Tire Grooving

Professional Race Tire Grooving

Roger Kraus Racing offers professional tire grooving services for vintage racing, historic racing, road racing, endurance racing, and specialty automotive applications. With decades of experience in motorsports, we carefully hand-groove tires to meet the specific needs of each vehicle, driver, and racing condition.

Whether you need period-correct historic patterns, rain grooves, or custom tread designs, our goal is to provide a tire that delivers the performance, appearance, and functionality required for your application.

Historic Pattern Grooving

Many vintage race cars originally competed on treaded racing tires rather than modern slicks. We offer hand-grooved historic tread patterns that replicate period-correct designs used on classic race cars from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

Historic grooving is popular for:

  • Ford GT40
  • Shelby Cobra
  • Porsche 904, 906, 910, and early 911 race cars
  • Jaguar D-Type and E-Type
  • Ferrari vintage racing applications
  • Historic sports racers and endurance cars

Our historic patterns provide an authentic appearance while helping evacuate water and improve usability in changing conditions.

Historic “Old” Pattern Grooving

One of our most requested services is the recreation of classic historic tread designs commonly seen on period racing tires. These patterns are carefully cut by hand to achieve the appearance and character of original racing tires while maintaining tire integrity.

Ideal for:

  • Concours events
  • Historic racing
  • Vintage touring
  • Authentic vehicle restorations

Rain/Wet Grooving

For racers competing in wet or mixed conditions, we offer custom rain-grooving services designed to improve water evacuation and increase confidence on damp surfaces.

Rain grooving can:

  • Improve wet-weather traction
  • Reduce hydroplaning risk
  • Increase tire versatility
  • Extend the usefulness of racing slicks during changing weather conditions

Pattern selection varies depending on vehicle weight, tire size, track conditions, and customer requirements.

Custom Grooving

Every race car is unique. We offer custom groove designs tailored to the customer’s needs.

Applications include:

  • Vintage racing
  • Historic rally cars
  • Endurance racing
  • Exhibition vehicles
  • Track day vehicles
  • Specialty motorsport applications

Customers may provide photographs, historical references, or desired groove layouts, and we can work with them to create a suitable pattern.

Consultation and Recommendations

Not all groove patterns are appropriate for every tire or application. We are happy to discuss vehicle type, tire construction, racing conditions, and intended use to recommend a grooving solution that best suits your needs.

Contact Roger Kraus Racing to discuss your tire grooving requirements and receive a recommendation for your specific vehicle and application.