Beach Tires

[CapeArt]

I am very impressed with my OEM Michelin LTX M/S2 tires in the sand, aire’ed down to 15 psi. I really like how quiet this all-season tire is on the paved road but was skeptical of what I would encounter in the sand. I drove into deeper sand, deeper ruts, to see how they reacted & they never gave any indication of anything but “GO!” I have done way too much research on tires as I was getting close to replacing the OEM with an A/T, but as the only off-road driving I do is on beaches, I am having trouble finding a reason to replace these Michelins! Hope you all had a great Jeep day!

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[The Last Cowboy]

All season and mild AT tires have always been great performers on sand. Flotation is more important than anything else.

 

[Dgr401]

Like you said the Michelin tires are ideal for the beach. A/T tires can be too aggressive in some instances depending on sand conditions. My off road driving is beach driving also. When needed, I am thinking of replacing my OEM Michelin tires with the next size up, 255/75/17, a little wider and a little taller. When I was a kid, many, many years ago, I used to go fishing at Race Point and Nauset with my aunt and uncle. Many beach buggies back then were 2wd customized delivery vans running on almost bald tires. They would go anywhere.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Years ago BFG made a tire called the Sport Truck T/A then the Trail T/A. They had all season tread and came in flotation sizes and were very popular on the beaches.

Nowadays it seems that everyone wants the most aggressive looking tires for nothing more than aesthetics. As far as I know, the largest all season tire you can get is a Michelin Defender in 295/70R18, which is 34.3" tall.

 

[AcesandEights]

Maybe a lot of folks don't have experience in the sand, but for those of us that have spent time on the beaches, you're stating the obvious.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Beach driving is nothing like sand dunes. The sand is generally pretty compacted and flat. Virtually any tire works there. These same beaches are frequented by everything from minivans to Honda civics. Here in CA Pismo is one of the few beaches you can legally drive on. You'll see all types of cars, trucks, suvs, etc driving up and down the beach all day. Get out into the dunes are you are unlikely to see many cars or LT street tires. If that's your only offloading then by all means run any tire you like. Don't expect the same performance if you get into actual soft/deep sand though.

 

[Discount Tire]

Years ago BFG made a tire called the Sport Truck T/A then the Trail T/A. They had all season tread and came in flotation sizes and were very popular on the beaches.

Nowadays it seems that everyone wants the most aggressive looking tires for nothing more than aesthetics. As far as I know, the largest all season tire you can get is a Michelin Defender in 295/70R18, which is 34.3" tall.

While we're talking about Michelins, Check out the latest version in the Defender line up! Take a peek at the Defender LTX 2!

https://www.discounttiredirect.com/buy-tires/michelin-defender-ltx-m-s2/p/126864?exactmatch=true

 

[CapeArt]

Maybe a lot of folks don't have experience in the sand, but for those of us that have spent time on the beaches, you're stating the obvious.

Guess that why your name is “Aces”, huh?

 

[Sand Flea]

All of my off road time is beach time too.
Currently running OEM Goodyear Wranglers but I will replace them in the spring with something even less aggressive.

I had a ‘77 Scout with BFG ‘Sport Truck T/A’ that were awesome ! I wish they were still available. I believe they were 10.5x15

My goal will be to find something as close to a 295/70/18 in the BFG T/A tread as I can find. Maybe even a 60 series. I don’t need chassis height, I need flotation with the least aggressive tread I can find.

 

[azwjowner]

Nitto used to make Dune Grapplers but they discontinued them a few years ago. Interco makes the TrXuS STS in a radial, designed for sand, but they're heavy and expensive.

 

[davered00ss]

Cape cod is pretty easy beach driving. We have Nitto Trail Grapplers on the 18 JL, and they did great both cape cod and OBX. Outer banks sand is something else entirely. You really need to air dow low. 12 psi ~. I really think a KO2 would be better suited for the beach. Soft sand you want to ride on top and not dig in. I've seen a lot of people with mud tires dig in and get stuck.

 

[CapeArt]

Cape cod is pretty easy beach driving. We have Nitto Trail Grapplers on the 18 JL, and they did great both cape cod and OBX. Outer banks sand is something else entirely. You really need to air dow low. 12 psi ~. I really think a KO2 would be better suited for the beach. Soft sand you want to ride on top and not dig in. I've seen a lot of people with mud tires dig in and get stuck.

Cape Cod National Seashore ORV recommends 11 psi, no more than 15psi to start out Sandy Neck 18psi or less ( I do 15 psi) I‘m thinking the Michelin LTX M/S2 would tend to “ride on top and not dig in” better than a KO2?

 

[Zandcwhite]

Cape Cod National Seashore ORV recommends 11 psi, no more than 15psi to start out Sandy Neck 18psi or less ( I do 15 psi) I‘m thinking the Michelin LTX M/S2 would tend to “ride on top and not dig in” better than a KO2?

In my experience floatation is much more a function of tire pressure than tread pattern. Even MTs don't dig in on soft sand at 10psi. Wider and larger tires also create more floatation at the same psi thanks to the increased contact patch.

 

[azwjowner]

I‘m thinking the Michelin LTX M/S2 would tend to “ride on top and not dig in” better than a KO2?

I think he meant as compared to his mud tires. Yes, the LTX would be best of all.

 

[CapeArt]

I think he meant as compared to his mud tires. Yes, the LTX would be best of all.

Thanks!

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