Tire Restrictions!? (1 Viewer)

[azredliner]

The other day someone said that they went to Franklin Tire here in Yuma to have some work done and that the owner (Dennis Franklin) stated that he wanted to impose a ban on tires like Boggers from being used in our desert trails. It's hard to believe that the owner/off-roader is trying to do something such as this. If it's true, I will do my best to let all the off-road community know about this and maybe it will put a dent in business there.
Here's the email I sent to Franklin Tire in an attempt to get at the facts:
(I am not trying to imply that my source is not telling the truth. I just want to hear it from the horse's mouth so when I start flaming, I'll have solid grounds for doing so.)

Hi.
Rumors are going around that an employee, or owner of Franklin Tire has stated that he is trying to push a ban to have the more aggresive off-road tires from being used in the desert. I would like confirmation on this subject please.
Chris Hoover - Founder of Yuma 4X4

Here is the answer:

you are correct. some tires are just too aggressive for some areas of the desert and have a very negative impact. BLM and other land managers are looking at this tire thing so its ether we do something or certain areas will be closed off like a long time. most areas and trails will not be effected, mainly flat lands and desert pavement are the targets.
too dam many people that cant drive and vehicles not configured proper for the desert.
weeds and seeds, dust etc are also part of it.
Pima county has already started banning areas.
more later

--
Dennis R. Franklin

Here's my response:

Dennis,
You shouldn't blame the tires, or the entire off-road community for the ill actions of a few idiots. This ban could effect ATV's and UTV's. The guys using paddle tires would be effected.
To each their own. Many of us think BLM is already over managing OUR public lands. Now you are just giving them more fuel. I have a few guys in my 4X4 club that highly disagree with your idea to ban certain tires and they have expressed that if it was true, that you were pushing for this ban, that they would stop doing buisiness with you and go elsewhere. As an avid 4-wheeler, and a activist for all off-roaders, I'll do the same and let others know what you are doing for us, the off-roading community.
_____________________________
Respectfully,
Chris Hoover
Yuma 4X4 Founder and Master Planner
Yuma 4X4 - Home - The definitive home for all 4X4 enthusiasts!

His response...

well chris i sense and adversarial tone. it shouldn't be that way. so in a nut shell. we have too dam many people who have no idea how to drive, where to drive and have vehicles that are a bit destructive. so i can only say you have two choices. one you get trained in geology and biology take an course in tread lightly, spend a week with the university of Indiana and desert research institute on tire impact and then work with the fed fish and game dept's, BLM and parks dept to come up with a plan to allow access in a responsible manner. or---just have them continue closing down more and more land and more and more restrictions.
you will be surprised to know that even the Yuma Rod and Gun club is supporting option one and not two.
and before you think im some tree hugger im not thats my girl friend. who was until recently, the environmental range manager at YPG. she still works there part time for the university of redlands and dept of army under contract and was just hired by General dynamics as the " Senior Principal scientist". we both just put in our deer tags and are avid off roaders. however we spend our time with the 4 wheeler mag nuts and petersons 4 wheel drive dudes. talk about nuts these take the cake. friday we spend two days in flagstaff with the ariz wildlife federation annual meeting of which i get 15 min to present ideas to keep areas open, my sweety is on the board of directors so i do get a look into the inner workings of proposals.
the best thing we can do is to work with these agencies to keep areas open and act as stewards of the land or we will all loose. if your buds think that they know some thing about tires and soil impact damage im all ears.
on the last note we really need to get you and your group involved
--
Dennis R. Franklin

We need to stop people like this. Contact the owner of Franklin Tire, to tell him you disagree: drtire@gmail.com

 

[delta21]

Ummmmm, we DO NEED people like this, Franklin sounds like he is all about responsible land use and not just trashing our public lands. I tend to agree that if you can’t make it on BFG mudders or a similar tread than you need to learn to drive, too many people hang their man-hood on whether or not they can climb a hill or get through a mud bog. Public land is just that, and if the general public see's that "the wheelers" are destroying the place, then guess who gets banned? Thumbs up for speaking up Franklin!!

