Cutting tires is not an easy job. Steel belted tires are no different. Cutting steel-belted tires is more difficult than cutting regular tires. Read the best way to cut steel belted tires.
When you take a closer look at your steel-belted tire, you will notice that the steel belts are not steel belts. They are rather similar to steel-wire meshes. If you try to cut the tire, you will often see that the steel mesh in the tire bending and flexing, making the job more challenging.
However, with proper methods and tools, you can cut steel-belted tires like a piece of cake. Allow me to break down each area. Let’s get started.
How Can You Cut a Tire?
Before we go through how to cut a steel-belted tire, you need to know how you can cut a regular tire. Follow the procedures described below for the easiest methods and instructions:
Steps by Steps to Cut a Tire:
- First, take a sharp box cutter or a utility knife and puncture the sidewalls of the tire.
- Put the knife inside the tire and go directly to the tire’s smooth surface. Make sure it is at least 1 inch or 2.5 centimeters deep.
- Be careful while cutting the tire as if you cut too deep, you might damage the tread or, worse, cut it too.
- While cutting the tire, get a hold of the tire by putting your foot underneath the tire for support; this will keep the tire more stable.
- Now, cut the outside part of the tire in a sawing movement. You can use your hand for support to make the tire stable.
- To keep the tire-cut portions separated so that you can utilize them later, a wooden dowel will come in handy.
- After cutting the ⅓-½ portion of the tire, rotate the tire while cutting it to complete the cut properly.
Voila! You have learned how to cut a tire, pat yourself on the back successfully.
How to Cut a Steel-Belted Tire?
Now that you have mastered how to cut a regular tire let’s move to the steel-belted tires. Before proceeding with the steps mentioned below, make sure to take proper precautions.
Need tools to start:
- Gloves (for safety)
- Saw Blade (Sawzall Blade)
- Wooden Wedge or Chisel
Steps by Steps to Cut a Steel-Belted Tire:
- Mark the parts of the tire you want to cut. Marking is necessary as if you don’t mark the areas you would like to cut, cutting it will make the process hectic.
- Drill a hole to where you want to cut and then insert a saw blade inside. Please don’t cut the inner rim of the tire first, and it will rather damage your tire.
- After you inserted your saw blade, begin cutting it along the areas you have marked earlier. Be gentle with this process to avoid your saw blade from the coupling.
- To counter blade binding, use a wooden wedge along with the saw blade while cutting.
- Separate extra parts of the steel tire after cutting to prevent the gap from binding. Be slow while cutting, as if binding happens, the process will only slow you down.
Final Thought
As said earlier, anything is possible with proper instructions and methods provided. Cutting a steel-belted tire is not so difficult if you have the tools to fix it.
With tools as simple as a saw blade and wooden wedge, you can easily cut a steel-belted tire. If you miss an average tire, just a box cutter and some support to keep the tire stable are enough.
Again, a friendly reminder, if you are going to follow any of the steps mentioned above, wear gloves and take any other precautions needed.