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Photography: Craig Perronne We get a lot of questions about tires. It makes a lot of sense; tires are a major purchase. More than likely, you are going to be spending at least $1,000 when it comes time to replace your tires. That is some pretty big coin for any of us. As the only part of our vehicle physically touching the ground, tires make a huge impact on performance on the highway and on the trail. Making an informed decision about which tires to buy is a wise idea. One question our readers often ask is how many miles does a certain tire last? That can be a difficult one for us to answer. Unless we've driven on that particular tire until the end of its life, we can only make an educated guess. And even then, several factors can affect tire wear. Vehicle weight, how hard the driver is on the throttle, and the terrain it's used on can impact (sometimes significantly) tread life. If one person gets 50,000 miles out of a set of tires, it doesn't mean everyone will. We might not be able to tell you exactly how long a particular tire will last, but we can tell you how to make the tires on your vehicle last their longest - no matter the brand. There are concrete steps you can take to ensure your tires live the longest possible life. Amazingly, many skip these steps, or neglect them, only to see their expensive tires wear down more quickly than they should. What follows are tips to maintain a happy, long-term relationship with your tires.  One of the best steps to keep your tires happy is also the easiest: make sure your tires are at the proper air pressure. Improperly inflated tires can cause poor handling and excessive wear. Running under-inflated tires on the street can generate lots of heat, causing damage to the tire, or even a blowout. Newer vehicles come with a tire pressure recommendation on the door sill. Remember, this is only for the stock tires. Don't be afraid to hit up whoever you're buying tires from for a pressure recommendation. And don't forget to air back up after the trail.  Another extremely important step to getting the most out of your tires is to keep your suspension properly aligned. Lots of people get an alignment when putting on a new lift kit, but never check it again. If you are bouncing around on the trail, eventually you will need to get an alignment again. Independent front suspensions are more susceptible to getting knocked out of alignment, but even with a solid axle it can happen. An out-of-alignment front suspension can greatly reduce tire life.  Rotating your tires is extremely important. It will help to ensure even wear. When rotating your tires, don't just switch them from side to side, but also from front to back (ideally to a different side of the vehicle as well). This will help keep weird wear patterns from forming if your front end is out of alignment. How often should you rotate your tires? We do it every oil change. Some might call that overkill, but tires are not cheap, and rotating them is a simple way to help them last.  If getting the most mileage out of your tires is a priority, go with a tire that has a treadwear warranty. These tires tend to use a harder compound rubber, so they do give up some performance on the trail. The flipside is they last longer on pavement and are guaranteed to do so. The Pro Comp AT Sport comes with a 60,000 mile treadler warranty.  If you are looking for new tires and want to get the most mileage out them, go with a tire with an all-terrain tread pattern. Tires with higher void areas in between their tread blocks wear faster. While milder tires might not look as aggressive or shed mud easily, they will last the longest. And if you choose wisely, you can get one offering solid off-road performance.  One sure way to shorten the lives of your tires, or even destroy them, is to overload them. Remember to pay close attention to what is written on the sidewall of your tires. Here you will find the load rating of your tires. If you plan to haul heavy loads, or have a portly truck, make sure to get tires that can handle the weight like these E-rated Maxxis Razr MTs. Overloaded tires generate heat that can damage them, or even cause them to fail.  Don't forget to put your spare tire into rotation, too. Tires like to be used, not sit around exposed to the elements. It is also a good idea so your spare doesn't get too old. We have seen people get a flat and use a spare tire they have had hanging off the back of their Jeep for years. The result often is that their spare tire comes apart a few more miles down the trail, and then they are seriously screwed.  Tough, technical terrain is known for taking its toll on parts, but it can also be extremely hard on tires. Some people love using lots of throttle and impersonating their favorite Ultra4 driver. But abundant wheel spin in jagged rocks or harsh terrain can tear chunks of tread off, or slice even the toughest tires. Some situations might call for wheel spin and throttle, but constant abuse of your tires will lead to a short life.  Pay attention to your tires and look at them closely to see how they are wearing. Excessive wear down the center of the tire means that air pressure is too high. Under inflation usually wears down both outer edges of the tire. Wear on one edge of tire is an indication of too much camber. A feathered edge (the tread has a slightly rounded edge on one side and a sharp edge on the other) usually indicates too much toe. If that edge is heavily cupped, it is a strong indication that you need ball joints, wheel bearings or other components replaced.  Remember, the sidewalls of your tires are the most vulnerable. It might not affect the mileage you get out of them, but protecting your sidewalls properly will help keep you from getting a flat. Tires with additional tread down the sidewall will also offer some additional puncture protection. On tougher and rockier trails be mindful of your tire placement and what your sidewalls are up against. A torn sidewall not only results in a hole in your tire, but also a hole in your wallet as well. Flats happen, but many can be avoided. |
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