How to Maximize the Lifespan of Your Rugged Terrain Tires

When it comes to successfully wheeling a bit of off-road fun, opting for a rugged terrain tire can mean all the difference in completing a trail at Moab or reaching a camping spot whilst overlanding in the Mojave Desert. This style of tire is becoming increasingly popular in the off-road community – and not just because they look the business, though that trait doesn’t hurt matters. Sitting in the sliver of market between all-terrain and mud-terrain tires, rugged terrain tires have tough and sculptured tread blocks plus stout multi-ply sidewalls, all of which provide a measure of on-pavement handling whilst offering cut and chip resistance in off-road environs.

Maximizing the life span of these things can take different forms. Experienced off-roaders know to release a bit of air pressure from the tires on their rig before setting foot into the wilderness. Known as ‘airing down’, the practice permits a tire to spread out its tread surface. This allows it to grip rocky terrain more effectively or float a bit better in sandy areas. It also helps in terms of tire life, since it is more difficult for an errant stone to slice up an aired-down tire. Why? Try sticking a pin in a fully inflated balloon versus a balloon with most its air removed as a prime example, or cutting a taut rope versus one which is slack.

Basic vehicle maintenance also helps. As with on-road tires, an incorrect alignment will wear out a new set of tires in a jiffy, thanks to the rubber not totally pointing in the direction you’re trying to drive. Alignment problems can happen more frequently off-road, since the entire point of the activity is to navigate through tough obstacles – most of which are comprised of solid rock. Take the time to make a scattered inspection of those tires on your rig, examining them for odd wear patterns which are a sure-fire clue that something is awry.

That’s the same reason why inspecting a vehicle’s suspension components will also help extend the life of rugged terrain tires. Blown shocks and haggard bushings are certainly a recipe for a vehicle which will eventually handle like a basket of snakes; those same problems can and will contribute to excessive and unnecessary tire wear. In other words, don’t turn up the radio when you hear weird noises emanating from the underside of yer rig, particularly if you’ve just taken a particularly exuberant off-road excursion.

The spare tire on a vehicle is the Rodney Dangerfield of car parts – no respect. Often forgotten until needed and cursed when used, spare tires don’t tend to lead the most glamourous of lives. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Smart off-roaders, and smart car companies selling rigs to them, always make sure there is a full-sized spare somewhere on the vehicle. This is why Jeep reinforces the tailgate on its Wrangler when that model is opted with the large wheel-and-tire package; the spare hanging out back there weighs a lot more than a standard set.

Finally, proper storage can go a long way towards maximizing the lifespan of your rugged terrain tires. Some drivers choose to swap rubber mid-season, be it for a set of winter socks or something else, meaning the rough-n-ready rugged terrains need to find a home for a few months of the year. Flinging them into the backyard to sit in the rain is a bad idea for obvious reasons, as is leaving them to perish in the sun for weeks on end. If possible, store them inside on a rack made specifically for tires. This will prevent flat spotting and help ensure they are easy to balance during subsequent installations.

[Lead image: Volodymyr TVERDOKHLIB/Shutterstock.com. Product images: Rovelo Tire]

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