I suspect we are all experiencing the new fashion trend in the highway stretch a dollar techniques, over the last few trips and in our home state of Missouri the current treatment for roads that have a high spinout or slide rate is to grind the surface with a narrow machine that is accompanied by at least two others in separate passes making less than consistent grooving on the surface. Have seen this now in six other states going east.

MoDOT has gone to the extreme and as I was informed by a MoDOT official, it is now standard practice to do this to assist those that would over drive road conditions or fail to realize they are planing out. The MSHP no longer ticket those that slide off wet/slick roads, they have the MoDOT grind the pavement so these people can drive faster! or buy cheaper less adherant tires.

In driving these roads I can attest the roads are less than favorable to the motorcycle, I have replaced my rear tire twice since this has become widespread and have lost 1/4(guesstimate) of tire life repeatedly, now awaiting to see how the latest install lasts. The constant switchpull from groove to groove is a bit unnerving in corners when also dealing with truck turbulence, I just do not see the 'safety' aspect of it.

 

I'll take that over fresh chip seal any day.

 

Around here they just throw chips over the asphalt roads when the oil comes to the top. Not only dusty as heck, but also like driving on water if your running any kind of speed.

 

Yep, the chips are the worst, and that is all they seem to do up here....and on top of that it always seems like they do it on the best roads......jerks.

 

Some of the concrete freeways here in Ca. have also been ground.The grooves run parallel with the road.I guess it's done for added traction and to smooth out the bumps.
I have not noticed any difference in wear.

 

Some of the roads in my area are grooved for drainage and extra traction. I don't really know if it helps or not. Typically it is done on concrete, not asphalt surfaces.