Or am I just unlucky?

On the first trip with the JK running some simple desert trails that I've been running for years in a Honda CRV, one of the SR-A tires took a 2" cut across the center of the tread.

The crappy 2-ply street tires on the Honda never took so much as a nick!

I also notice the SR-As are getting those elongated dimples in the sidewalls that indicate separation or mis-alignment of the radial windings.

If the SR-A is really that easy to destroy, what kind of tire choice should I make without getting tires so thick and heavy that the Jeep will get 12 MPG?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

Honestly they aren't that bad...I wheeled the crap out of em but like you said they are a "street" tire lol I upgraded to the Goodyear mtr/k and the difference was night and day but I definitely took a hit in mileage. Bottom line...happy medium=all terrain.

 

Falken Rocky Mountains are good.

 

If you want to keep more to a street tyre in looks, handling and mileage (rather than going a full-blown muddie) but still get decent offfroad performance then the Goodyear Silent Armor ATs are pretty decent compromise. They handle everything offroad well except mud, bag nicely when aired down so they're good in the sand, are pretty sturdy despite their more street-tyre like sidewall softness (I'm yet to get any sidewall damage on mine despite negotiating some pretty sharp rocks & tree roots), and also wear pretty well on-road; I have 45K miles on mine now (95% DD onroad driving) & there's still plenty of life left in the tread.

They also cost a good 30-50% less than some MTRs too.

 

I'd think unlucky and holy crap you are getting better then 12mpg!
ha
Whatever was on the CRV in an appropriate size for your JK?

 

I ended up going with Goodyear DuraTracs. I stuck with as close as I could get to factory size (265/70R17), which ended up once mounted being about .1" smaller than the SR/As were when new. While their sidewall isn't quite as strong as the MTR/K or the Silent Armor, the tread has a very good balance of on and off road performance. I've had no problems at all with mine, although I haven't wheeled anywhere that I would have to worry about dealing with lots of sharp edges on rocks. As for mileage, I'm averaging between .25 and .5 miles less per gallon over the 9544 miles I've put on them so far (aCar is an awesome app!).

Another tire I was considering was the Falken WildPeak A/T. I ended up passing on it as the one weak spot it has is when it hits lots of mud, and that's kinda hard to avoid in south Louisiana. Other than that, the only other complaint I've heard about it is that it just doesn't look aggressive enough. What it lacks in looks though, it more than makes up for in price.

 

I put a good size hole in the middle of one of mine on a gravel road. I felt embarrassed changing the flat with cars asking if I was OK. Haha

 

I have been pleasantly surprised by the sr-a's. They have handled the snow and ice, lots of unpaved, rough trails and horrible paved roads out here in Siberia well. I keep them aired down to about 28 psi, because I'm constantly on unpaved roads and ice here and I rarely get above 45 mph. I think that helps prevent punctures.

Having said that I'm getting some new tires, probably duratracs this summer.

 

I've been using Nitto Terra Grapplers for a while if you want some offroad capability they are a good compromise. Just got Trail Grappler 33's and the mileage is still good.

 

I'm not a fan of them, I literary had a twig pierce a sidewall, cant patch it so I just air it up once a week and use it as my spare. They also begin to suck when there's just a drop of water on the ground.

I'm trying to save up for some trail grapplers