In a motor race, tires play a critical role, and the driver with the best tires on race day will normally have a great chance of winning. Some of the maintenance involves what is called tire shaving. This is a process whereby the surface of a tire is planed to reduce the depth of the tread.
The tire truer is used in the shaving of tires to create new treads. This machine makes old tires "true," as the name implies, correcting tires that are not perfectly round by shaving uneven areas. This reduces the vehicle's vibrations on the road and also saves fuel. The truer has a self-sharpening blade and is capable of cutting up to nine inches on a 24-inch profile.
The run razor is another gadget used in the shaving of tires. This small hand-held tool contains a blade that must be bowed until it is convex to match the edge of the tire, then kept in this position during the shaving process. It is mostly used to remove bumps on a tire.
The process of shaving is used to increase the surface area of the tire that has contact with the road, thus improving traction. This larger surface area enhances the the dissipation of heat, which helps prevent blistering and chunking, providing a longer tire life. Shaving the tire greatly reduces the rotating mass, which has has a great effect on acceleration and braking. Tires are normally shaven to a depth of 5/32 inch. The shaving process is done even on brand new tires.
