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
www.yuma4x4.org - 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

What a bunch of BS...

They are blaming the tires for POSSIBLE damage? :shaking:

When will these idiots actually see that OHV use does little to no damage in comparison to things like, MOTHER NATURE.

Would you like me to gear up the Pirate4x4.com letter generator for this one? :evil:

He IS right with this sentence though:

"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"


That is, if he meant "LOSE" and not "LOOSE."

Would you like me to gear up the Pirate4x4.com letter generator for this one? :evil:

Hell yeah!

I'd like everyone to do what they can to get word out about this. Everyone needs to contact this guy and let him see the numbers of off-roaders that oppose his ideals. This is the owner of a tire shop here in Yuma, AZ. Maybe if he sees the potential of lost business, he will change his tune.

He IS right with this sentence though:

"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"


That is, if he meant "LOSE" and not "LOOSE."


We (Yuma 4X4) work with BLM and just recently saved a swimming hole from being closed off to vehicles. We realize the importance of working WITH as opposed to AGAINST land management agencies. But this is just adding fuel to the tree huggers that also work with land managment agencies.

I dont think a letter generator is the way to go. Everyone that can should send an email to the owner of the tire store.

And what should have even a better effect is to have a list of the manufactures he represents and have letters sent to THEM stating he is unwilling to sell part of their product line and that you will buy a diffent brand because of this.

I dont think a letter generator is the way to go. Everyone that can should send an email to the owner of the tire store.

And what should have even a better effect is to have a list of the manufactures he represents and have letters sent to THEM stating he is unwilling to sell part of their product line and that you will buy a diffent brand because of this.

Good idea!

Here is their website: http://www.franklintire.com/

the letter generator seems like using a flamthrower to light a cigarette... at least now.

the guy at the tire place seems fairly well informed and involved with the agencies.... if misdirected. spinning AT treads are harder on the environment than creeping Boggers.

I suggest you work with Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association to be even better-connected with the agencies as this fella.

You may even be able to make an ally of him.... as long as you don't blow up his mailbox first.

Randii

Well the way I see it is The owner is opening him self to a rash of issues and problems. Much the same way the anti Gunners went after Manufacturers of firearms. If he is not careful the Anti Access crowd might go after the Tire sales and installation people.
I also hope offroaders in the Yuma Area Boycott Franklin Tire :flipoff2::flipoff2:

Why do people keep trying to point their fingers away from the real cause of the problem?

It's not 4-wheelers on a whole.
It's not tire manufacturers.
It's not tire tread or rubber compound.
It's not the weather.
It's not the phase of the moon.

It's the small, small percentage of "bad apples" who are the problem. And it is the so-called "environmentalists" who snowball the problem into land closures.

The way I see it, since we are all the TRUE environmentalists, we need to all work together to fight those 2 sources of the problem: our own bad apples, and the so-called "environmentalists" who exploit the actions of the bad apples (along with the Endangered Species act, water quality standards, global warming, and whatever other disaster-du-jour) whose only goal in life is to feed their own self-righteousness by "fighting for the planet" in the name of junk science.

Interesting comments...

Now, step back and review some news releases from the past couple of years.

Tire size limitations have been floated by federal land management agencies for several years. While the proposals have been pushed off the table, they are not going to stop.

Several states do have restrictions about bumper height restrictions. This is a state mandated tire size restriction as increased tire size does limit bumper height.

Several states do have restrictions about amount of tire that can be exposed outside of a fender cover.

Several states do have restrictions about frame height. Like bumper height, it limits the tire size.

There is a proposal as part of the energy/climate change discussion that will apply a miles per gallon factor to tires. That will essentially remove from production virtually ALL of the tires used by off highway recreation.

Thankfully, while people aimlessly wander the internet, at least SEMA is watching the back side and has limited or prevented a lot of damage.

Letter bombing or boycotting a tire store is missing the focal point of action. If you must letter bomb or boycott anyone, it needs to be the state governor, state legislators, federal legislators, and president.

They are the ones that will push out a policy where land managers will act accordingly and local businesses will do what they can to keep their doors open.

It is not the tire. It is not the rig. It is the nut behind the wheel.

And, there are a few people with a burning passion to eliminate motor vehicles from daily public life. They call themselves environmentalists.

And, there are a few people with a burning passion to eliminate motor vehicles from daily public life. They call themselves environmentalists.

John,

Good write up, however I am an environmentalist - they are Eco-Terrorists.

Edit: Oh, most of the states restrictions only effect street legal vehicles, is that correct?

John,

Good write up, however I am an environmentalist - they are Eco-Terrorists.

Edit: Oh, most of the states restrictions only effect street legal vehicles, is that correct?

Environmentalist vs eco-terrorist - depends on which side of the fence you are standing....

Yes, state restrictions "only" or "mostly" affect street legal vehicles.

However, if the mpg rating is applied to tires, it does have a constriction factor that will eliminate the majority of tires available for the off-highway market.

And, there are forces at work that seek to limit operation of non-street legal vehicles on any public route.

So, consider the overall issues. The issues are greater than just a tire size discussion. The issues are multi-dimensional in they will be applied to one segment and have a consequence on another segment.

In short, if you discussion tire size, consider all aspects of the discussion that ultimately come back to what type of vehicle will be allowed on a public accessible route.

There is a real possibility that tire issues will be used to eliminate OHV access to public lands through the various climate/energy legislation efforts.

So, either you are following all of the bouncing balls and spinning plates to keep things moving or you concentrate on keeping one moving and get knocked out by the others you have ignored.

In short, there is no simple answer. Creative solutions are needed. The current political make-up of congress is a concern for motorized recreation.