PSI for wheeling

[Hendlerj]

I run KO2s on both my FJ45 and 200.

When wheeling, I run the FJ45 at 15 psi and have never had a tire issue.

Last summer was my first summer after building my 200, and I ran the same 15 psi. I lost three tires on the trail in one season. Once, the sidewall was cut. Once, the valve stem was torn off. Once, the bead broke.

I am thinking that the weight and width of the 200 may require more air in the tires.

For those of you that wheel a 200 in rocky environments, what psi do you run?

Thank you.

 

[linuxgod]

About half of normal PSI for me is my typical offroad target. I'm on 35s right now which call for 36psi, and I typically run 16-18, but I've generally run around 18 since I've had the 200, including on 34s. I never really wheeled it on the factory tire size. 15 seems a bit low which might explain the bead breaking, but in the other cases I don't think it would have mattered.

I rolled a bead once... I was turning hard left but the truck weight went right while I was braking. The tire burped but the bead popped back. Otherwise I've not had an issue.

Some tires are stronger and better against sidewall tears than others. Losing a valve stem can happen regardless of PSI if your rim contacts a rock (there are trail-side replacement kits which don't require unseating the tire to replace, so you might want to pick one of those up for $30). You may be a more aggressive offroader, or just have had a streak of bad luck.

 

[CT3]

When I run up in VT, I typically start with 18-20 PSI and then go down further if required

What size and load rating are you running?

 

[TeCKis300]

What size and load rating are you running?

Agreed, this info could help. Along with wheel size.

I had a buddy running 275/55R20 K02s on a F150 and he similarly lost 3 tires in one day.

 

[Hendlerj]

I am running 285/75 R 17

Load Range E

 

[tbisaacs]

I rolled a bead once... I was turning hard left but the truck weight went right while I was braking. The tire burped but the bead popped back. Otherwise I've not had an issue.

For posterity

 

[linuxgod]

For posterity

*poof*

That weight shift at 0:21. oh man.

 

[Hendlerj]

Mine lost the bead while winching at an angle in deep mud. Lesson learned. Winch straight ahead!

So far, I have a vote for 18 psi.

Any other votes for psi while wheeling a 200?

 

[Hendlerj]

While we are showing stupid pilot tricks, here is one that worked out well. The mud bog had ensnared the rigs ahead of me. The consensus was to send it with momentum. I didn't realize we were going to go airborne...

 

[Hendlerj]

While we are showing stupid pilot tricks, here is one that worked out well. The mud bog had ensnared the rigs ahead of me. The consensus was to send it with momentum. I didn't realize we were going to go airborne...

New video by Jared Max Hendler

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[gaijin]

I am running 285/75 R 17

Load Range E

Mine lost the bead while winching at an angle in deep mud. Lesson learned. Winch straight ahead!

So far, I have a vote for 18 psi.

Any other votes for psi while wheeling a 200?

The recommendation is dependent on tire size and structure, LC200 or LX570, trail conditions, speed, etc.; so no single tire pressure can be recommended for all 200's.

That said, for general offroad use a general rule of thumb is to start at half the RCTIP (Recommended Cold Tire Inflation Pressure) and adjust up or down from there depending on conditions and speed.

In your case, The RCTIP for those LT285/75R17 Load Range E tires on your LC200 is 37psi F/R.

This would suggest that a good starting pressure for offroad use would be 18.5 psi - call it 19psi.

So... my vote is 19psi as a starting point for your tires and vehicle.

HTH

 

[skrypj]

When I was running my lighter GX460 on 285/70R17 KO2’s at 15psi, the sidewalls were super soft. There was a few moments where it looked like the wheel might touch the ground.

But remember that at PSI’s that low, a small change is a big different. Even going from 15 to 18 psi is a 20% increase in pressure.

 

[MCtree]

When I run up in VT, I typically start with 18-20 PSI and then go down further if required

What size and load rating are you running?

CT3,
What indicators do you look for to determine if you need further airing down?

(I’m presuming it’s not just getting stuck as an indicator)

 

[skrypj]

I was running 5.5 psi here. Just for reference, those are 37's.

 

[ga12r1]

I usually run 8 psi cold on my 37x13.50x18 Toyo Mts and shoot for 11-12 after rise. I take it somewhat easy the first mile or so until they come up to temp. If im running somewhere with a ton of cold water I may come up a bit on the cold psi cause I don't get the normal rise, and a water crossing will knock them back down a few psi. I have no issues wheeling hard at 11-12 psi warm. She rides like a caddy from 1 mph up to 80 mph Offroad. Even good on 4 wheel drifts.
I experimented by going lower and lower until losing a bead then I came up half a lb. Works well.

 

[TomEf]

I go to about 20psi on 295/70/18 E range. Pretty conservative but I haven't had any problems with traction or damage.

 

[CT3]

CT3,
What indicators do you look for to determine if you need further airing down?

(I’m presuming it’s not just getting stuck as an indicator)

Depending on where you’re located, I picked VT because I thought that might be where you’re offroading, the conditions are incredibly varied.

One other factor to consider is that in VT, at least for me anyway, I am snaking between offroading trails and then getting back on paved roads and driving at 50mph to get to the next trail. If it’s easy/scenic stuff we are doing for the day, I don’t need to go down as far on the tire pressure, because I often won’t reinflate fully every time we touch the pavement again….

Starting at 18-20 usually works for whatever we need in VT. If it’s particularly slick, with spring rain creating muddy conditions for instance, it might call for lower PSI and lockers. Those trails are often narrow, I don’t want to be using momentum to get me through only to find that the trail does a hairpin turn at the end of the mud…

I’ve also learned the same, in VT no less, about pulling straight ahead on any winching. There are a lot of class IV roads up there with exposed rocks and ledges, it’s the perfect setup to pull a tire off a wheel if you don’t pay close attention to the angles and forces.

Outside of VT I would still go for 18-20psi for the types of trails I’ve run in Moab, San Juans, rural Montana, etc. and I would go lower in pressure if I were in need of more traction on sand or if I were doing something closer to “rock crawling” —which everyone seems to have a different definition of haha

 

[Hendlerj]

I couldn't decide between 20 and 25, so I ran 22.5psi today. It worked great. I had no traction issues on rocks, ledges, mud or water crossings. More importantly, the tires came through with no damage. I am going to use 22.5 for a few trips and see how it goes.

 

[mattafact]

I usually run 8 psi cold on my 37x13.50x18 Toyo Mts and shoot for 11-12 after rise. I take it somewhat easy the first mile or so until they come up to temp. If im running somewhere with a ton of cold water I may come up a bit on the cold psi cause I don't get the normal rise, and a water crossing will knock them back down a few psi. I have no issues wheeling hard at 11-12 psi warm. She rides like a caddy from 1 mph up to 80 mph Offroad. Even good on 4 wheel drifts.
I experimented by going lower and lower until losing a bead then I came up half a lb. Works well.

You wheel too fast so your opinion doesn't count

 

[ga12r1]

You wheel too fast so your opinion doesn't count

That’s cause I’m headed to your moms house