Just wondered from an owner drivers perspective what your thoughts are in cutting drive tyres. I run a 6x2 MAN on bulk haulage doing farm work so it’s not the easiest work as far as tyres go. Still got around 6mm on my Semperit drives (315x70) at the moment but just wondering whether to buy some new ones ready for winter or cut these and run them to the death? Cheers.
Well as an OD I have always recut,never had any probs unless someone is too enthusiastic and goes too deep,modern tyres are designed with re cutting in mind.
The firm’s that I worked for always recut their tyres, both front and rear. Usually only cut once I think, though I suppose a couple of shallower cuts would be ok, or until you hit wire! 
Pete.
I’ve not bothered on the one set I’ve had wear out so far. By the time the tread was down to 2mm even Bridgestone tyres with careful driving were starting to look pretty rough so I decided not to risk it.
Paul
We do farm work and i never bother to cut rear tyres, one rough yard/track usually gets the wire showing. The effort involved makes it never worth it, just put them to one side to cut and go back on when you sell the truck.
Think I would go with N14ERF’s advice he is doing the same work as you might be and since your tyres are Semperits!.
Ditto, once tyres have been cut they’re more susceptible to having chunks of tread ripped off right down to the wire if working on rough slippery surfaces, but it also depends if you drive it yourself.
I regroove drives a couple of times going little and often, but still end up with throwing them because they become damaged before they’ve fully worn.
I don’t bother with non steer midlift or trailer tyres as the scrub finishes them off good and proper.
I think, even doing it yourself, regrooving drives is too much work for the potential saving. I think you have to do it yourself on the rest as well or you just won’t see the savings. I tend to have a system of putting recut trailer tyres on the middle axle which I find works quite well. Don’t forget even if it’s showing metal it may not be illegal if it’s not body cords and there’s always black mastic.
Also it’s a bit of an art so you’ll want some scrap casings to practice on really.
I regroove originals but not remoulds and only drive axles. I know some bigger companies that cut fronts, but i don’t think i would be confident with that after seeing a couple of front axle blow outs on the motorway
re cut on both mine and the man isnt a mid lift but is a twin steer and never had any problems with traction cut them around 4mm to get around 7mm after but they do look tired when there down to around 3 mm ish after a cut
I cut Encore remoulds every time & never had any problems & I,m on Bulk,But then I drive it myself so care is priorty 70,000 miles approx over 14 months out the last set.
For on highway work cutting tyres (not fronts) is the sensible thing to do, best to get them done by a professional though, in some cases they cut a completely different tread pattern into the tyre, rather than following the existing lines.
The last few mm’s on your tyres are also when they have the lowest rolling resistance, so your fuel use will drop too, until you put the new ones on and lose up to 7% of your mpg, so keep those old ones on as long as you can 
newmercman:
For on highway work cutting tyres (not fronts) is the sensible thing to do, best to get them done by a professional though, in some cases they cut a completely different tread pattern into the tyre, rather than following the existing lines.The last few mm’s on your tyres are also when they have the lowest rolling resistance, so your fuel use will drop too, until you put the new ones on and lose up to 7% of your mpg, so keep those old ones on as long as you can
You seem to be very passionate in the subject of tyres as I’ve read some of your other posts on the subject. So what drive tyres would you recommend to me for bulk work. Very very rarely go in quarries so my only off road work is farm tracks which can be challenging, especially in winter. Your advice would be appreciated as you seem to be knowledgable on rolling resistance also.
newmercman:
For on highway work cutting tyres (not fronts) is the sensible thing to do, best to get them done by a professional though, in some cases they cut a completely different tread pattern into the tyre, rather than following the existing lines.The last few mm’s on your tyres are also when they have the lowest rolling resistance, so your fuel use will drop too, until you put the new ones on and lose up to 7% of your mpg, so keep those old ones on as long as you can
thought when recutting a tyre you had too follow the original pattern that is on the tyre ?
scotstrucker:
newmercman:
For on highway work cutting tyres (not fronts) is the sensible thing to do, best to get them done by a professional though, in some cases they cut a completely different tread pattern into the tyre, rather than following the existing lines.The last few mm’s on your tyres are also when they have the lowest rolling resistance, so your fuel use will drop too, until you put the new ones on and lose up to 7% of your mpg, so keep those old ones on as long as you can
thought when recutting a tyre you had too follow the original pattern that is on the tyre ?
you do!
Moose:
scotstrucker:
newmercman:
For on highway work cutting tyres (not fronts) is the sensible thing to do, best to get them done by a professional though, in some cases they cut a completely different tread pattern into the tyre, rather than following the existing lines.The last few mm’s on your tyres are also when they have the lowest rolling resistance, so your fuel use will drop too, until you put the new ones on and lose up to 7% of your mpg, so keep those old ones on as long as you can
thought when recutting a tyre you had too follow the original pattern that is on the tyre ?
you do!
Not necessarily. For a recut to be legal, it has to be recut in the manufacturers recommended pattern, which sometimes, particularly with drives, is not the same as the original pattern.
In fact the Michelin xze2 steer tyre can have a drive pattern cut in it. I have used this when stuck for a tyre before an mot. I got a worn steer tyre and cut it into a drive pattern ad fitted it. The tyre was left on for approx 6 months.
Moose:
thought when recutting a tyre you had too follow the original pattern that is on the tyre ?
I watched an A.T.S. branch manager re-cut a drive axle tyre recently and he was only cutting every second piece of the lateral pattern. I didn’'t ask him why but he seemed to know what he was doing. He had already re-cut the circumference and he did cut every piece of the pattern there.
Harry Monk:
Moose:
thought when recutting a tyre you had too follow the original pattern that is on the tyre ?I watched an A.T.S. branch manager re-cut a drive axle tyre recently and he was only cutting every second piece of the lateral pattern. I didn’'t ask him why but he seemed to know what he was doing. He had already re-cut the circumference and he did cut every piece of the pattern there.
Was that the guy that put the same tyre pressures on all your axles?
coiler:
Not necessarily. For a recut to be legal, it has to be recut in the manufacturers recommended pattern, which sometimes, particularly with drives, is not the same as the original pattern.
^^^ This
Its been a few years since I’ve cut a tyre but sometimes the original pattern wasn’t the recommended cutting pattern. I was on quarry work and never had a problem with cutting new casings. I would never cut steer tyres, with the only exception being if they were coming off and being run out on the back. The only remoulds that would be cut would be Michelin Remixs and the Dunlop equivalent - even then, they would be fitted on the front drive just in case - rear drive was then fitted with fresh tyres albeit new or remould. I always tried to keep track of casings as well, right from new and through the remould stage too. I’m sure Michelin and Dunlop made sure that you got your old casings back, after being remoulded? Do they still do that?
Surely the best thing to do is contact the tyre manufacturer and ask? In this electronic world, its soo easy to get a definitive answer from the OEM’s.
Harry Monk:
Moose:
thought when recutting a tyre you had too follow the original pattern that is on the tyre ?I watched an A.T.S. branch manager re-cut a drive axle tyre recently and he was only cutting every second piece of the lateral pattern. I didn’'t ask him why but he seemed to know what he was doing. He had already re-cut the circumference and he did cut every piece of the pattern there.
I was told by my tyre fitter that this was what Michelin recommended when cutting their remixes. My garage disagreed but I tend to trust the tyre firm seeing as its their area of expertise.