A family from Tennessee could be about to revolutionize the rubber industry after inventing a unique device which can make tires last up to five times longer without a change.

Mark Evans and his wife Jennifer came up with the idea for the Knobby Knife during weekend dirt bike outings with son Preston and daughter Peyton.

Knobby Knife is a powerful heating tool that maintains over 500 degree heat while cutting rubber.

With its patent pending blade made of high quality tool, steel users can quickly and easily sharpen tire knobbies vastly extending the lifespan of their tires.

Mark built a series of prototypes, filed patents and put the Knobby Knife into production at the family home in Soddy Daisy in 2009.

The family have now sold close to 10,000 Knobby Knives across the globe but believe the device has the potential to become a “must own” item for every household with a dirt bike.

For Mark, who owns and operates a concrete pumping business, the Knobby Knife started out as a hobby but became a passion and a project he just couldn’t quit.

He said: “We have around 25 acres of woodland behind our home and I’ve always enjoyed riding my dirt bike there. Preston has been riding for ten years, since he was three. Around five years ago I bought bikes for Jennifer and Peyton and managed to persuade them to join us.

“But like everyone who rides off road I would get frustrated with how often tires needed replacing. It was expensive but above all inconvenient. It is a major pain to change tires. You literally have to wrestle it off and on and you risk your knuckles getting cut.

“I became convinced that there had to be a way of restoring them and extending their lifespan rather than just replacing them so I started designing what eventually became the Knobby Knife.

“Everyone who has seen one wants one. We have sold thousands of units without any marketing and I’m convinced the product has huge potential.”

The Knobby Knife should certainly please environmentalists. Tires are one of the biggest landfill headaches with an estimated 300 million disposed of each year in the US alone.

Jennifer said: “Mark’s always been really into his dirt bike but since he came up with the Knobby Knife his passion has been very focused on it. What began as a hobby has grown into a business.

“We literally developed it in a garage in our rural community called Soddy Daisy. We ship it all over the world from our house.

“We receive orders, build Knobby Knives, package and ship out from our house. It’s definitely been a grassroots effort.

“We have 33 dealers now as well as distributors in Australia, New Zealand, Italy and Austria. We feel that our international sales may overcome our domestic sales because we are dealing with distributors that have customers already in place.”

Mark added that feedback from customers has been incredibly positive. He said: “People love, I mean love, their Knobby Knives.

“There are two generations of people we are dealing with. One that have tried to sharpen their tires with all kind of techniques. They really appreciate what the KnobbyKnife does. We have many people say it’s very relaxing and even fun.

“The other generation, usually younger, are surprised to find out you can actually do this to tires and save money. There is actually an educational challenge we have to overcome. We did have a Knobby Knife fan come up to a race and said the Knobby Knife makes his tires ‘better than a new factory tire’ Now that, is something to brag about.”

http://sxsnews.com/index.php/2012/02/adding-new-life-to-tired-old-tires-with-knobby-knife/

What a shame We didnt took patent on that idé... We did that for over 30 years ago , first with a hacksaw then with a tirecutter with "custom made" iron like that they show . We could ride many more hours when We cut the knobbs . Then I maybee didnt have to pump today ! :-)

If they expaned and make concretehoses that have lower wheigt than ConForm "superflex 1250"  - in 1,5" and 2"-hoses, i will be their first costumer outside the USA. As a linepumper...a hose don´t last a lifetime - but i try!