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The Legend of Dick Cepek Tires

Not many people become legends within their fields, but that's just what Dick Cepek did. For Dick Cepek tires to become one of the staples of the off-road industry when he didn't even start out in the tire business, it really showcases his passion for off-roading. That's where it all started – on his off-road explorations of Southern California deserts.

It wasn't long before Dick Cepek discovered that his store bought tires were nowhere near the level they needed to be to take on these remote deserts. He was facing a whole new type of terrain with incredibly soft sand that required a lot more traction out of his tires. What he got instead was a lot of flat tires and winching. Since there weren't any tires on the market built to handle these challenges, he did the only thing he could do; he made his own.

These prototypes were the basis of today's line of Dick Cepek tires, and they started with a tire originally created for farm work. Once he had them DOT-approved it was on to the next step: finding wheels that would fit these larger than normal tires. He found a local wheel builder who was willing to create a custom wheel, and the first set of Dick Cepek tires and wheels was born.

At this point, it was still a private endeavor for Dick Cepek. He had made a better set of tires and wheels so that he could enjoy off-roading the way he wanted to, plain and simple. Of course he had plenty of friends who were encountering the same problems he had, and when they heard about his solution, they wanted it for themselves. Suddenly, Dick Cepek tires started appearing on many of his friends' vehicles, selling them right out of his home's garage. He made just enough extra money to support his off-roading passion, taking his family out on weekends to explore the deserts in new and exciting ways.

All of that changed when he took his Dick Cepek tires on the ultimate test: Could they handle the 1000 mile trek down the Baja Peninsula? The answer was a resounding yes. Not only did they survive the trip, but he was so impressed that it sparked the phrase "Baja Proven" as the highest compliment for tires and other off-road parts. It wasn't long after that he opened his first official brick and mortar store, where he soon expanded into other off-road parts including lights, jacks, tents, and anything else that could help people in their off-roading adventures.

He didn't start out with the intent to revolutionize the off-road industry, but that's what he ended up doing. Today, Dick Cepek tires are available for all types of terrains at reasonable prices, continuing the legend that he started.