TREAD March/April 2023

Admittedly, taking over as editor of TREAD in 2019 was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. I knew enough for some general water cooler chat, but not enough to give expert advice to the general public. Add to that the fact that I am an Asian-American woman in a predominantly male industry, and I knew I was in for a challenge. However, I quickly learned that I am my toughest critic, and I was entering a more welcoming community than I had ever imagined. My first months as editor entailed taking over social media and getting a feel for the online audience. I would comment on posts and “bro out” because I was scared someone wouldn’t take me seriously as a female. In fact, when I got the opportunity to meet a…

O1. RUGGED RIDGE / CARGO SEAT COVERS Protect your seats and increase interior storage with Rugged Ridge Cargo Seat covers. Constructed of heavy-duty 600 denier polyester fabric with a special PVC liner, these Jeep seat covers provide great protection from water, dirt, and spills. The back of the cover incorporates 7 multi-use, removable pouches. Front covers are universal fit and fit most Jeep applications from ‘76-‘19. They can be used with side airbags on ‘07-‘19 Wrangler and Gladiator models. MSRP: starts at $128 ruggedridge.com O2. TACKLE TUFF / PREMIUM RECOVERY KIT Tackle Tuff’s premium off-road winch recovery and tow assistance kit provides effective on-trail vehicle rescue and provides you the right recovery gear to get the job done. This kit includes 60,000 lbs. (30 ton) breaking strength capacity forged carbon…

01. SEA TO SUMMIT/IKOS TR2 & TR3 The new Ikos Tent delivers a spacious, more sustainably designed tent with chemical-free flame-resistant fabric, a PFC-free water repellent finish, and first-to-market DAC MX poles made with a greener anodization process for lessened environmental impact. The lightweight tents will be a great value and deliver class-leading interior living space for car campers, thanks to Sea to Summit's award-winning Tension Ride Architecture. MSRP: TR2 $399 / TR3 $499 seatosummit.com 02. SHOWER POUCH/5-PACK SHOWER POUCH The quickest way to get clean when you’re off the grid, pure and simple. Think of Shower Pouch as a giant baby wipe that acts as a camping shower. It’s an effective way to remove odor and sweat while on the go. Simple, natural, clean, and best of all, 91%…

One of the quickest ways to improve your rig’s performance and customize its looks is by upgrading its wheels and tires. Aftermarket wheels allow you to use upsize tires that can increase your truck or SUV’s off-roading performance, and at the same time provide improved looks. Whether you’re looking to refresh an older ride or make your new rig stand out from the rest, a set of new wheels is a good place to start. We have gathered a selection of the latest new wheel releases here for you to start your search with. KMC / KM727 Wrath The KMC Wrath wheel features a Split 6 Spoke design with off-road inspired lip with KMC Cast into face of the wheel. Available in Matte Bronze, Matte Anthracite, and Satin Black finishes…

In this edition of Made The Cut, we take a look at some of the latest blades of 2023. Some are made to be the lightest and least obtrusive of carries, while others are built with the intention of making their presence known. Regardless of which one you choose to carry; a compact pocket knife is one of the most useful tools you can have in your pocket. 01. FÄLLKNIVEN/RL1DI (DESERT IRONWOOD) OPEN LENGTH: 5.83”CLOSED LENGTH: 3.39”BLADE LENGTH: 2.52”BLADE MATERIAL: ElmaxHANDLE MATERIAL: Desert IronwoodWEIGHT: 2.57 ouncesMSRP: $243 fallkniven.se 02. SOG/TERMINUS XR G10 - NATURAL OPEN LENGTH: 7.21”CLOSE LENGTH: 4.26”BLADE LENGTH: 2.95”BLADE MATERIAL: D2HANDLE MATERIAL: G10WEIGHT: 3.2 ouncesMSRP: $60 sogknives.com 03. CRKT/PROVOKE EDC OPEN LENGTH: 7.25”CLOSED LENGTH: 4.66”BLADE LENGTH: 2.56”BLADE MATERIAL: D2HANDLE MATERIAL: AluminumWEIGHT: 3.6 ouncesMSRP: $175 crkt.com 04. OPINEL/LIMITED EDITION…

WHEELBASE 90.5 in. GROUND CLEARANCE 12.4 in. WET WEIGHT 1,625 lbs. FUEL CAPACITY 9.0 gal. TIRES: 29 in. Maxxis Carnage O1PERFORMANCE ENGINE: The YXZ1000R SS XT-R’s high-revving inline triple engine offers exceptional power, a thrilling 10,500 rpm redline and high-strength internals that are ready to handle high-output demands. TRANSMISSION: XT-R runs Yamaha’s Sport Shift, a sequential five-speed manual transmission that features Yamaha Chip Controlled Shift (YCC-S) technology. This system combines the power, durability and efficiency of a traditional manual transmission with an advanced automatic clutch system controlled with sporty paddle shifters mounted to the steering column. Its optimized gearing is good for wide-open desert trails to first-gear crawling. O2SUSPENSION &CHASSIS FOX SUSPENSION: While the high-end Fox suspension on the YX-Z1000R SS XT-R is primarily focused at maximizing adjustment range for…