1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Cleaning out Tire Treads? Necessary?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by cyberpriusII, Apr 11, 2011.

  1. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    727
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    +1. Lots of old dudes here.

    Oh well, just don't ruin any families.
     
  2. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2005
    15,232
    1,562
    0
    Location:
    off into the sunset
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You rock girl. Me likey. :)

    Yes, clean the treads. No, don't use the tire iron. Use something much smaller, lighter, and not so pointy at one end. Like maybe a wooden chopstick.

    Has Kevin finished the dishes yet? He should be cooking dinner tomorrow night, too. :p
     
  3. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2005
    15,232
    1,562
    0
    Location:
    off into the sunset
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Can I get you another glass of wine? :p
     
  4. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2009
    1,135
    1,560
    0
    Location:
    Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    :focus: :focus: Oh, come on guys, I don't mind a bit of fun, but start another topic on Fred's House. I can give back more than you guys can put forth.:D
     
  5. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    :rockon:
     
  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,198
    6,461
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    OMG, TMI!

    Back on topic, I think that for the tire rotation job, Kristi needs 1) a decent hydraulic floor jack, 2) a 1/2" click-type torque wrench with a 4" or 6" extension and a 13/16" or 21 mm 6-point deep socket for the wheel lug nuts, and 3) a small pair of long-nose pliers.

    I can't imagine having to raise and lower the car 4x with that scissors jack while rotating tires.
     
  7. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2009
    971
    208
    0
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    It's could be as high as 6x, because you have to jack it up an extra time on each side to put the spare on (unless you use a jackstand, which I didn't have).

    Yeah, I won't be doing that again...
     
  8. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    727
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    No way, you are not going to try to get back on topic after all that sh*t went down.
     
  9. vnhk

    vnhk New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2009
    106
    21
    0
    Location:
    san jose
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
  10. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,795
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Sure, come into a Prius forum. An automotive forum and describe yourself as a young blonde that rotates your own tires...

    Shameless flirt.

    That's like sprinkling cat-nip on the heads of kittens....These guys stay awake at night dreaming of women who rotate tires and love Prius....whatever you do don't tell em you own a Scan Guage, unless you want to be stalked....

    As far as cleaning out your tire treads? Time consuming work, but I can see no real arguement against it...
     
    2 people like this.
  11. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2005
    15,232
    1,562
    0
    Location:
    off into the sunset
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Ouch. Would that be....no, I'll be a gentleman and walk away.
     
  12. Ryanpl

    Ryanpl Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2010
    780
    158
    0
    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    That sounds like a threat in my book.
     
  13. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    727
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Lmao. For the record, I turn my avatar settings off, so I had no idea who this cyberpriusII was. But just now I was signed out so I could see everybody's avatar and I must say....dayummm. Not bad not bad.
     
  14. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,198
    6,461
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
  15. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2009
    1,135
    1,560
    0
    Location:
    Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes, my "poor woman's" method of rotating tires takes 6X of raising and lowering the car, just because as Politburo mentions, the spare tire takes an extra session on each side. I could get it done for free at the tire shed, but where's the fun in that.?

    I really don't mind the rear tires, but the front of the car weighs so much it really, really, really tires me out. I suppose I could spring for a floor jack, but then I'd lose these "hot biceps.":D

    BTW, "TechStream Lite"??? that sounds like something I use in my stream surveys....
     
  16. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    You do stream surveys? Talk BMIs and dissolved oxygen baby! lol
     
  17. jdchappie

    jdchappie JD on RR2

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2007
    78
    14
    0
    Location:
    Southeast Kansas
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    Gravel in the treads is not a problem when the tires are new. The pain comes later.

    In my experience the gravel in the small slots have no escape route and, as the tire wears, the rock is slowly forced into the belts until it penetrates the liner. Pouring soapy water over the treads will locate a slow leak caused by a buried rock.

    The original tires on my Prius lasted 13,000 miles on the front, no rotation. Moved the rear tires to the front and made it to 25,000 miles. Tires don't last on these roads.

    I use my plugger for most flats. Less down time and safer than using the factory jack. Spare tire only used once in 135,000 miles.

    I do what cyberpriusII does. Occasionally clean out the treads to prevent a flat. I'm glad she brought it to everyone's attention. Jerry
     
  18. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,198
    6,461
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Why not buy a pair of jackstands, so that you only have to raise each corner once. This would also help with engine oil changes as you can actually see what you are doing and also inspect the half shaft CV joints and transaxle case oil seals, while under the car. :D

    We would not want that to happen! :eek:
     
  19. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Biceps aren't the only thing hot around here. BTW, not all of us are dirty old men. I shower every day.
     
  20. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Why thank you, Jim. It must be good genes because I don't even work out. :D