty happy with them. I only did one cut per lug and could not belive how much more flexible the tires are. Before I had ran 10 PSI and the tire would hardly buldge at all when I hit a rock on the center of the tire. Now they will buldge out an inch with just the weight of the Jeep. I am happy that I did not cut more than this for now because I still drive the Jeep to work on nice days and didn't want to ruin them. I will test the grip out next weekend at Slade and see if I want to cut anymore, but I wanted them to flex more and I am surprised how little of cutting it took to make sure a drastic differance.