having grown up north of the border I have always run tires 30 to 32 psi in winter and have carried screw in ice studs, not as fast as chains but u can run them on dry roads!!
Airing Down for Snow and Ice Driving
- Thread starter ArmyFJ
- Start date
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I have been told the complete opposite. If you chain up the front, yes you will get better steering but the rear end will want to then come around on you and cause all kinds of issues.
Chaining up all four would be best, 2nd to that would be the rear.
I think I am seeing a common theme here:
For icy roads at ~>45MPH+, higher pressures ~35PSI+ and smaller foot print is best.
For snowy roads in general lower PSI <35PSI is best.
Correct or incorrect? Obviously there are unique situations and there are a variety of variables to take into consideration.
For icy roads at ~>45MPH+, higher pressures ~35PSI+ and smaller foot print is best.
For snowy roads in general lower PSI <35PSI is best.
Correct or incorrect? Obviously there are unique situations and there are a variety of variables to take into consideration.
airing down would only benefit in unbroken snow, or deep powder where a wider contact patch would help float over it. in packed, tracked snow, or ice, i think normal street pressure is the best bet. not sure how some can ride around on 45+ psi, especially with any sort of ome lift. im at around 32-35...and its still rock hard. speed or lack of it will get you through the safest. oh..and try not to break around a turn...it'l
and of course, any sort of unsiped big lugged off road M/T tire will be much less efficient in snow than an all terrain tire or dedicated snow tire.
we're gearing up for an unusual amount of snowfall here as well. im not bothered by the snow...its quite fun actually. its the ice that always gets me worried..
and of course, any sort of unsiped big lugged off road M/T tire will be much less efficient in snow than an all terrain tire or dedicated snow tire.
we're gearing up for an unusual amount of snowfall here as well. im not bothered by the snow...its quite fun actually. its the ice that always gets me worried..
See that's the thing. I try not to go over 40 on any snowy/icy road.
I never drive over 40 on icy roads either. However, this will be my first long interstate winter trip and from my experience, truck drivers etc can be crazy mofo fast drivers sometimes and going 40 on the freeway could be dangerous, but probably not as dangerous as spinning out and rolling from hitting a patch of black ice.
Oh that's right. Freeway... Last night was pretty bad, could barely see a half-mile in front of your car. We were going about 45, but then again, so was everyone else.
X2, Ice makes my drive like a
. I like driving in snow if it does not have ice underneath.x3. Sometimes while turning around in a cul-de-sac, I pull the e-brake and let the front wheels do all the work.
It's great fun when the rear whips around 220* and the front tires pull you straight forward, all at WOT...
Here in nor cal, I always air down when snow on road..25 to 30 lbs, traction is way better with more tread griping snow. In deep snow I air down as low as I can...but not so low as to pop a bead(been there, done that) Im running cooper stt's 285-75-16 they did awesome in seirra snow storm on sun.
On freeway I run 30to32 psi if its a long drive
With high air pressure I was sliding on the ice a lot more than the low psi!
On freeway I run 30to32 psi if its a long drive
With high air pressure I was sliding on the ice a lot more than the low psi!
beautiful pictures...
Thanks Ting, those pic's were taken at robinson flat camp ground...7000ft. elevation on sun.
Scott
Nice rig... I love the color because even when its dirty, it matches so well.
Scott,
Great pics! I have the same rig as you and i'm heading to my cabin today here in socal (San Diego county). We are being hit hard by the same storm so i will be driving in major snow today. I will lower my pressure and see how it goes. I'll take pics too and see if they match yours.
Great pics! I have the same rig as you and i'm heading to my cabin today here in socal (San Diego county). We are being hit hard by the same storm so i will be driving in major snow today. I will lower my pressure and see how it goes. I'll take pics too and see if they match yours.
I spent 3 days driving around sky resorts in the Sierras with more than 3 feet of snowfall and didnt slide once. No airing down either just easy on the gas and downshift on steep decline ohh and of course the 285'S BFGoodrich AT KO 
Yeah, a few years back I was in Soda Springs and 2 feet of snow hit overnight. I went out in my stock 93 LC w/275/70R's with normal air pressure and gassed it a couple of times and couldn't get the rear end to brake loose. Awesome vehicle in the snow.
On a similar topic, I was having trouble finding chains for my 315 75 R16 tires. I found a good choice at Tire Chains by TireChains.com and ordered some chains today. They should arrive by next Tuesday.
Does the 80 have any sort of traction control? Or are you basically running what the 60s have - open diffs, 50/50 split in the transfer case, mechanical linkages?
Trying to get an idea of how to approach winter driving in the 60.
Thanks.
Trying to get an idea of how to approach winter driving in the 60.
Thanks.
I live in the West hills in Portland, Oregon, and never have to air down. I chained up in the front and pretty much go where I need to go in ice or snow! It is snowing heavy right now! 
