Jeep Tires: Effective Jeep Tire Maintenance

Making Jeep tires last for as many miles possible takes some
effort and neglecting Jeep tire upkeep on even the smallest
details can seriously cost you in the long run.

Fortunately, maintaining your tires is typically a simple
affair. The most important part is to actually recognize the
fact that your Jeep tires will need regular attention, and
to address potentially detrimental issues as soon as
possible.

Here are a few quick tips for making sure that each Jeep
tire will provide long-lasting performance for many miles to
come.

Inflation:

It may not seem like a big deal, but keeping your Jeep tires
properly inflated can make a huge impact on both gas mileage
and tire longevity.

Even a tire that is under-inflated by a few pounds can
greatly decrease your gas mileage, reduce on-road traction,
and wear out your Jeep tire faster than usual during street
driving.

For off-road Jeep tires, obviously there is a different set
of rules. For one, many off-road Jeeps prefer aired-down
bias tires that are purposely softened in order to conform
better to rocks and other obstacles, thereby producing
better traction.

Considering that the aggressive tread and softer composition
of bias tires makes them poor for gas mileage and tread
life, it is typically recommended that you stay away from
paved roads altogether if youre sporting bias tires.

On the other hand, off-road savvy radial tires offer a mix
of on and off-road performance, and paying attention to
proper tire inflation is an appropriate consideration.

A great tool to have in this particular case is a portable
air compressor. This allows you to inflate or deflate your
Jeep tires on the go, all from a compact and easy-to-use
compression unit.

Rotation:

Jeep tire rotation may seem like a common maintenance chore
that needs no explaining, but 4-wheel drive vehicles are
actually exceptional when it comes to rotating tires.

In general, Jeep tires with more aggressive tread require
more frequent tire rotations. The logic here is that an
aggressive tread on the street wears faster, and given the
wear discrepancy between front and rear tires, tread balance
can become uneven far too quickly, resulting in major
performance loss.

Typically, Jeep will provide a recommendation for tire
rotation, but this does not take into account custom
oversized Jeep tires, or modifications to a suspension or
axle system.

Generally, Jeep tires require tire rotations about every
6,000 to 8,000 miles, but more aggressive mud terrains may
need it as frequently as every 4,000 to 6,000 miles. Of
course, these are approximate figures, and likely vary
depending on the level of customization to your vehicle.

Keep in mind that whenever adding a new set of Jeep tires,
the first rotation is the most sensitive and important, and
careful attention must be paid to correct tire inflation.
Also pay close attention to alignment problems, as they can
also be great detrimental to vehicle mechanics.

For aggressive off-road Jeep tires, rotations should be
performed in a crossing pattern for both pairs of tires;
that is, front-left goes to rear-right, and vice versa,
while front-right goes to rear-left, and vice versa.

Consider Nitrogen:

With gas prices high and emissions taking their toll on the
environment, now is a great time to do your part for the
environment. Enter Nitrogen gas Jeep tire inflation: a safe
and efficient alternative to using regular air in your
tires.

The good news about nitrogen tire inflation is that there
are virtually no compromises to be made versus other
environmentally-friendly practices; its an upgrade that
provides numerous benefits over standard air inflation in
just about every way.

Essentially, nitrogen gas tire inflation involves simply
replacing the standard air in your tires with nitrogen gas.
Pretty simple, huh?

As a result of using nitrogen over standard air, tires are
able to stay inflated for longer, keeping your Jeep tires
strong and running at proper inflation pressure for more
miles than regular air, and consequently improving gas
mileage in the process.

Additionally, the nitrogen gas is proven to run cooler than
air, thus greatly preventing heat buildup and tire softening
during driving.

Its not so much the nitrogen gas itself that makes it so
efficient, but rather what it replaces. Air consists of
increments of oxygen and moisture that are both potentially
harmful to your tire, and escape your tire faster than
nitrogen, resulting in faster deflation.

Already, nitrogen gas tire inflation for your Jeep tires is
available at many major auto parts and service outlets.

Billy Han is a Web Copywriter for Transamerican Auto Parts,
a leading wholesaler and retailer in Jeep Tires and Jeep
Tire accessories. Transamerican Auto Parts also specializes
in Jeep lift kits, tops, winches, wheels, doors, and other
Jeep accessories.