Regrooving tyres – what you need to know? How to choose tyre service and car repair tools
Tyre tread regrooving is a process that begins with removing the rubber from underneath the tread. This means, you can deepen the depth of grooves that was affected by the tyre’s mileage.
A very important thing – only the tyres that were designed for regrooval can undergo the process. How to recognize if a given tyre can be regrooved? This is the most certain way:
- check if the tyre has the REGROOVABLE label on the sidewall
A tyre has to be specially designed for regrooving. The tyre’s carcass has to be strong enough to withstand the modifications and be able to stay stiff even at larger speeds. A specially designed carcass means better stability of tyre’s profile while driving.
What is tyre regrooving about?
This is a process that allows to restore the tread’s original shape and depth. Tyre regrooving can restore the tread from 6 up to 8 mm.
It begins with removing the 2-4 mm of rubber underneath the tread. The acceptable depth of the cut is shown in the manufacturers’ recommendations. The regrooving should be done when the tyre’s tread depth reaches 2-4 mm. At that moment, it is still relatively easy to restore the original shape of the tyre’s tread.
What happens after the regrooving? You get a tread with improved driving qualities.
Tread regrooving benefits
Tyre regrooving comes with a range of advantages. Check them out:
- Improved traction – up to 10%
- Fuel savings – up to 2 L per every 100 km
- Extended mileage – a tyre that underwent regrooving can be used for 25% more kilometers.
When is regrooving not recommended?
Avoid regrooving in the following cases:
- there are cuts on the tyre
- there are visible rubber losses
- tread is cut or blown
- belt edge cushion comes out of the tyre
- casing comes out of the tyre
- the sidewall is damaged
Why is that so important? Any damages in tread’s surface may let the air or water inside the tyre. As a result, a tyre like that would wear out quickly. And if you did a regrooving process here, riding on a tyre like that could get dangerous.
The above recommendations were prepared on the basis of tyre manufacturers’ recommendations.
And one more thing. Tread regrooving must not be done in tyres which are not prepared for this – for instance, in passenger car tyres.
Regrooving tyres – the basics
Can you do a tyre regrooving in products like that? Sure! On the condition that the damage does not affect the sidewall. And one more thing – the repair has to be done correctly. Tyre tread regrooving affects the structure of the tyre, so you have to be sure that apart from the tread’s structure is not damaged in any way.
Are regrooving tyres legal?
Tyre tread regrooving is totally accepted by tyre manufacturing companies. It is also recommended by the ETRTO – this stands for EUROPEAN TYRE AND RIM TECHNICAL ORGANISATION.
What tyre regrooving machine?
If you are looking to provide tyre tread regrooving services to your clients, consider getting a fully professional device. For instance, the one manufactured by the RUFF company. It is a German company that actually popularized the tyre tread regrooving procedure. They were one of the first companies to use this technique and introduced the first device for this purpose back in 1949.
Don’t know what tyre tread regrooving device would be best? We listed a few features that a device like that should have.
Thermal switch
Good quality regrooving machines are equipped with thermal switch transformers. Thanks to that, the tool provides:
- hassle-free work (without power surges)
- lower power demand when compared against standard devices
- lower weight
Tyre tread regrooving devices with thermal switch is more resistant to possible mechanical damage. Plus to that, the signal comes with less deformations than those without the switch. This means improved cutters’ reliability.
Ergonomic handle
Needless to say – tyre tread regrooving requires loads of precision. And with an ergonomic handle you can get better control over the tread that you are working on. Your comfort is the most important thing while regrooving.
Casing tightness
Obviously – you would be using the regrooving device at tyre service – which means under the roof – but this is something you have to remember about.
The casing should be perfectly tight. So that the inside of the tread regrooving machine is fully safe. And dirt or moisture can lead to the damage of the device.
Heating levels – setting
Good tread regrooving machines have a heating level setting. For instance, our devices have special knobs – all it takes is putting them in the chosen position. It can be done at one of the four levels, so you can easily pick the right level, according to the profile of the tread you are working at. You can also change the pace of tyre regrooving quickly.
Power cable
Good tyre tread regrooving devices come with cables that have special protection against cutting. Also, the power cable should have protection against bending – and they are possible when it comes to working at a tyre service.
Also, the longer the power cable is, the better. For instance, in our tyre tread regroovers it can be 180 cm long.
Easy to move around
Being able to move the regroover from one place to another is really important. After all, you’re not going to move the tyres around, right? The device should be easy to lift and put it anywhere you need. It’s best when it comes with a special handle.
Also, it might be a good idea to get a regroover that can be hung at some place of your tyre service. So, check if the regroover that you chose comes with handles – for instance, to be hung onto the wall.
Heating settings
Good tyre tread regroovers come with heating settings option. This is a solution that let you choose the right power amount to the given tyre.
Tyre regrooving stand
Can truck tyre regrooving be comfortable? Consider getting a special stand designed for the device. It is a type of stand that allows for easy mounting, even of a large tyre. Such a stand means easy setting of the tyre’s width, so you can adjust it to your needs.
What does it work like? Just a few examples on the basis of the one we have in our offer:
- max. diameter 450 mm
- max. weight 75 kg
Having a stand like that you can regroove the tread much easier. This is especially important in case of heavier tyres – and that’s what the tyre regrooving machines are for.
Does a stand like that have its own regroover? No. But usually there is a socket that you can put the power cable in. Also, there is a special working table onto which you can move the regrooving device when you no longer need it.
Working with a stand like that is just much more comfortable. There is a special roller that spins the wheel so you can easily set it in position. Simply push the rev switch by foot, so that the roller starts to spin. You can easily check the pace through a special control panel.
How to put a tyre on a stand like this? There is a special runway that helps putting the tyre on the stand. This is of great assistance in case of heavier tyres (truck or farm), which are hard to move.
Tyre tread regrooving – what to keep in mind?
There are two things:
- heating strength
- doing it permanently
Choosing the right heating strength you can be sure that the cuts won’t get too hot. Why is that so important? Well, too hot cutters can damage the rubber.
How to choose the right heating strength? In general, you will find that information on the cutter’s box.
The parameters that tell about the heating strength are the Schalterstellung 1 oder 2 – from German: Switch setting: 1 or 2.
This means the regroover’s know should be in that position while working with the chosen cutters. You must not use any other settings, as it may affect the cutters’ hardness.
How to check if the heating strength is not too high? For instance, when you push the wheel while cutting, better simply turn the regroover off. In other case, there might be some smoke going out from underneath the cutters.
Remember to do it permanently. When you push the head of the regroover against the tyre, the electric power goes through the regroover. Thanks to that, the cutter gets the right temperature, which means much easier manouvering on the surface of the repaired tyre.
