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Off-road capability of stock Michelin tires

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tires
4K views 21 replies 13 participants last post by  SavageBrewer 
#1 ·
This might be a stupid question but I'm going up to Martha's Vineyard in a couple of weeks with some friends who have an over sand permit for the beaches. I have a '14 Limited with stock 18-inch rims and Michelin tires and mud flaps, will I have any issues on the beach sand with this set up or am I worrying for no reason? When we were up there last fall it seemed to do fine in some light sand on "trails" but I didn't get a chance test it on the beach. Thanks in advance.
 
#4 ·
It's about fuel mileage and an OK tire. It's an all season tire but more like an all highway. They needed to hit the 24mpg like they promised in the beginning.
 
#6 · (Edited)
After 20+ years of beach driving, I tend to think there is some validity in this. Of course every beach, every vehicle, and every driver are different.


"Because, contrary to what seems logical, what you're really trying to do is float on the sand Aggressive tire patterns (the kind of tires that come on every 4WD yuppiemobile ever made 'except Grand Cherokee'*) and high tire pressures make the tire "bite" into the sand and make you violate the first axiom lose your momentum. Here's the hierarchy of tire tread patterns from best to worse:

  1. Racing slicks with no tread
  2. Worn-out (bald) street tires of any size and description
  3. Street tires with a simple tread pattern
  4. All-season tread patterns
  5. Mud and snow tread patterns"
Sunnybank


* added by me :)



---
 
#7 ·
Awesome thanks for the resposnes, I feel more confident about the tires now. Anyone think I'll have a problem with the OEM mud flaps at all?
 
#9 · (Edited)
If the mud flaps are causing an issue in sand, you're already in trouble. It means you've bogged down so far, you're likely going to need help getting out.

Mud flaps are normally only a problem when rock crawling because they can get hung up going over rocks and stumps and end up broken (or damage the body).

For sand, just put it in sand mode and keep traction control on. Then be nice and easy on the gas. Best bet: flip it to manual and start off in 2nd gear. Unlike with rocks, torque is your enemy on sand. If you can use the torque at idle (without applying the gas) to get rolling, that's all the better.

Finally, try to stay on the packed stuff as much as possible.
 
#10 ·
...and remember ( unlike myself ) that when you stop and turn off your Jeep for your beach bake, beach break, or to go clamming , your Jeep resets back to Auto mode.

I drove out on the beach in Sand mode. Parked and got out the kite. Kite flies away by itself. I decided to go get ( I didn't want to pollute). Started the Jeep and started moving but when I got to deeper stuff....stuck. Jeep had started/ reset back to Auto mode.

And some people didn't like the pull handle on old school Jeeps...it stayed there.

Al
 
#12 ·
I had no issue doing the beach down in NC with the OEM Fortera's (aired down) and expect that the situation will be the same with the OEM tires on the 18" wheels as others have already mentioned. Aggressive tires are actually a problem on sand...
 
#14 ·
You'll be fine, just drop your tire pressure; 15 to 18 depending on sand conditions, which can change over the course of a day. Any tire will work on the beach as long as the pressure is lowered and the driver uses some common sense. I've been on the beach, Island Beach SP here in NJ, just about every other weekend since taking delivery last April, and drive the pine barrens sand roads daily. Never a problem in even the heaviest sugar sand. They worked well for our winter weather as well. Don't see why there is such a dislike for them; nice and quiet, excellent in heavy rains. They made a good choice. :thumbsup:
 
#15 ·
Awesome info thanks everyone I feel much better about this now.
 
#16 ·
You should be perfectly ok, there is one main thing to do as was said by fellow owners...before getting into the sand take air out of your tires, lower the pressure to 18-20 PSI and your GC will almost not feel the sand, I've been in big sand dunes and its amazing how well it behaves..so if you are going to the beach dont worry, but dont forget to lower the pressure, thats the key factor when in sand.
Have a great time.
 
#20 ·
I'll air down and share some pictures once I'm back. Won't be trying anything rooster tails just want to get to the beach and relax haha. Everyone on this forum is always incredibly helpful, now if only FCA was as helpful as you guys in figuring out my clunky transmission...
 
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