So we’re pretty sure the first question you might be asking is, “why is Next Tires specifically targeting “Off-Road” tires for Jeeps in this article?” The primary reason for this is because the Jeep Wrangler and its various models, trucks and SUV’s are the most popular converted off-road vehicles out there. Everyone from simple weekend adventurers, to the extreme Rubicon and Moab experts, take these vehicles and modify them for off-road racing, crawling, twisting and articulating scenarios. Because of these popular applications of vehicles and their off-road uses we have chosen to highlight the best off-road tire features that compliment all of their off-road needs. As we’re pretty sure almost all backcountry enthusiasts will agree that without good grip, durability and protection, even the best suspension in the world won’t get you where you need to go!
Now, lets quit the jibber jabber about the vehicles and get down to what off-road tire features execute the best for vehicles in off-road scenarios. The first and primary feature that determines ultimate traction is the tires tread pattern. More often than not, top tire manufacturers such as Toyo, Nitto, Cooper, Falken, General, Kumho and NEXEN use tire designs that have spacious cavities between each lug block. This unconventional spacing serves to allow clean out or evacuation of debris such as sand, rock and mud that on other tread patterns might cake and hinder gripping potential. In addition, this spacing also allows each tread block to take maximum hold of terrain from various angles, which in turn, increases the tires surface area and maximizes gripping potential on uneven and unpredictable landscapes.
So now you might be thinking, “well that’s great, but I don’t always find myself navigating in a strait line, so what other features can help me if I need added traction?” Well rest assured that the tire manufacturers have you and you’re vehicle in mind when they designed these maximum off-road tires. For lateral traction or off camber grip, almost all full scale off-road tire manufacturers incorporate shoulder blocks in one shape or another and these added features can not only protect against cuts, bruises and abrasions but they also act as extensions of the primary tread surface and can hold tightly while your vehicle maneuvers into a better position of traction. In short, these seemingly small sidewall accents can make the difference between getting over an obstacle and getting stuck in an obstacle.
Lastly, is a common question most off-road enthusiasts ultimately are drawn to considering they often purchase custom rims or wheels for their vehicle and that is, “Are there any features within the off-road tires that can help protect my custom rims against damage?” Again the answer is yes! Some of the best off-road tires reinforce the area around your rims with added cording and material to construct a layer of protection that extrudes out past your rims lip to help deflect hazards and give extra hold for air retention. This area is referred to as the tires bead and to clarify for those unfamiliar with this lingo or area, this is the zone that extends down from the tires sidewall and surrounds your rims. This part of the tire attaches to your rims or wheels by tightly squeezing them in place and the reason this zone is so important is because if for some reason the tires becomes separated from the rims, loss of air pressure is inevitable and you will be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a flat tire. Another small fact for consideration is that experienced off-road aficionados will actually air down their tires to allow them to better mold to the varying terrain and greater enhance traction. The execution of this is not possible without this specialized reinforcing that you’ll only find in Toyo and Nitto tires. Now please take note that cheap off-road tires often do not have this bolstered reinforcement in place in the bead area and cannot offer the same off-road protection and performance as our specially chosen name brand tires.
For your convenience Next Tires has provided a list of tires that fit the above criteria and are a suitable off-road tires for your 4×4 Jeep, truck, or SUV. If you would like assistance choosing the right 4×4 tires for your Jeep, truck or SUV, please feel free to call us at 1-800-360-5459.
Toyo Open Country ATIII Toyo Open Country C/T
Toyo Open Country R/T Toyo Open Country M/T
Nitto Terra Grappler G2 Nitto Ridge Grappler
Nitto EXO Grappler Nitto Trail Grappler M/T
Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail Falken Wildpeak A/T3W
Cooper Discoverer AT3 LT Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT
Cooper Discoverer STT Pro Cooper Discoverer S/T MAXX
General Grabber APT General Grabber A/TX
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