How low should I go with BFG MT 305/70 x 16 tires on the trail?
PSI on the trail
- Thread starter cgswimmer48-91
- Start date
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I have gone 14-20 psi depending on what I am running. 315/75-16 I ran last weekend at Tellico at 18PSI and go alot of sidewall flex. I used to run the 285/70-16s at 14 PSI.
5psi, no bead-locks, Michelin XLs. It all depends on your tire, terrain, and personal tastes. I have a friend who wont air down below 30psi because it 'doesn't feel right' any lower, but his brother airs down to 10psi every time he hits the trails.
True, I do run MT/Rs. If you run thin walled A/Ts, your mileage will vary.
- Thread starter
- #6
Thanks, I have had it down to 12 before. Just curious if some people are comfortable going lower, and what there experience has been.
On a regular radial tire without bead-locks I wouldn't go lower than about 9-10psi.
IMHO i think that's a bit low for a regular tire. I personally wouldn't take a non-beadlocked and non "wheeling" type tire below 15psi.
by wheeling type, i mean mtr, swamper, pitbull...any tire designed to go low air.
I'm currently airing down to 12... Feels like it needs to go a bit lower (like around 10) but I hate resetting beads!
Chad, just keep some lighter fluid around, setting a bead with fire is fun!
I have 35x12.50 bfg muds. I like to go with about 12 in the rear and 15 in the front. This is on my 40 though, so probably a little more in an 80 for the added weight. I wouldn't feel good with less than 10 psi in my bfgs.
Just keep in mind what will happen if you blow a bead in an off-camber situation.
-Spike
-Spike
It's not the act of setting the bead, it the trying to get the Oregon terrain (i.e. mud) out of the tire after you loose a bead!
You guys at 12-15 PSI don't ever hear your sidewalls hissing/leaking air against big rocks? (Not often...but it happens on both my BFG's types)
Trail PSI is such a function of trail conditions, tire type and tire size that there is no one size fits all. For a stock size street tire 20psi seems to markedly improve traction while increasing sidewall puncture danger.
I'd increase pressure for sharp rocks, decrease pressure for snow or sand. But if you're in the Sierras on snow where sharp rocks lurk under the snow, you may not want to risk 20psi. For something like Moab 25psi is fine for stock tires due to the smooth rocks and excellent traction.
If you have offroad quality tires, you can go lower as they're tough enough to handle the sidewall stress. If the tires are larger, again you can go lower. But if traveling alone and having only a single spare, I'd raise pressure again.
So, lots of things need to be considered. It's not a single answer.
DougM
I'd increase pressure for sharp rocks, decrease pressure for snow or sand. But if you're in the Sierras on snow where sharp rocks lurk under the snow, you may not want to risk 20psi. For something like Moab 25psi is fine for stock tires due to the smooth rocks and excellent traction.
If you have offroad quality tires, you can go lower as they're tough enough to handle the sidewall stress. If the tires are larger, again you can go lower. But if traveling alone and having only a single spare, I'd raise pressure again.
So, lots of things need to be considered. It's not a single answer.
DougM
What an excellent post. Great advice!
last month I wheeled all day in lots of boulders with just 10psi in some 315 mtrs. They did great. The biggest complaint I have with airing down a 315 mtr which is barely 34 inches tall is that at 10psi the mtr is hardly 32 inches tall.
this weekend I am going to try out my 37 inch swampers I mounted this week. they are used at about 75%. they measure 35 3/4 at 30psi. at 10psi They will be lucky to measure 33".
blown beeds are no big deal. thats what they make spares for. just fix the bead back at camp and dont spend an hour wasting everyones time because you didn't bring a spare and aired down to stupid pressure without beadlocks.
this weekend I am going to try out my 37 inch swampers I mounted this week. they are used at about 75%. they measure 35 3/4 at 30psi. at 10psi They will be lucky to measure 33".
blown beeds are no big deal. thats what they make spares for. just fix the bead back at camp and dont spend an hour wasting everyones time because you didn't bring a spare and aired down to stupid pressure without beadlocks.
NorCalDoug
problems solved daily...
yep...like Doug said...it depends.
on the sand, I'll air down to around 12 or 14 psi.
on trails like the rubicon or certain trails in moab, I'll drop it down to around 20.
sometimes less air is better, but you'll suffer from lost clearance if you air down too much.
on the sand, I'll air down to around 12 or 14 psi.
on trails like the rubicon or certain trails in moab, I'll drop it down to around 20.
sometimes less air is better, but you'll suffer from lost clearance if you air down too much.
NorCal Cruiser
I don't post much
Just be sure to have someone who has done it before show you how it's done. You can be seriously hurt by doing this if you're not careful.
