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Beach Running Tires

4K views 30 replies 9 participants last post by  Daas 
#1 ·
I have a JKU WW on order which will be spending its time on and around the beach.

Recommendations for for the best street/beach tires for use with the stock factory Willys Wheeler suspension, at least for now.

Thanks,
 
#2 · (Edited)
Tires it will have on it will work fine. Key is airing down to approx. 18psi and turning the TC completely "Off".

If you want new tires go for it but your Jeep will run up and down the beach just fine.

Top contenders for a hybrid AT will be great as well for DD (street/beach)
 
#7 ·
Stock tires are usually the best for beach/DD running. Haven't had a chance to try the JK out yet but on our other Jeeps we always aired down to 7 psi with gentle turns so you don't pop the bead. 17 psi is a very good option also as it will let drive home if need be as long as you keep speed down.
 
#8 ·
over the years (after much experimenting) I arrived at 18psi as the best balance of performance and flexibility. When you're there for 2 weeks+ it's a PIA airing up/down constantly.
Also, when you arrive and air down to 18psi, you are airing down a hot tire so 18 isn't 18. It's more like 14.
 
#10 ·
The conditions between beaches and even at the same beach change depending on rain and other factors. I have never needed to air down on the beaches here in Carolina beach. Maybe try it with out airing down first and if you start to have troubles, just don't dig yourself a hole before airing down.
 
#12 ·
Thanks Doc:

I was wondering about different sand conditions. I'll be on the East End of Long Island, sand probably closer to your type in North Carolina. But airing down probably wouldn't hurt and better to be prepared than getting stuck.

On Order:
 
#11 ·
True.

A trip up the beach can be completely different than the return trip.... and sugar sand (that which is not hard pan for the uninitiated) is a whole other story.
Sometimes it isn't about whether you "need" to air down (I didn't for many years. Call me stubborn) BUT it certainly makes the trip easier on you and the Jeep.
It is night and day.
 
#13 ·
Yea - over the summer I run 4th low to make it easier on the jeep instead of 2nd in high range
 
#14 ·
Any tire that comes stock in your Jeep will do, just air them down accordingly, if the sand is sugarish, you can go down to 15 psi on factory wheel/tires and navigate pretty much anything sandy, tires for sand doesn't need to be aggressive mud terrains or anything special unless you're in some sort of competition where you need tires with paddles, paddles, not mud lugs, in certain situations, those awesome lugs will do nothing but dig your Jeep down until it reaches China :), though even MT tires will work just fine for the most part, it all comes down to PSI,the lower you go, the better the tire will "float" in the sand.

Have fun.
 
#19 · (Edited)
If you're talking about the entrance to beach in Corolla, I recall there being a small lot just before where the pavement ends. It had maybe about 8-12 parking spaces. I'm not sure what its intended purpose was, but that's where I aired down/up. There was also strip mall type area with a few different buildings in it maybe 3 miles before the beach entrance that I'm sure you can park in. It was opposite the Historic Village/Lighthouse area.

OBX is definitely a nice place. We're going back in June.

Also, I had zero issues driving on the beach with my Willy Wheeler (aired down) last summer. It will be interesting to see how my new Hard Rock does in the same situation without the limited slip. need to be in 4lo to engage the Rubi's locker and that might be too low on the beach (maybe??)
 
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