Off Road Truck Tire Maintenance Guide: Venture Further With TIRECRAFT

To help get you more for your money, today’s post shares 5 tips to extend the service life of your off-road truck tires.

Read on to learn how we help drivers venture further, or contact your local TIRECRAFT to get a great price on preventative maintenance services near you.

How To Get More Mileage Out Of Your Off-Road Truck Tires

1. Select the right off-road truck tires for the job. Even with perfect maintenance practices, your tires won’t last long if they aren’t used as intended.
All vehicles roll off the factory floor with a sticker that specifies the gross vehicle weight rating, recommended tire size, and recommended inflation pressure. Making sure your off-road truck tires match these specifications is a great starting point—but if your vehicle is modified for off-road use, the manufacturer’s recommendations may no longer apply. To be safe, ask your TIRECRAFT technician.

You may also want to check the load range, sometimes known as the ply rating, which is typically represented by a letter marking on the sidewall. This tells you how much weight your vehicle is fit to carry. However, because some load range ratings vary across manufacturers, we prefer to use the “load index” number, which also appears on the tire sidewall. Multiplying the load index number by four will tell you the maximum weight that your tires can handle.

In addition, you’ll want to select the right style of off-road truck tire. All-terrain tires are designed for vehicles that see light off-road use; mud-terrain tires are meant for serious heavy off-road adventures; and hybrid-terrain tires strike a balance between the two, making them ideal for drivers who spend equal time on the highway and off the beaten path.

For more help selecting the right off-road truck tires for your unique vehicle, budget, and off-road driving demands, get in touch with a TIRECRAFT technician. Every consultation begins with a personalized needs assessment, and our recommendations come free of charge!

2. Air down before any intrepid off-roading. The term “airing down” refers to the practice of deflating off-road truck tires in order to increase the size of the contact patch, adding surface grip on rocky trails, to create sidewall deflection, keeping your tires safe from rocks and roots, and to give your suspension system a break. Many off-road truck tires are designed with this practice in mind. For tire pressure recommendations and more information about how airing down reduces off-road truck tire wear, get in touch with a TIRECRAFT technician.

3. Rotate in your spare off-road truck tires. We all know how important it is to book regular tire rotations, especially for off-road truck tires, which place different amounts of weight over the front and rear axles, increasing the risks of uneven wear. But many off-roaders forget to add their full-sized spares to the rotation, leaving them with four worn tires and one brand-new spare. To book an off-road truck tire rotation—the cost of which may be fully covered, by the Advantage Plus program beneficiaries—get in touch with a TIRECRAFT technician.

4. Keep shocks in shape and tires aligned. Cupping is one of the most common forms of off-road truck tire wear, and it is typically the result of faulty suspension systems or improper alignment. A cupped tire has peaks and valleys along the tread, as though someone scooped out bits of your tread at irregular intervals. To book a suspension service or wheel alignment, get in touch with a TIRECRAFT technician!

5. Optimize off-road truck tire storage. Like all rubber compounds, off-road truck tires are vulnerable to oxidation and dry rotting. To reduce your risks, make sure to stow your off-road truck tires out of the sun and heat, and keep them clear of any ozone-generating furnaces. It is also a good idea to clean and dry your tires thoroughly before storing them. For more tire stowing tips and professional storage solutions,  get in touch with a TIRECRAFT technician!

Venture Further: Get A Free Quote On Off-Road Truck Tire Maintenance

Use the Find a TIRECRAFT tool to get in touch with our team and get a free quote on preventative maintenance and/or storage solutions for off-road truck tires.

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