Can You Regroove Car Tires?

Tires are the most thoroughly used part of the car hence they can begin to wear out after years of usage. Tire regrooving is a way to restore tires, however, not all tires might be suitable for regrooving. So can you regroove car tires?

Yes, you can regroove your tires if the tire tread depth is within 2 – 4 mm. At this point, it’s still possible to restore the tire tread to its original state.

In this article, we will examine the concept of tire regrooving, its benefits, and how to go about it.

What’s Tire Regrooving?

Tire regrooving is the process of increasing the tread depth of a tire to a suitable height. The tire groves are re-cut to increase the tire depth to up to 8 mm.

The process gives the tire a new treading that can account for up to 25% of the original tread depth. Tire regrooving restores the shape and depth of tires thereby increasing their life span and functionality.

Benefits Of Tire Regrooving

There are several benefits you can enjoy from regrooving your car tires. The benefits include the following.

It Provides Longer Shelf Life

By regrooving your tires, you can increase their mileage by up to 25%. The addition of a new tread will increase the tread depth thereby giving weak tires a new lease of life.

It Reduces Fuel Consumption

You can reduce your fuel car’s girl consumption by regrooving your tires. Regrooving increases tire strength which enables it to cover more distance in lesser time thereby reducing fuel consumption.

It Enhances Functionality

The addition of extra depth to the tires will improve their roadworthiness. Lateral grip and traction of the tires will improve thereby providing a better driving experience.

The Process Is Environmentally Friendly

regrooving is an eco-conscious process as it involves the refurbishing of tires. This saves manufacturing time for making new tires and the tires also consume less fuel which means less CO2 emissions.

Cost

regrooving helps you to save the cost of replacing the tires with new ones. With regrooving, you can restore your tires to their original state which cost way less than buying new ones. 

When Is Regrooving Not Recommended?

Sometimes, tires can get weak and lose their tread to the point that they can longer be regrooved. Regrooving very weak tires can lead to further damage when in use and the tire can burst at any point.

Before regrooving, you should thoroughly inspect the tires and ensure they are not damaged beyond repair. These are the following cases you should avoid regrooving.

• When there are cuts on the tire.
• If there are visible rubber losses that expose the tire.
• Where the tread is cut too deep.
• Damages to the sidewall result in the exposure of the belt edge from the tire casing.

Damage to the tread surface can let it sit and water into the tire and regrooving might not be enough to seal it. If you notice any major defects on the tire then regrooving might not restore the tire to its original state. Getting new tires might be the safer option.

Can All Tyres Be Regrooved?

All tires that have extra rubber underneath the tread can be regrooved. You should check for the presence of an extra rubber under the tread to see if you can regroove your car tires.

You can also visit a mechanic or tire dealer to check out your tire to see if regrooving is possible

Federal Laws Covering Tire Regrooving

The federal regulation that governs tire regrooving is 49 CFR Section 569.3(c) which defines a regroovable tire as:

“Tires that are designed, and constructed with sufficient material to permit renewal of the tread pattern.”

To this effect, it follows that you can regrow a car tire if such tire has its original tread pattern. It’s important to state that most non-commercial vehicles are not regroovable because they’re too thin to maintain their original tread pattern.

The law in section 569.7 forbids the sale of regrooved tires with tread patterns that differ from the original. In addition, the tires must have a 3/32-inch thick protective covering over the cord material.

Section 569.9 stipulates that manufacturers and sellers of regroovable tires must indicate the word “regroovable” on the tires to let buyers know the tires meet the necessary standards.

 Tire Regrooving Machine

Tire regrooving is a process that requires a tire regrooving machine that professionals have in their workshop. The machine is very important to the process that’s why regrooving should be left to professionals to avoid premature destruction of the tires.

A standard regrooving machine has the following features:

• Thermal switch: regrooving machine comes with a thermal switch transformer that enables easy usage and reduces power consumption.

• Ergonomic handle: regrooving machine comes with an ergonomic handle that provides efficient and comfortable handling of the treading process. 

• Casing tightness: regrooving devices have a tight casing that protects the interior of the device from dirt and moisture which can cause damage.  

• Power cable: a regrooving machine has cables that are resistant to bending and cutting. The longer the cable, the better.

• It must be easy to move around: a tire regroover has to be mobile so you can maneuver it to get to all sides of the tire.

• Heating settings: a tire regroover that allows you to adjust the amount of heat the tire receives.

What To Keep In Mind When Regrooving Your Tires

A regroover is a machine used in regrooving tires. When regrooving your tires, the two things you need to consider are the heating strength and ensuring that the regrooving is permanent.

It’s important to ensure that the cutter gets the right heating temperature to effectively add the tread without damaging the tires.

Conclusion

Tire regrooving increases the tread depth in a tire and restores the tire to its original state. It’s an efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly way to solve your tire issues.

You can either choose to buy a regroovable tire or have your tires regrooved by a professional.