Siping is the process of cutting the tread to increase the water dispersion of the tire.

Here is a link that explains it.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/tireSiping.dos

> That's cool!!! Nitrogen displaces the oxygen that would normally be
> present under pressure and which speeds oxidation or rot of the rubber.
>
> BTW, what is "sipeing service?"
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> rubatoguy@comcast.net wrote:
>
> >I have XCA tires on my Westy and agree 100% with John's experience.
> >
> >Interestingly, I was at America's Tire Company getting a pucture repaired and
> noted they offer a sipeing service for tires - however they did not reccomend
> doing so for the XCA tires.  However they did fill all my tires with Nitrogen!
> >
> >
> >Todd
> >'88 Westy
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>When I bought both of my vans - first a 1985 GL then later a 1988 GL,
> >>both had passenger car tires. Both vehicles were as squirrely on the
> >>road as a tailess kite on a windy day. I bought Michelin MXT's with the
> >>stiff sidewalls for them both and I can't even describe the improvement
> >>in handling. Today - with the demise of the MXT, I run Michelin XCA
> >>205-75R14  Load Range C 8 ply tires. Rated for 65 psi. I run 55 psi in
> >>the tires for best tire wear under the loads I put in it. These are
> >>truck tires, from Michelins commercial tire line. The tread is not
> >>agressive, and on wet pavement uder some circumstances the driving wheel
> >>on the ground will slip. It is not a problem for me. I'm aware of it,
> >>and drive accordingly.
> >>
> >>Regards,
> >>
> >>John Rodgers
> >>88 GL Driver
> >>
> >>Malcolm Stebbins wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>--- Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Your Vanagon is a car, Larry.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>My testimonial is that when I bought my 91 syncro westy, it had passenger
> tyres
> >>>
> >>>
> >>on it.  The was
> >>
> >>
> >>>very squirmy on the road, especially corners and cross winds.  When I
> switched
> >>>
> >>>
> >>to LT tyres, it
> >>
> >>
> >>>handled much better, to the point that when my PO mechanic drove it, he
> thought
> >>>
> >>>
> >>that I'd re-done
> >>
> >>
> >>>the suspension and added anti-sway bars.  LT tires made a big, positive
> >>>
> >>>
> >>difference in my (and
> >>
> >>
> >>>larry's ?) 5,000 lbs syncro westy.  Malcolm (Halifax)
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>__________________________________
> >>>Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
> >>>http://mail.yahoo.com
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >
> >
> >
> >