GEN 1 BFG KO Cracking

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Jakenbake

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Calling all tire guru’s. Quick background: My truck is a 2014 with the factory BFG KO’s . Tires have a shade over 40,000 miles on them and are at about 47% based on tread depth remaining. They have had cracking in the tread and sidewalks for a while now, not even sure when the cracks started and I can’t remember when I first noticed them. Please see below for photos of the cracking, note that you may need to zoom in to see them on the sidewall.

I am preparing for my first off-road run in February and my second in March.

Is the general consensus that these should be replaced prior to taking them out or that it is superficial and should be ok?

I was thinking that airing down would allow more flex and open the cracks up, but then again it will reduce pressure and may be better on them.

Thanks.

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Jakenbake

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I don’t drive it gently, but I roll into it, so I doubt they spin too much. I also rotate them every 4000, but I am still getting heel-toe wear.

Bought it used with 20,000 on it and I doubt it has ever been offroad.
 

lka

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Pretty badass. I live in the mountains and drive fast so I go through them. I wouldn’t bet my life driving dried out almost 6 year old tires like that though. Good excuse for new shoes.
 

allinon72

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Just for accuracy - those sidewall marks are some type of scratches and aren't really a concern. The cracking in the tread is a concern. However, I would run them because the probability of a blowout is extremely low.
 
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Jakenbake

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No, the truck sits outside. Often beside the house so the tires actually see very little direct sunlight.

The sidewall “scratches” are all around the tire, on all four, and you can get your finger nail caught in them. I’m not sure what would have cause them though.
 

lka

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These have been on the Jeep since 2014 but only like 6k miles. It lives in a garage though. Years ago I had an outside Jeep that sat for years with BFG ATs and they dried out to the point of leaking air lol.

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Jakenbake

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Yea glad you brought that up. At current they hold air fine. I also bet that the garage helps limit the age on the tire. I imagine that near 100 in the summer and single digits in the winter do age the rubber.

Is that the angle of the picture or do those outside blocks have quite a bit of heel-toe wear?
 
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