Keep getting flats on stock tires

I keep flatting my stock tires when I off-road on my rural property. It’s either all the rocks or the old tree stumps we have coming out of the ground. What do you guys think is the cause? And would a C load resolve this or would I need E? I’d like to avoid the weight of an E if I can.

This happens frequently. I don’t drive crazy. 5 to 10 MPH. But I definitely go in some super rocky stuff and I think I am catching some of those stumps/ branches from time to time when I cannot avoid them.

 

Stock tires are notoriously easy to puncture

 

Are your tires actually being punctured and thus you need to patch them? Or are you airing down to then crawl around your property? You could just be busting the tire bead if airing down too low.

 

I have had perhaps 2 flats in my entire life (excluding the years I was too young and dumb to run decently new tires). I don’t understand why you keep getting flats.

LT tires aren’t necessarily more puncture resistant, but a mud terrain tire might be.

 

Air them down to 20psi and see if it continues. Your ride will improve as well.

 

So life starts when one is no longer young and dumb??

 

There is just a odometer reset button that gets hit once you "get there".

 

For those who rarely get flats, it may be because you’re riding on somewhat less severe terrain. The Texas hill country is extremely unforgiving when it comes to jagged rocks and sharp cedar branches / stumps on the ground.

I don’t air down. But that may be what I need to do. Would you say 20PSI is good?

Also, my next tire would be Cooper AT3 LT in C load. That may help too.

 

I am pretty sure a C load LT (6 ply equivalent) will be better than stock 4 ply equivalent.

 

I don't think Texas has anything special in particular to rough terrain that a lot of other states don't have. I'd beg to differ Texas terrain overall is rather mild when compared to more mountainous states but better tires an airing down will undoubtedly help.

 

I was referring to an extremely rugged part of Texas and saying that this specific part to which I am referring may be more rugged than where the individual who rarely experiences flats is off-roading. That is all I said. Texas terrain is not “rather mild”—it’s a huge range of things. We have sandy beaches, east Texas pine forest, desert in west Texas, mountains including the southern tip of the rockies, hills, panhandle plains, swamp land east of Houston, etc. It is not one predominant kind of terrain and some areas are as rough and rugged as many parts of other states. So, I have no idea what you are talking about. That said, airing down is good advice.

 

How is LT tire not necessarily more puncture resistant? It’s a more durable construction that allows to carry heavy loads. That would definitely make it less puncture resistant in my mind.

So you are saying SL mud terrain could be more puncture resistant than E load all terrain?

 

Based on your picture I wouldn't consider that even mildly rough or rugged. It looks like a gravel road with some sticks but I guess we all have different interpretations on what "extremely rugged" terrain is.

 

Its a good guess, but increased puncture resistance is not advertised or tested on LT tires.

In my personal experience SL load tires have more than enough puncture resistance for roads, ditches, and fields as long as they are not super worn.

 

It’s not advertised or tested but it does make total sense.

Well and guys that wheel all run E load tires, that says something to me.

 

They wheel on off road tires, yes? Not all LT tires are intended to be used off road. I would expect my dick capek mud terrains to be more rugged that an all season tire, but I’m less sure about a LT street tire.

 

That spot is nothing—only referring to the little sticks (was wondering if they would pop a tire). We have very sharp flint stones all over, jagged, etc. Rough terrain is not just the height of the mountains but it’s also the ground cover - large boulders, sharp stone can be very taxing on a vehicle and challenging. I’ve been all over America - Utah, Colorado, Arizona — taller mountains but not necessarily more rugged than parts of Texas. No reason to be a jerk, this isn’t some state ruggedness comparison competition. Just need advice on tires in an area that’s obviously causing them to fail. Thanks.

 

I’ve been all over the country with my SL rated falkens. I’ll drop down to 15-25 depending on the terrain and have never had an issue.

 

Anyone who’s ever tried to put a plug in the tread of an E-Rated tire can attest to how much more puncture resistant it is. Good luck getting a plug in it without a very good quality plug tool.

Case in point, you can still get a puncture in an E-Rated tire, but it usually takes more than a stick to puncture the tread. Also the sidewalls often have three plies (at least in BFG) as opposed to one or two in SL rated.

 

Those Goodyears suck. I would change them immediately.