Believe it or not, mountain bike tire cutting is a thing pros and bike mechanics have been doing for ages, and yet, as far as we know, there’s never been an official tool for doing so. Until now. Schwalbe actually introduced their Treadcutter tool at the MTB World Cup in Lourdes, France in April 2016, but since that time, it’s sorta flown under the radar for many mountain bikers.
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The tool itself is made by Unior, and while it might resemble a simple side cutter or crimping tool, it includes a slider that allows the user to select the exact tread depth they want to remove. Compared to some other tools bike mechanics have been using for this task, the Treadcutter appears to be much safer (fewer punctures) and more precise.
Schwalbe says the Treadcutter can be used, for example, to shorten center lugs on their Dirty Dan tire for improved rolling resistance. The company also says the Treadcutter can be used to trim transition knobs on the Hans Dampf for a more spaced out and aggressive tread pattern.
Cutting and modifying mountain bike tread patterns isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve ever wished you could tweak your favorite mountain bike tires, this is one tool you should consider adding to your toolkit!
More info and purchase options.
