
For the most part, you can safely shave tires as long as you don’t shave them too low. The tread still needs to be street-legal, but as long as it stays above the safe limit, there is no reason that shaving tires would be dangerous. However, tires slowly become less safe as they’re worn down.
Do you shave your tires?
Yes, tire shaving. We’ll forgive you if you’re not familiar with it, as this art has understandably become less popular and less necessary in the time since the radial tire overtook the market in the ’60s and ’70s.
What are the benefits of shaving down from full tread?
It provides excellent grip on both dry and wet tracks, but will yield even more traction when shaved down from full tread. As an added benefit, shaving also increases the on-track life of the tire by eliminating the chance of blistering, which can occur when a full-tread tire endures high track temperatures.
Can You shave a tire to 4/32 of tread depth?
…to providing equivalent tread depth to eliminate driveline stress, shaved tires will better match the traction and handling qualities of the remaining worn tires. We can safely shave a tire down to 4/32nd of depth. If tire shaving is an option for you, simply use a tread depth gauge to calculate the….
Where can I Shave tires near me in Michigan?
Here in Michigan, even near the Motor City, there is but one shop that I could find within a reasonable distance. Neal at Roger’s Cline Tire in Mason, Michigan, has been quietly shaving tires for about 30 years. To learn more about the process, I shadowed him as he prepped a set of rubber for my Spec Miata race car.

What does it mean to shave tires?
Car racers shave their new tires, lopping off the top tread layers to improve their grip on the tracks. Slick tires have better grip on dry pavement, such as racetracks. Tire shaving is a low-tech, but specialized process. It requires a special machine and an experienced operator at the controls.
Will Discount Tire shave tires?
Discount Tire does not perform tire shaving services. It is not a service that we endorse as it may void the tread life warranty and coverage of Certificates purchased with your tires.
What can ruin your tires?
Tires can become damaged for a variety of reasons, and it can happen without the driver being immediately aware there's a problem. The most common types of damage are punctures, cuts, impacts, cracks, bulges and irregular wear.
Can tires be trued?
Tire truing is a low-tech, but highly specialized, process of shaving off the out-of-round high points of tire tread in order to create an almost perfectly round tire. Of course you can't do this at home, so don't even try. Tire truing requires a special machine with an experienced person at the controls.
How much does it cost to get tires shaved?
$25 to $35The Solution But you can buy a single new tire from TireRack.com and have the company shave it to the tread depth that matches the depth of your other tires. It will shave any tire you buy from the company, usually for $25 to $35.
Is it OK to have two different tire brands?
Primarily, you should avoid mixing different tire brands and different tread patterns. There are rare exceptions for approved mixed-tire fittings, but in general, manufacturers do not recommend tire mixing at all.
How do you sabotage a car tire?
A tire can be easily deflated without slashing it. Car tires have valves located in them that control the air flow in and out of the tire. Use a car valve tool or long needle nose pliers to twist and open the valve stem. Once the stem is removed, you will hear and feel the air rushing out from the tire.
Can accelerating too fast damage tires?
If you have a habit of punching the accelerator and slamming the brake pedal, you are causing tire damage because you are increasing the friction between your vehicle's tires and the road. Speeding can also increase this friction, and all actions damage your tires eventually.
What makes a tire unrepairable?
If there are punctures or damage in the shoulder or sidewall of the tire, it is not repairable. If the injuries are close enough so that the repairs overlap or the injuries are directly across from each other, the tire cannot be repaired and must be scrapped.
How much does it cost to get tires trued?
If the wheel is fixable–it generally looks good but has a wobble–you can expect your local bike shop to charge $20 – $30 to true it using professional equipment like a truing stand for the perfect line and roundness.
What does heat cycling do to a tire?
A heat cycling machine rolls the tires to generate a uniform, gradual temperature buildup throughout the tire tread evenly, ensuring that the tire is not exposed to excessive heat. The tires then cool down at a steady pace. After a rest period, the tires are sufficiently broken in and ready for competition.
How do you true a bike tire?
How to true a bike wheel with a standPlace your wheel in the truing stand. We're looking at lateral alignment, where the wheel is pulling to the side. ... Spin the wheel. Rotate the wheel in the stand. ... Locate the buckle. ... Find the relevant spoke. ... Adjust the tension. ... Check and recheck.
What is heat cycling and shaving tires?
