There are many different kinds of tires. Some are intended only for driving on roads, while 33″ tires are intended for all different types of terrain. No matter what kind of tires you have, they face a lot of difficult conditions of weather and friction. To insure adequate performance, they have to be changed occasionally.
Once Every Six Years
Like other Jeep Wrangler parts and accessories, your tires have an expected lifespan. In the case of tires, their useful life is expected to last about six years. If it has been six years or more since you have changed your tires, you should do so even if you haven’t experienced any problems with them. The first problem you have may be a blowout while you are driving, which is inconvenient and potentially dangerous. The goal is to prevent an emergency like this from happening by changing the tires beforehand on a regular basis.
Wear and Tear
The grooves in a tire’s surface allow it to grip the road. When a tire is new, the grooves are nice and deep, which provides more fraction. Tires are made of vulcanized rubber, which has been treated so that it is more resistant to heat and doesn’t melt as quickly as untreated rubber does. Nevertheless, it is still susceptible to friction and gradually wears away. A tire that has worn away some of its surface is called a bald tire. Because the treads are no longer as deep, the tires cannot grip the roads as effectively, especially when the road surface is slippery due to rain, snow, or ice.
When a tire’s tread depth is no deeper than 2/32 of an inch, it is time to change the tire. You could measure it with a ruler; one-sixteenth of an inch would be equivalent. However, there is an easier way. Simply take an ordinary penny and stick it in the tread with the head pointing down. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, the tread isn’t deep enough and the tire needs replacing.
Before Off-Roading
Some people have one vehicle that they use for driving around town and a separate vehicle that they use for off-roading. If this is the case for you, it makes sense to keep street tires on your vehicle that you drive around town at all times and off- road tires on your vehicle that you use for off-roading. However, if you have one vehicle that does double duty for you as both your off-road toy and your drive-around-town conveyance, you probably have to remove your street tires and put on off-road tires before you hit the trails. A possible exception is if you have all-terrain tires installed on your vehicle.
Furthermore, while off-road tires may be more durable than street tires, they are susceptible to the same forces of wear and tear. If there is any question about whether your off-road tires are too old or worn out, you should change them before you go off-roading. Nothing spoils an excursion out on the trails like having to change a flat tire.
Shop online to find the tires and other automotive accessories you need.