Rocks in the treads
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Fort Campbell, KY
they're doing road construction by my house and use these white walnut sized rocks to temporarily bridge a a trench. Those suckers get get stuck in the treads all the time and make the jeep sound like its tap dancing down the road. The first time I thought it was a bad belt or something, annoying. I'm just waiting for one sling out and wreck somebody's face.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Antioch, Ca
I keep a flathead screwdriver in the glove box just for this reason. If I pick up a lot of stones, I try to pick most of them out before getting on the highway. I didn't like being pelted by stones off of trucks so I try not to be the reason for damage to other vehicles.
JK Freak
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 916
Likes: 3
From: Terryville, LI, NY
Wow, if you got the time to pick them out come wash my jeep for me. Its in need of a bath. They just paved the roads here. AN to the comment of a rocks gonna hurt the belt in your tire. Let me get up of the floor. Sorry, A rock that is any size that could hurt the band in the tire would have to be able to stay in the tread for a time that is greater then the life of the tire, with no deforment of the rock. Do remember that most jeeps that go off road tend to have AT or MT tires. The tread is much deeper in the lugs and between the belt and the start of the lug. This is so you can go Off Highway. Yes, i do know this to be a fact. I have ran HT on cars and they are so little tread that it ant funny. Yes you can hurt these as there is only hard rubber and very little tread area. After you get 30k on a set of BFgs then youll have the tread at which a rock could hurt the belt. I have seen some How the Heck moments in auto tech. As all the work in class is free other then parts. A person brought tires for us to put on. They had drive 30k miles on a nail in the tire. and just kept adding air. Even when when we put it on the balancer it showed to be true and there was no ride issue with it in there. An if you are running MTs then your tires are out of balance 20 miles after getting them. 75% of them will have some form of cupping to the tread.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,457
Likes: 2
From: B.F.E, MI
Once in a while I can tell they unbalance the tires a little. May get a slight vibration at certain speeds until the culprit stones clear out. I do not worry about it. Ice and mud in the rims has caused serious wobble a few times that I had to stop and clear, but not stones in the tread, so far.
With 27k of always having some stones in the tread, I look the tires over occasionally but have noticed no cuts or damage. A sharp rock can cut a tire for sure, but the BFG's have held up very well.
I used to get annoyed if someone tailgated me on the highway, but not anymore. At least 50% of the roads in our county are gravel, and anyone around here with any common sense knows better than to tailgate a vehicle if you want your windshield and/or radiator intact.
Just part of living out in the country.
Last edited by Yankee; Sep 1, 2010 at 06:01 AM.
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 663
Likes: 0
From: Plano, Tx
The Duratracs seem to be a little better at self cleaning than the old BFG M/Ts were.
I still get a few that get stuck occasionaly, but I only pick out the ones on top that I can see, I don't go looking for them unless I feel something weird.
I still get a few that get stuck occasionaly, but I only pick out the ones on top that I can see, I don't go looking for them unless I feel something weird.
JK Freak
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 594
Likes: 0
From: British Columbia
I used to pick them out when I noticed them so I wouldn't fling rocks at other vehicles. My windshield's generally last a week around here from all the rocks hitting it. I figured, "Screw it! Misery loves company and everyone else can have a f#cked windshield along with me!"
And everybody does, but it's not my fault. They usually fling out before long.
And everybody does, but it's not my fault. They usually fling out before long.
JK Freak
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 571
Likes: 1
From: Seattle
I met this gal Named Maria Federici at our local sportsbar the Redline a couple weeks ago here in West Seattle. We had a few drinks and talked for awhile.
She's permanantly blind in both eyes and her face is disfigured from debris flying off a 4x4 pickup truck.
She's not angry and her positive outlook on life was admirable.
Believe me my 35" ProComp MT's pick up golf ball sized rocks and chuck them over the roof but I did buy full sized flaps for my Jeep after meeting her.
I encourage you all to do the same.
If for no other reason than flaps are dirt cheap compared to doctors and lawyers.
She's permanantly blind in both eyes and her face is disfigured from debris flying off a 4x4 pickup truck.
She's not angry and her positive outlook on life was admirable.
Believe me my 35" ProComp MT's pick up golf ball sized rocks and chuck them over the roof but I did buy full sized flaps for my Jeep after meeting her.
I encourage you all to do the same.
If for no other reason than flaps are dirt cheap compared to doctors and lawyers.