Typically, racing and competition tires need "breaking in" to optimize their performance. This can be done using heat cycling, a process where competition tires are heated and then cooled repeatedly to create a stronger compound bond. This yields better traction and more responsive handling.
Does Discount Tire do free balancing?
At no additional charge to you, we'll rotate and balance the tires you purchased from any of our Discount Tire stores for the life of the tires. We recommend that you rotate your tires every 6,000-8,000 miles to ensure your tires wear more evenly.
Do you need an alignment after replacing tires?
We recommend an alignment after the installation of new tires. This helps you get the most life from your new tires. Wheel alignment checks are always advised after a significant impact or uneven tire wear is detected. Also, get a check annually, or twice yearly if you typically travel on rough roads.
What does heat cycling do to a tire?
A heat cycling machine rolls the tires to generate a uniform, gradual temperature buildup throughout the tire tread evenly, ensuring that the tire is not exposed to excessive heat. The tires then cool down at a steady pace. After a rest period, the tires are sufficiently broken in and ready for competition.
How to cut a tire?
The cutting is done by a circular, rotating blade that adjusts side to side and in and out. He dips the blade into the tire and thin strips of rubber begin to essentially peel off. Using both hands to move the blade around just like a lathe operator, Neal makes passes between 1/4 and 3/8 of an inch wide, depending on how much is being ultimately removed. The dimension and angle of the cut can be customized depending on the type of car and track the tire will be used on. Experience allows a good cutter to develop a sensitive hand, enabling them to feel when the tool is getting dull and needs replacement. As you can imagine, getting the cut just right is not a quick process, with each tire taking at least 20 minutes to complete.
How long does it take to cut a tire?
As you can imagine, getting the cut just right is not a quick process, with each tire taking at least 20 minutes to complete. When all is said and done, you end up with a big pile of freshly shaved rubber shreds and a set of tires ready to hit the track.
Why do race cars have slick tires?
A slick tire provides the most surface area for grip on dry pavement and that’s why you see race cars running smooth or slick tires. In the Spec Miata series, for example, racers are required to run the Toyo Proxes RA1 which is a full-tread, street-legal radial made with R-compound rubber.
Is tire shaving a lost art?
The Lost Art of Tire Shaving. Tire what? Yes, tire shaving. We’ll forgive you if you’re not familiar with it, as this art has understandably become less popular and less necessary in the time since the radial tire overtook the market in the ’60s and ’70s.
Do you have to shave a tire?
Tire what? Yes, tire shaving. We’ll forgive you if you’re not familiar with it, as this art has understandably become less popular and less necessary in the time since the radial tire overtook the market in the ’60s and ’70s. Before then, tire manufacturing was not very accurate and new tires actually came with extra tread—they were so far out of round, you’d need to have your installer shave tread off to make them circular or “true.” And so, shortly after the radial tire’s popularity brought with it advances in tire manufacturing, those tire shaving machines and the guys that ran them began to fade away.
Can you replace all four tires?
In order to prevent that type of problem, you could replace all four tires, or replace just the one and have it shaved down to the diameter of the three worn treads. Obviously, the second option would save you a lot of money.
Does shaving a tire help with traction?
It provides excellent grip on both dry and wet tracks, but will yield even more traction when shaved down from full tread. As an added benefit, shaving also increases the on-track life of the tire by eliminating the chance of blistering, which can occur when a full-tread tire endures high track temperatures.
Why do race cars use slick tires?
A slick tire provides the most surface area for grip on dry pavement and that’s why you see race cars running smooth or slick tires. In the Spec Miata series, for example, racers are required to run the Toyo Proxes RA1 which is a full-tread, street-legal radial made with R-compound rubber. It provides excellent grip on both dry and wet tracks, but will yield even more traction when shaved down from full tread. As an added benefit, shaving also increases the on-track life of the tire by eliminating the chance of blistering, which can occur when a full-tread tire endures high track temperatures.
Can you shave your tires at home?
But shaving at home still has its uses. Say you have an all-wheel-drive car that started with a full set of fresh rubber ten thousand miles or so ago and suddenly you find yourself needing a new tire as a result of a failure. A mismatched set of tires could force a modern four- or all-wheel-drive system to be constantly working to manage torque, causing undue stress and wear on the components. In order to prevent that type of problem, you could replace all four tires, or replace just the one and have it shaved down to the diameter of the three worn treads. Obviously, the second option would save you a lot of money.
