by Eric Ammerman
Creative Content Director
There comes a time in every Jeep's life when its tires need to be replaced. Maybe you've driven the vehicle long enough and exhausted the rubber, or perhaps you've purchased a used Jeep and don't like the current tires. Regardless the reason, changing out your vehicle's shoes at some point is an inescapable fact. But unlike with a regular car, there can be several other factors that could cause replacement besides merely tread wear.
So how do I know when it is time to replace my tires?
Well, like we said before, the first and most common reason for needing new tires is because they have gone enough miles to wear down the tread. If you ask pop-pop, he'll tell you to go grab a penny and use President Lincoln's head to determine how much tire you have left. And while this is good old fashioned retro fun, it's not always the best way to check an off-road or all-terrain tire. Plus, who really who carries around a penny these days?
The whole point of checking your tire’s tread is making sure you have at least 2/32” of tread left, as nearly every state with a vehicle inspection will fail you below that amount. But let's be honest, if your tread amount is that low then you really are long overdue for a tire change.
Nearly all tire manufacturers have a wear bar built into their tires to let you know when it is time for replacement. This wear bar runs side to side on the tire, and when it bridges two tread blocks, then it is really time to get new tires. Actually, if you want to be super accurate about measuring, purchase an inexpensive tread depth tool from your local auto parts store, or if they sell tires, they might even check them for free.
Excessive uneven tread wear is also a reason you should replace your Jeep’s tires. I'll be the first to admit, I tend to forget about rotating my tires as much as I should, and it has definitely been a reason I need to replace them more often than normal.
When your tires are not rotated on a regular basis, ‘cupping’ can occur. This is an issue where your tread blocks wear at a different rate, causing a vibration in your Jeep as you drive down the road. You can easily see this problem if you take time and look at the tread blocks. You'll notice the front of the block is more worn than the rear, and if it's bad enough, all the rotating in the world is not going to fix the problem.
So if you take one thing away from this article, make it this: ROTATE YOUR TIRES OFTEN. You'll get more life out of them, and they will be safer for you. Also, a proper alignment following a tire change or other major driveline modification like a suspension lift install, will definitely help keep that tread wear even.
Another issue that affect tires is time. No, time is not a friend to your tires. Remember the ones you bought on sale 10 years ago for that CJ7 project sitting in the garage? Well, even though the tires have only 37 miles of wear, they need to be replaced. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but by now those things are most likely a dry rotten mess, and there is a good chance they will come apart when you get out on the highway. A good rule to remember, tires have a service life anywhere from 6-10 years — regardless of use.
Now, let's talk sidewall damage. This can be a real safety issue for any tire, but even more so for Jeep tires. Since many of us enjoy getting out on the trail and smashing our tires into rocks, we tend to be in that higher risk bracket for this problem. Sidewall damage is no joke, and if you have stuff like a chunk of rubber missing, bubbling, or even a hole, then replace that tire right away. Sidewall problems are a serious safety concern, as the structure of the tire has been compromised.
So, now that you understand some major reasons to replace your tires, feel free to tell your significant other that you have any, or all, of these problems with your Jeep tires — and the safest option is to purchase that next size up. You know, for science. Because, chances are, you probably already have a well-formed argument for when it's time to get those 40-inch tires.
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Five Important Things To Know Before Going Off-Road In Your Jeep
