Tire grooves get small little rocks.. should I remove them ??

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by szgabor, May 6, 2013.

  1. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    My tires getting small little rocks embeded.

    Wondering if it is usefull advisable to remove them ...

    I am trying to remove them with a small hook looking thing avoding damaging the tire iteself.

    But anyone has any idea if this is a good idea or bad or leave alone .. not sure.
     
    #1 szgabor, May 6, 2013
  2. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    If you remove them more will show up anyway. There is nothing wrong with leaving them in.
     
    #2 Paradox, May 6, 2013
  3. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    Thanks.

    I was thinking that those things must reduce breaking and acceleration (rubber not sticking as before). Especially on wet surfaces this must have some affect.

    But will leave them alone then.
     
    #3 szgabor, May 6, 2013
  4. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    If I have the time I remove them. I don't know that they will significantly affect traction but they could cause microwear on tread and at the very least they could fling up onto the side of your car while turning. Besides, they make noise and look ugly. :p
     
    #4 F8L, May 6, 2013
  5. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    Well I do not have the time daily ... but every weekend I check the tires for pressure and then all the visible ones I tried to remove I am not going crazy with it though.
     
    #5 szgabor, May 7, 2013
  6. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    That is pretty much all I do. If I see a big one I may stop and remove it. Otherwise it happens when I am cleaning and checking air pressure.
     
    #6 F8L, May 7, 2013
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  7. FranklinS

    FranklinS Ach crivens ye scunners!

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    I usually remove them during cleaning. I remove them as part of a safety check because nails can often mimic the look of small rocks.
     
    #7 FranklinS, May 7, 2013
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  8. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    If you get enough of them and leave them in for winter maybe they would be like studded tires, sort of. :D
     
    #8 tumbleweed, May 7, 2013
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I have my tires in hand whenever I swap between OEM and snows. At that time I make a point of slowly rolling them along, standing astraddle the tire, with a small flat-blade screwdriver at the ready. I'll flick out the more significant looking pebbles, depending on how ambitious I'm feeling.

    It's really a fishing expedition: every once in a blue moon I'll spot a nail/screw.
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, May 7, 2013
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  10. PLSPUSH

    PLSPUSH Active Member

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    yes, twice every day
     
    #10 PLSPUSH, May 7, 2013
  11. zhutton

    zhutton Junior Member

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    When the wheels come off ill make an effort or if I get one that is huuuuuuuge and clicks on the road, then i always stop and get rid of it.

    They're resurfacing the roads by me anyway so for the next few months it'll be hell!
     
    #11 zhutton, May 7, 2013
  12. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Get a good coat of wax on the lower portion of your car so the tar doesn't stick as well!
     
    #12 F8L, May 7, 2013
  13. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    ... or a shard of glass.

    During seasonal tires swaps or tire rotations, I always perform this same inspection. About half the time I also flick out most of these rocks, but it also feels like a waste of time. Leaving them in does not increase the amount of rocks found next time.
     
    #13 fuzzy1, May 7, 2013
  14. Zeus661

    Zeus661 Junior Member

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    Fill the groves in with silicone then you won't have rock getting in them.
     
    #14 Zeus661, May 7, 2013
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  15. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    If you fill them with silicon, where would the water go ??? I thought that was the point of the grooves in the first place I mean even in F-1 the rain tires has grooves for that reason..

    OK you may just accidentally missed the smiley :sick:
     
    #15 szgabor, May 8, 2013
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