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I found out after encountering our first major snowstorm (I live in CT) that the stock Firestone FR 290 tires on my 2k1 Civic are absolutely terrible on anything but dry pavement. Rather than spend a few hundred on new tires, my bro (has a 2k2 Accord with crappy Bridgestones) suggested tire siping. Anyone tried this? I can't find a local tire dealer that does this (obviously dealers would rather sell tires) but we're driving back to MI for Christmas and I might drive my Civc and have it done there.

Feedback appreciated....

 
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siping is a VERY GOOD OPTION, but i dont recomend it for anyone that likes to spin the tires on dry pavement. It will tend to tear CHUNKS of rubber off the tire. You will need to have a min tread depth. I cant recall what the min is. And before they can sipe the tires all little rocks will need picked from the tire. Most tire shops that do sipe HATE to sipe tires that arent brand new cause the blade on the tool can get damaged from rocks in the tread. As i recall it runs about $15 a tire give or take. Not all shops have the machine to sipe either. The siping CAN give a better tire life too depending on the tire being it cuts grooves in the tread it allows for better cooling of the tire.
Good luck

 
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Sorry to bring up this relatively old post on siping tires.

I went to Les Schwab tires to fix a flat and they recommend tire siping for $11.25 per tire, despite the fact that my tires have about 30K and ~50% tread left.

Has anyone had real experience with siping tires?

 
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TMQ - I couldn't find anyone in CT that does it and would have had to drive to MI around Xmas to get it done - catch 22 because it was handling so poor in snowy weather that I couldn't chance it.

 
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I used to work for Discount Tire Co. I used to do it to tires all day long, it really does help out, you can ask them for the tests on it, or you can watch the video of it, or hell you can just have it done and watch the improvements yourself

 
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i have to disagree, they served me very well, i had to go up this one hill in about 3-4 inches of snow and i was happily surprised to make it up the hill... granted, they arent snow tires, but what do you expect from the factory?