Of all the Jeep parts you might change on your vehicle over the years, tires are probably the one of those that will occur most frequently. When buying your new Jeep at a dealership, you may already have the option to choose from a range of different tires. Often, as a new Jeep owner, this can be a very daunting task. If you are new to the world of Jeeps, you will, in all probability, choose the tires that come with the model you buy.
As you get into off-roading, however, the chances are the first set of Jeep parts you will look to upgrade are your tires, especially for better performance out on the trails. Alternatively, you may never hit the dirt trails in your vehicle, instead using it as a daily commuter around town. In this situation, you may choose tires just for their aesthetic value. Where exactly do you start? Well, there are a few important factors to consider. These include tire type, tire size, and tread pattern.
How do you use your Jeep most often?
One of the first things you need to decide is how you make use of your Jeep. Is it used only on weekends to go off-roading, is it the car you use daily around town or is it a combination of the two perhaps? This will help you narrow down the selection of the correct type of tires for your vehicle.
All-terrain tires – a good all-rounder
Most people will tend to use their Jeep both as a daily commuter and for a little weekend off-roading. For that reason, not only must the tire perform at relatively high speed on the open road, but it should be able to handle trails and some obstacles.
All-terrain tires are probably your best bet in this regard. Not only will they perform on the highway, where they remain relatively quiet but they also possess enough tread to tackle some of the easier off-road trails you might encounter.
Mud-terrain tires
When the off-roading trails get a little too much for an all-terrain rubber to handle, consider a mud-terrain tire. Not only will these work in wet conditions and extreme mud, but they are excellent when it comes to aired-down driving. These can also be used on regular roads, but will wear quicker.
Other off-road options
A range of more aggressive off-road options are also available. These all depend on the trail conditions you want to tackle but can include tires for riding in extreme snow or mud or even those used on the toughest of off-road course with a broad range of obstacles. When used on the open road, these make a great deal of noise at high speed and wear extremely quickly.
Radial tires
Radial tires are your best bet when your jeep is used more in an urban setting than a dirty road. These offer the best mileage of all the tires on tarmac while remaining extremely responsive at highway speeds.
Tire size
Another important consideration when selecting a new set of rubber is tire size. Bear in mind that any tire about the size of 31” will mean that need to lift the vehicle’s suspension. Many Jeep parts to raise your vehicle are available and begin with entry level kits. Of course, the bigger the tires you use on you Jeep, the more it will need to be lifted. For example, a tire of 33” requires at least a 3” lift to stop your vehicle taking damage once out on the trail.