Mickey Thompson named official tire and wheel sponsor of Jeep Jamboree USA — what it means for El Dorado County Jeepers
GEORGETOWN, Calif. — Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels has been named the official tire and wheel sponsor of Jeep Jamboree USA and the Jeep Adventure Academy, the companies announced Oct. 31, 2025. The partnership pairs an historic off-road brand with the long-running trail events that bring Jeep owners to the Rubicon and other Western trails — including trips that begin or pass through El Dorado County.
Key facts and timeline
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The sponsorship was announced Oct. 31, 2025 in a PR release distributed from Georgetown, California.
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Jeep Jamboree USA’s 2026 schedule includes multiple trips on the Rubicon Trail — the signature California event that runs inside El Dorado County — and the Jeep Adventure Academy lists a Rubicon weekend for October 2026. That means Mickey Thompson products are likely to be visible at those events.
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The Rubicon remains one of Jeep Jamboree’s highest-rated trails; itineraries and trip PDFs show multi-day programs with mandatory briefings and trail meals typical of Jamboree events.
What the sponsorship will do
Organizers say the arrangement will give attendees hands-on exposure to Mickey Thompson tires and wheels during trail runs, displays and instructional sessions run by the Jeep Adventure Academy. The brand plans to showcase heavy-duty off-road lines suited for large-tire builds and extreme trail use, reinforcing its appeal to serious wheeling enthusiasts.
“Whether they’ve just purchased their first Jeep or have been wheeling for years, we want to help them push their limits and discover what their vehicles are capable of,” said Matt Arko, general manager of marketing and product for Mickey Thompson, in the announcement. Pearse Umlauf, president of Jeep Jamboree USA, called the pairing “a perfect fit” because of Mickey Thompson’s longstanding off-road pedigree.
El Dorado County is home to a portion of the Rubicon Trail and to a dense community of 4×4 owners who travel to local trailheads and organized Jamboree trips. Sponsorship by a major tire maker means more manufacturer presence at local events — product demos, brand reps on the trail, and the potential for event-only promotions or tech clinics that could benefit local Jeep owners who attend. For drivers considering a tire or wheel upgrade, the sponsorship creates an opportunity to see products in use on the same terrain they wheel.
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Economic: Major events such as Jeep Jamboree weekends bring participants who book lodging, food and services in Georgetown, Pollock Pines and other gateway communities. Increased vendor presence can mean more vendor spending and more visitors. (Jeep Jamboree itineraries list included meals and organized activities that anchor multi-day bookings.)
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Safety & education: Jeep Adventure Academy emphasizes hands-on instruction for safe off-road driving — pairing that instruction with a tire vendor could help attendees understand how tire choice affects safety and capability on steep, rocky terrain.
What’s not yet clear
The official releases do not disclose financial terms, the length of the sponsorship agreement, or whether Mickey Thompson will be the exclusive tire brand at every Jeep Jamboree event nationwide. Organizers also have not published event-specific promotions tied directly to the sponsorship; those details typically appear as individual event pages and registration materials are updated.
How to follow up (for local readers)
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Jeep Jamboree USA’s trip calendar and the Jeep Adventure Academy pages list upcoming Rubicon trips and registration windows; El Dorado readers who want to attend should monitor those pages for registration and vendor announcements. Jeep Jamboree USA+1
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Local off-road shops and tire dealers in El Dorado County may receive product support or special offers related to the partnership; calling ahead or checking dealer websites after major Jamboree announcements is advisable.
