Jeep Tires - Effective Jeep Tire Maintenance

Making Jeep 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 you're 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; it's 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.

It's 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.