A method for slicing wafers from a workpiece using a sawing wire, wherein at least two wire guide rolls clamp a wire web, each wire guide roll having a multiplicity of grooves in its lateral surface, wherein at least one groove in which no wire is inserted during the wire sawing is present alongside a wire-guiding groove and, after wear on the wire-guiding grooves or after a defined number of sawing processes, the sawing wire is wound over into the previously unoccupied grooves that are not yet worn or used, respectively.