[+Crusader+]

Originally Posted by Fargo

Outside of jeepforum I have never heard of people breaking in a tire.

Oh yeah, I usually hang mine in the garage from a rope and pummel them with my boxing gloves for an hour a piece.

[Stoked99]

We need pics of these ON some Jeeps

[CB3]

Breaking in a tire... Well, actually I have heard of that outside JeepForum. One of my local tire stores told me that the lugs would have tread squirm for a while that would cause some wandering, but that it would improve after I had the tires broken in.

I asked what that all meant. They said the treads (on deep tread offroad LT tires) will bend some during on road driving and cause some steering wandering, but that the tread blocks would stiffen up over a few thousand miles. Then less tread squirm.

Note: the tire store did NOT tell me to go out and try to do any process to "break in the treads". They just said that after a month or two of normal driving the treads will get better. This was in regard to Cooper Disco LT and later Cooper ST tires.

So I have heard of breaking in a tire before.

However, the context of the prior post about breaking in a tire was a near opposite of what I described above. I was describing lugs getting stiffer after some use (or so my tire store said they would), and the prior poster was describing the lugs and sidewalls getting softer and more pliable after some use.

Well, in that case, I have no idea what "breaking in a tire means" except that it gets better after some use. Whatever the exact mechanism of how or why a tire breaks in, I do believe it does get better after some use. Like a couple months of use in my case. My Cooper Disco LT did get better after some use. I don't know why they did, but they did. Same with the Cooper ST I had later.

Now with BFG AT I've never noticed this. They seem good from day one and consistently stay that way. I'll leave it to others to speculate why that is. But the Coopers I've had did seem to get better after some use (some break in) for a couple months. For whatever reason.

[CB3]

Originally Posted by Fargo

Wouldn't normal driving for a couple of months do essentially the same thing? Or is this something that needs to be done right away? Outside of jeepforum I have never heard of people breaking in a tire.

Yes normal driving will do it, especially in summer when it's warmer. Just takes longer with normal driving than doing it intentionally. If winter time (cold), I think it still happens eventually, but takes a lot longer than it would in hot weather.

Bottom line (IMO) is don't worry about it, but don't expect best performance from a tire (especially a Cooper - harder rubber) until after you've had driven a tire a month or two of normal driving. On the flip side, Cooper tires typically last longer than most brands of similarly aggressive tires.

No need to go out and intentionally try to break any tire in. Just don't worry about it. Normal driving will take care of it.

IMO

[Mediarocker]

Originally Posted by CB3

Yes normal driving will do it, especially in summer when it's warmer. Just takes longer with normal driving than doing it intentionally. If winter time (cold), I think it still happens eventually, but takes a lot longer than it would in hot weather.

Bottom line (IMO) is don't worry about it, but don't expect best performance from a tire (especially a Cooper) until after you've had driven a tire a month or two of normal driving. On the flip side, Cooper tires typically last longer than most brands of similarly aggressive tires.

No need to go out and intentionally try to break any tire in. Just don't worry about it. Normal driving will take care of it.

IMO

I agree, i just do it because i want MY TIRES NOW. I'm just impatient.

[rpm182000]

Well I saw these at walmart as well and figured ynot try em out. So I got a set for my 96 Zj. They ride real good and there isnt much road noise. I went from Michelin Ltx tires 2 these and I'm lovin it so far. They look real good on my jeep 2 which is a plus.

[+Crusader+]

So what exactly is occuring on a molecular level with this so-called "break-in"?


A couple of thousand miles and weather conditions will take the production chemicals off the tire, and the user will get used to the tires performance. Outside of the lugs wearing and naturally flexing less there is no molecular change to the tire. Placebo maybe, physical not. The tires compound is cured in mold, normal highway heat in summer will do nothing except make the tire more pliable until it cools again.

Like CB3 said, normal driving regularly will do more for the longevity of a tire than any pixie dust.

[Hilldweller]

Originally Posted by TheHoff

So what exactly is occuring on a molecular level with this so-called "break-in"?

My motorcycle tires were always slippery for the first 50-100 miles from the mold release agents.
Jeep tires don't heat up as much as bike tires; I'd say 200 miles on a Jeep tire and you're good to hit Little Talladega....

[Mesaduskh1]

[Mesaduskh1]

[Pmort]

Hey guys who bought them, how do you like them so far?

[crankkase]

Got a decent set of Canyon wheels laying around and I am going to get 4 tommorow...I saw em last week and researched a bit and people say that any tires made for walmart are of lesser quality...and I have heard this for years. My daily driver is 2500 Dodge Cummins 4x4 so I figured I have to put good tires on it i.e. BFG's etc. and I actually hate Goodyears as a rule but I am going to give em a try since I will probably only put a few thousand miles a year on my YJ...I will post some pics.

[CB3]

Originally Posted by Hilldweller

My motorcycle tires were always slippery for the first 50-100 miles from the mold release agents.
Jeep tires don't heat up as much as bike tires; I'd say 200 miles on a Jeep tire and you're good to hit Little Talladega....

Ha ha! That slippery new tires comment reminds me of a guy I know who Armoraled his street motorcycle's tires so they'd look like new. The well meaning dumb bastard shined up the sidewalls and the tread.

You can see what's coming next can't you? First corner he came to he slid out and laid the bike down. This was on pavement. Lucky for him he was only going about 35 mph and didn't get seriously hurt. I can laugh without guilt because he laughed too, afterward. He wasn't laughing at the time though.

I wonder if the mold release chemicals are that slick? Hmm. Something to remember about brand new tires, especially on a motorcycle. They might be a bit slippery.

Come to think of it, it only took my Cooper AT a few weeks to break in (wander less, corner better, generally work better). i.e. - a few hundred miles (probably around 300 miles) of normal driving. Review what Hilldweller said and it coincides with what my actual experiences have been. The tire store told me a 1000 miles or more, but it didn't take that long. So I think it's probably just like Hilldweller said. Likely the tire "mold release" compounds are greasy/slippery and reduce traction until they wear or wash off the exterior of tires. The BFG I've had seem to be "broken in" almost immediately - like within a 100 miles. The Coopers need around 300 miles IME. Don't know about Goodyear.

[CB3]

Originally Posted by Hilldweller

I'd say 200 miles on a Jeep tire and you're good to hit Little Talladega....

That sounds fun. I wonder what's the fastest anyone ever got a lifted TJ or LJ with 33's+ up to (and lived to tell). I think I'd rather watch from the stands than participate, but it still sounds fun and exciting.

I had my 96 XJ up to 90 mph and it acted very stable (Cooper AT tires). I think it could safely do well over a 100 with Cooper AT or BFG AT tires in 235/75R15 or 30 X 9.5 R15.

Back on topic, the Wrangler Avenger tires sure look nice on the Jeeps in the pics.

[AuburnTiger92]

Updates? Anyone pound out some miles on a set yet?

Also, anymore pics on Jeeps?!

Thanks!