 

[azredliner]

Ummmmm, we DO NEED people like this, Franklin sounds like he is all about responsible land use and not just trashing our public lands. I tend to agree that if you can’t make it on BFG mudders or a similar tread than you need to learn to drive, too many people hang their man-hood on whether or not they can climb a hill or get through a mud bog. Public land is just that, and if the general public see's that "the wheelers" are destroying the place, then guess who gets banned? Thumbs up for speaking up Franklin!!

You are in SC. You have mud. We live in the desert. We have sand and rocks in our area. BFG's get shredded in the rocks here. We run our rigs in the washes. After a good rain, all traces of vehicle traffic is erased.

This tire ban might work in more sensitive areas such as yours, but not ours.

BFG's won't cut it at the dunes either. Paddles are the tire of choice there. I'm sure someone out in internetland will argue this, but then I doubt they run with the big boys.

What about sandrails, dune buggies and motor cycles? ATV's, UTV's and golf carts? Why is everything aimed at 4X4's? I see way more damage caused by the lighter vehicles.

Then where does the banning stop? Maybe they can ban older vehicles, say vehicles over 20 years old can't travel on the desert. Well, there goes the FJ40 owners and CJ owners. Maybe they should ban vehicles the weigh over 1000 pounds. Again, more street legal vehicle are banned. Maybe set a certain track width. Why not make everyone rent a specialized BLM approved LIEF vehicle! Lets make a paved road through the desert and make everyone stay on it!

Lets start banning vehicles with lockers! Detroit, Lock Right, ARB... They dig up too much soil when turning. SOIL!? We don't have SOIL in Yuma, AZ! We have SAND!

This is just dumb. I don't see how anyone could agree with a tire ban unless they never do any serious 4-wheeling, or they were from San Francisco.

Left Wing Loonies are ruining the American lifestyle! What ever happened to saving the trees in the rain forest and the whales?

 

[Bret]

I think a better approach would be to hear him out and try to learn what his perspective is. It is very difficult to change someones mind if you try to beat them into submission, it has to be their idea. Once you understand where he's coming from you can make intelligent arguments. I have accidently learned things with this approach. You can also gain allies in the fight, ultimately you are both on the same side.

Keep your friends close, your adversaries even closer...

 

[woooody]

To me, about the only place Boggers belong would be either Mud or Sand Dunes. Not what most people would first think of when you say "AZ desert". A/Ts probably work in 70 - 90% of what some consider desert.

Franklin has some points, but I do agree with you that arbitrarily "banning" a specific tire from sale seems short sighted.

Maybe take a different approach, and let him know which trails/areas you feel boggers work best. I'm not sure what conditions are shredding the M/Ts, but my experience has been that heavy throttle does as much shredding as just traversing the rocks. I've run the same set of TSLs for the last 5 seasons, and they definitely show their age with cuts and chunking. But I don't know that boggers would have been a better choice.

Rather than just trying to fight fire with fire (he wants to ban sales of a tire, you want to boycott his store), perhaps give him a chance to respond/explain, give him your take, and have a real discussion. You may find that you are closer in views than you think.

 

[delta21]

(You are in SC. You have mud. We live in the desert. We have sand and rocks in our area. BFG's get shredded in the rocks here. We run our rigs in the washes. After a good rain, all traces of vehicle traffic is erased.)

I lived in Sandy Utah for 15 years and Las vegas for 5 years.;p I know about desert wheeling.

I agree if you start banning one thing where does it stop, but we (the 4x4 community) need to police ourselves or somebody is going to do it for us, thats all I'm sayin, and for the most part (even in the desert) there just is not a good reason to leave the road, path or trail.

 

[azredliner]

I agree if you start banning one thing where does it stop, but we (the 4x4 community) need to police ourselves or somebody is going to do it for us, thats all I'm sayin, and for the most part (even in the desert) there just is not a good reason to leave the road, path or trail.

Here is a webpage from our website: Yuma 4X4

 

[delta21]

Here is a webpage from our website: Yuma 4X4

Outstanding mission statement.