Recovery Tracks and Tyre Damage: How to Avoid Shredding Sidewalls

Recovery tracks are among the most useful bits of kit a touring 4WD can carry — a bogged vehicle that would once have needed a snatch strap and a second car can self-recover in minutes. But a common fear persists: do they chew up your expensive all-terrain tyres? The honest answer is that the boards and the tyres are only at risk when you drive them the wrong way. Get the technique right and both last for years.

How do recovery tracks actually damage tyres and boards?

The culprit is almost always wheelspin. When a tyre spins against a stationary board, friction builds heat fast. The official MaxTrax instructions warn that wheelspin can generate “sufficient heat to melt the material and burn off the teeth” — and boards damaged this way aren’t covered under warranty. That same heat and abrasion scuffs the tyre tread and, in a bad case, can nick a sidewall if the vehicle slews sideways off the board.

So the damage isn’t caused by the board itself — it’s caused by spinning a tyre against it. Eliminate wheelspin and you eliminate the risk to both.

Step one: air down before you place the boards

Lowering tyre pressure is the first move, not an afterthought. A softer, longer footprint grips the board’s lugs better and spreads the load, so the tyre is far less likely to spin in the first place. It also helps the vehicle float rather than dig. Use a quality tyre deflator to drop pressures quickly, and see our sand-driving guide for terrain-specific numbers. If you’re bogged in soft sand, airing down may even free the vehicle before you touch a board.

Step two: position the boards so the tyres grip, not slip

Clear the sand or mud from in front of (or behind) the bogged tyres and wedge the board hard up against the tread so the ramp angle is shallow. Overland Kitted advises positioning the tracks “snugly against the tires so the aggressive cleats grip firmly,” and using four boards — one under each tyre — where you can, or putting the two you have under the wheels that are actually spinning. A board jammed tight to the tyre engages instantly; a board sitting a few centimetres away invites a spin before the tyre ever reaches it.

Step three: gentle throttle, low range, no wheelspin

This is where tyres get saved or shredded. The MaxTrax instructions say to engage low range in first gear and accelerate gently: “the slow rotation allows the tyres to grip the lugs on top of the MAXTRAX and draw them under.” Overland Kitted puts the same point bluntly — “smashing the gas pedal can shoot your MAXTRAX deeper into the terrain or damage the teeth.”

The rule that protects your tyres: if the wheels spin without the vehicle moving, stop immediately. Don’t try to power through. Reposition the board, check for an obstacle the boards can’t lift you over, and try again with less throttle. Momentum is your friend once you’re moving — keep a steady, gentle pace until you reach firm ground, then stop and collect your gear.

Recovery-track technique at a glance

What about the tyres themselves?

Technique matters most, but the right tyre helps. A tougher casing shrugs off the abrasion of a recovery far better than a road-biased tyre — see three-ply vs two-ply sidewalls and whether you need LT-construction tyres. In sharp terrain, the rim-protection rib on the lower sidewall also helps when the tyre is bulging at low pressure. And remember that recovery kit doesn’t replace repair skills: if a recovery does nick a tyre, you’ll want the know-how in our remote-area tyre repair guide. For the broader picture of matching rubber to terrain, start at our 4WD tyre-type hub.

Also keep in mind what recovery boards aren’t for: the manufacturer warns against using them on hard or rocky surfaces, as a bridge or ramp, or on vehicles over 5000 kg. Misusing them that way risks cracking the board and losing control.

Frequently asked questions

Do recovery tracks really damage tyres?

Only if you spin the wheels. Friction heat from wheelspin can melt the board teeth and scuff the tyre. With gentle throttle and no spin, there’s minimal risk to either.

Should I air down before using recovery boards?

Yes. Lower pressure gives a longer, grippier footprint that’s far less likely to spin, and may even free a bogged vehicle before you place the boards.

Why do the board teeth melt?

A tyre spinning against a stationary plastic board builds friction heat quickly — enough to melt the lugs. That’s why the instant fix for wheelspin is to stop, not to accelerate harder.

How fast should I drive over the boards?

Slowly and steadily in low range. The idea is for the tyre to grip the lugs and draw the board under, not to race across it. Keep gentle momentum once the vehicle is moving.

Can I use recovery boards on rock?

No — the manufacturer advises against hard or rocky surfaces and against using them as a bridge. They’re designed for soft terrain like sand, mud and snow.

Bottom line: Recovery tracks don’t shred tyres — wheelspin does. Air down, wedge the boards tight, use gentle throttle in low range, and stop the moment the wheels spin without progress. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and confirm recovery technique with an experienced tourer before you need it for real.

Recovery technique is general safety information, not a substitute for hands-on training. Follow your board manufacturer’s instructions and seek guidance from a 4WD training provider.