Tire Pressure Theory-Compelling or Outlandish?

[Stan H]

Hey everyone-

Wanted to get some thoughts from the more experienced off-roaders and overlanders regarding a very curious approach to tire pressure that I just heard a week ago while wheeling up in Hollister Hills, CA. I was with several guys with multiple decades of experience both driving off road and, more importantly, running training courses in off-road driving and recovery for law enforcement, forest fire crews, and the military. What they told me was really surprising.

They all run their personal off-roading vehicles at very high psi for on-road and highway driving, and then air down to what almost everyone (on this forum and elsewhere) would consider on-road pressures for driving off road. So, for example: one guy driving his Tacoma on 35-inch BFG KO2s runs them at around 50 or 55 psi on the highway, then goes down to about 35 for off-roading. If he's on sand, he'll go down to 15 or 20 psi, and if he's doing serious rock crawling, he might go down to 25 or so.

For my E-rated 35x12.5x17 Toyo Open Country AT/iii's with a max psi rating of 65, he actually suggested I be running these at 50 or 55 for the highway, then airing them down to 35 for off road.

Suffice to say this runs counter to everything I've ever heard or read about tire pressure. But these weren't just any old dudes, they were pros. When I asked about uneven wear on an over-inflated tire, he brushed it off, saying that the steel belting inside the tire keeps the tread squared and in even contact with the road regardless (until you air way down). He said at the higher pressure on the road, you'll not only get better gas mileage, but have better handling and cornering and actually prolong the life of the tire. And he said that off-road, he believed that most people air down way too much, especially those with heavy loads.

I sort of gave things a go last week and just kept my tires at 35 psi while wheeling all day with them up in Hollister (on moderate trails, admittedly) and to be honest, I never felt like I was wanting for traction. But I don't have a ton of off-roading experience so I'm not sure I'm in a position to appreciate the nuances. Certainly, I'm aware of the benefits of airing down when rock-crawling (allowing the tire to squish and wrap around rocks and obstacles). So this all left me a bit stumped.

What are your thoughts? I'd be keen to know if anyone else approaches their tire pressure this way or if this just sounds crazy.

28cold and 18 off road . I am running E-rated Kenda Klevers and I assure you they are square and no cupping and I got 26k on them so far.

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[Sweetums]

I would think the high pressure on the highway would make for a hard ride especially over bumps and potholes. In my limited wheeling experience I never felt the need to air down. I keep the pressure at whatever the door sticker says. Even running 35 inch tires.

And it beats up the vehicle. The tires are the first part of the suspension to absorb bumps; making them rock hard will transmit more shock into the bushings.

 

[Jteakus]

OP, I feel like you got some bad information.

 

[Janster]

Oh, I still have tires in the air here and there. And shelf roads don’t scare me much. I’m just not a boulder hopper and I don’t tend to end up wheels up in my new truck when all I want to do is comfortably get to a serene spot and smoke a cigar with my wife or a couple of buddies at in solitude.

That’s why Jamborees and such give me the heebie-jeebies. The thought of sleeping among 200 drunken folks only so I can get into an all day traffic jam next day is NOT appealing at all to me. A campfire with wife and/or 2-3 buddies and a bottle of great Bourbon consumed in moderation is ideal.

I’m right there with ya. Back then, I was in my 20’s & 30’s when we were boulder hoppin‘. We had a purpose built (non daily driver - but still street legal) old YJ for the weekends. I’d never take a new vehicle on the trails.

Now that I’m much older… <cough> We’ve found different hobbies that keep us both way too busy but lovin’ every minute together (with my hubby).

At our age, we avoid anything that involves crowds & traffic. . Not to mention, people drive me bat-shit crazy anymore . I’m lucky I work from home, cuz there are days I want to reach thru my computer screen and slap someone!!

 

[BourbonRunner]

I usually run 35-37 on road and 15-17 on soft sand and around 20 on anything else.

 

[ChrisNLA]

OK. I'm only going to say what I'm about to say in this thread because this seems like a safe space. I would never admit to this outside of here.

I'm a poser. I don't need the capabilities I have with my Gladiator. The only times I touch the transfer case shifter are to drive on the beach or at a campsite. I could easily do what I do in a Subaru Forester. But to me my Gladiator is the coolest vehicle that I have ever owned and I love it and plan on keeping it forever. I have had and I'll have many other squishy comfy vehicles that my wife can also drive, but Gladys is mine and I love her.

So most of my driving is on the road. I have Cooper Discover STT Pro MT tires in 305/60r18 because I like them and I think they fit the truck perfectly. And I air them up to 48 psi because it feels better to me on the road. They just roll better and feel better in turns. No, I didn't do the chalk test. It's my truck and I like the way it feels.

I'm gonna be real.

At this point, I have probably used my Apex disconnects and 4HI to drive / flex through the ditch in the front yard (for fun) as much as I have for legitimate offroad needs (spoiler - it's not much).

 

[Dilly’S Willy]

Any idiot running 50+ PSI on the street in a Tacoma is retarded and not to be trusted. They better be towing with proper load rated tires for that load.

Like the people who think the max psi on the tire is the running psi, let them be dumb, don't be dumb like them.

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