Tires have a significant impact on the performance of a car and it’s not uncommon to see drivers tweaking their cars to enhance performance. From using tires of varying sizes to tweaking tire pressure and tread depths, there are a couple of ways to alter car performance through tires. Another tire modification you may not be aware of involves sanding the tires. Yes, you read that right. Continue reading to learn why sanding is done to tires.
Sanding tires involves removing the middle seams of tires and is usually done to improve speed by racing enthusiasts.
You’ll learn how sanding can improve speed later in this article. There are both pros and cons to sanding tires and we discuss them in detail below.
Sanding Tires – Sense Or No Sense?
Many people are bewildered when they learn that tires are actually sanded. And rightly so. It seems a bit extreme to sand down car tires. But sanding tires isn’t a new practice. It’s been done for a long time and it’s not something that will go out of practice anytime soon.
The purpose of sending car tires is to remove seams from the middle of the tires. Obviously, the next question on your mind is the logic behind this and we’ll tell you. When the middle seams of a tire are removed, the contact between the tires and the road is increased and the result of this is improved speed.
So, in a nutshell, tires are sanded to increase speed and overall performance. This is why the practice of sanding tires is more common in the racing community.
Despite the benefits of sanding tires, it must be pointed out that tires should be sanded carefully to avoid ‘over sanding’. The seams shouldn’t be removed entirely as they should still remain visible after sanding. However, the seams shouldn’t protrude much from the tire after the process is complete.
Pros And Cons Of Sanding
As mentioned above, the main idea behind sanding is to increase speed due to increased traction. However, this only applies to dry roads or dry driving conditions. When road conditions change and things become wet, sanded tires quickly lose their advantages as threaded tires perform better in these conditions.
So, while sanded tires perform excellently on dry roads, the opposite is true on wet roads. It becomes easier for sanded tires to lose traction on wet roads and hydroplaning can happen. The same also applies to driving in the snow.
How Do People Sand Tires?
There are a number of ways you can sand your tires. One of the most popular and inexpensive methods involves using a rotary tool such as the Dremel tool. All you have to do is hold the Dremel tool at an angle to the team with the tool connected to a sanding drum. When sanding the tire, be careful about it and avoid sanding rubber from the region outside the seams.
How to Lessen the Chances of Hydroplaning
We talked about hydroplaning earlier and would like to discuss it in detail under this subheading. Hydroplaning occurs on wet surfaces when water causes the tires to lose contact, and subsequently traction, with the road surface. It’s a very scary occurrence with the potential of resulting in a crash.
As we mentioned earlier, hydroplaning is more likely to happen with a sanded tire. So, one of the best ways to avoid hydroplaning is to avoid driving with sanded tires in wet or snowy conditions. Your tire pressure is also crucial to proper performance on wet roads and preventing hydroplaning.
Properly inflated tires have better grip in any situation and depending on your driving conditions, you should inspect your car tires regularly for proper tire pressure. The speed at which you are traveling on wet roads also affects the likelihood of hydroplaning happening.
Tips For Keeping Your Tires In Great Condition
Below are tips for keeping your tires in great condition:
Regular Inspection
Routinely carry out a physical inspection of your car, especially after a long trip. Get on your hands and knees to ensure you get a good view of every side of the tires. Look out for signs of damage such as cracks and bulges. It’s not unusual for objects like glass, nails, or screws to puncture tires and if this happens to your tires, you’ll need to replace them.
Rotate Your Tires
It’s common knowledge that your tires wear out as you drive around but what may not be common knowledge is that the four tires on an automobile wear out at different rates. So, to ensure even tread wear, it’s recommended you rotate your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. Doing this will ensure each tire occupies all the positions in the vehicle and ensure even tread wear.
Check Tire Pressure Monthly
Tire pressure is crucial to the durability of the tires and it’s important you check tire pressure at least once a month. If tires are underinflated, there’s an increased risk of hydroplaning in wet conditions, reduced traction, and premature wear and tear. If all these aren’t enough to motivate you to check your tire pressure, then maybe the fact that underinflated tires decrease gas mileage will. If you are anything like us, you won’t be eager to spend more on gas when you don’t need to.
Install The Right Tires
If there is any need to replace a tire on your vehicle, ensure the new tire matches the existing one. This is because mismatched tires can affect the handling of a car while also causing unusual wear and tear to other tires and other components of the car at large. So, if you aren’t sure about the type of tire to buy when you need a replacement, let your mechanic help you out.
Don’t Overload Your Vehicle
Overloading a vehicle is a sure way to damage the tires. Every vehicle comes with a load rating which can be found in the owner’s manual. So, consult the owner’s manual to know the load rating of your vehicle and ensure you don’t exceed it.
