Tire decision question :

[tom4bren]

Ironic, yes.

If you're running your tires at or near the max pressure & you hit a nice sized pothole, the tire tries to flex which will increase the air pressure in the tire & you could break a bead (tire pops off the rim ... well ... half way).

You air down off road for increased surface area & to allow the tire to flex more & 'mold' itself over obstacles. The trouble is that a lot of people air down too far & the tire flexes too much which can also break a bead.

In my limited experience, the only off road conditions you really need to air down for is rock crawling. All other conditions, the tread design has more to do with performance.

[Spike]

Ironic, yes.

If you're running your tires at or near the max pressure & you hit a nice sized pothole, the tire tries to flex which will increase the air pressure in the tire & you could break a bead (tire pops off the rim ... well ... half way).

You air down off road for increased surface area & to allow the tire to flex more & 'mold' itself over obstacles. The trouble is that a lot of people air down too far & the tire flexes too much which can also break a bead.

In my limited experience, the only off road conditions you really need to air down for is rock crawling. All other conditions, the tread design has more to do with performance.

I am guestimating somewhere between 35 and 40 is probably much better than the 45 I have in there now.

[PK]

In my limited experience, the only off road conditions you really need to air down for is rock crawling. All other conditions, the tread design has more to do with performance.

Tom, you should always air down to around 15 PSI for soft sand.
Gives the tyre a wider contact area so you don't bog down so easy.

PK

[Gussie2000]

Spike runs your tires at 36psi is where you live has a moon like terrain.

Mines had the same max psi but never went over the 36 plus that allows me to use valve caps with air monitoring pressure gauges

[tom4bren]

Tom, you should always air down to around 15 PSI for soft sand.
Gives the tyre a wider contact area so you don't bog down so easy.

PK

PK,

I knew I was gonna get some flak on that statement. I won't jack this thread anymore than it already is tho.

You're right. Airing down for soft sand does make a big difference

IF

you have the right tread to start with. I stay away from really soft sand with mine since I have MTs. That tread pattern just digs big holes in sand & doesn't do much for getting you from point A to point B.