"Safe" tire pressure....

[SROC3]

I was going to do a POLL but figured it really is only one question - and I wanted to see and read different answers to better understand.

I have a Bronco (2022) and 35in tires (stock ones) and Sasquatch Package. I typically run 12 psi All the time when off-roading.

Recently, I have gotten to really like going fast on trails - Its super nice and challenging. These are rocky trails, not with big boulders of course, but they also have patches of smooth fire-like road and a mix of small to medium sized rocks.....with lots of turns I would say my speed varies anywhere from 25mph to 40mph on the rocky, not-so-smooth stuff and sometimes up to 65mph on flatter sections. I'm not a Trophy-Truck (or a Raptor) so I try to stay within limits.

Having said that - is 12 psi safe? I just realized that since i'm not traveling in a straight line and there are tons of undulations and turns, shouldn't my psi be higher to safeguard the lateral loads on my sidewalls while turning? I'm thinking at the very least 15-18 psi.

Thoughts? I'd love to hear them.....and please, feel free to get super nerdy and technical!!!!

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[TheKim]

Great question - I run about 16-17 doing similar style of driving and haven't had any issues (yet).
They typically warm up to almost 20 after a little bit, so I'm even less worried about it after that.

Curious to hear from some of our more knowledgeable (and from many of our less knowledgeable) members.

 

[Brian_B]

I am one of the less knowledgable ones.

At off rodeo - we ran at 25, but the guides said that was higher than they would typically run, since we had a few highway miles to get to the trail. Most folks I talk to run in that 15-20 range, but none of them really know why other than it just works out for them.

I guess the boundary conditions are
- do you get stuck digging ruts on the trail?
- are you slipping the bead or damaging the tires?

As long as you are between those two boundaries? I’m sure there’s some scientific rationale to it which I am looking forward to leaning as well

Just running on mostly dirt roads (not a lot of technical stuff), I was running about 25 for comfort. I dropped it to 18 last run and it was noticeably squishier and a lot more body roll - not sure I will stay there or not. I’m rarely going over 30 mph on the dirt but there’s some pavement in between the trails and we’ll get up to 50-60 there.

 

[Fordified1]

Could shorten the life of the tire running too fast for too long at really low pressures because it builds a lot of heat. Probably not immediately unsafe, but may shorten their lifespan, IDK. I run 6 - 8 psi in my side by side tires but well, it’s a side by side (I do run dot legal tires on it)

Watching because I’m curious also. We will be doing some offroading in Colorado in July with some highway miles in between and curious if I need to maybe not air down too low so I don’t need to keep adjusting pressures.

 

[TheShark]

I generally run around 18 psi.

 

[Tricky Mike]

That's generally pretty safe, but also the Goodyears don't need to be as low as a lot of other tires to perform well. 15-18 seems to be the sweet spot.

 

[kodiakisland]

Way too many variables to say safe, but as long as you don't lose a bead you should be fine. I like 16-18 for general use, but it also depends on the tire.

 

[C6ZZGT]

I was going to do a POLL but figured it really is only one question - and I wanted to see and read different answers to better understand.

I have a Bronco (2022) and 35in tires (stock ones) and Sasquatch Package. I typically run 12 psi All the time when off-roading.

Recently, I have gotten to really like going fast on trails - Its super nice and challenging. These are rocky trails, not with big boulders of course, but they also have patches of smooth fire-like road and a mix of small to medium sized rocks.....with lots of turns I would say my speed varies anywhere from 25mph to 40mph on the rocky, not-so-smooth stuff and sometimes up to 65mph on flatter sections. I'm not a Trophy-Truck (or a Raptor) so I try to stay within limits.

Having said that - is 12 psi safe? I just realized that since i'm not traveling in a straight line and there are tons of undulations and turns, shouldn't my psi be higher to safeguard the lateral loads on my sidewalls while turning? I'm thinking at the very least 15-18 psi.

Thoughts? I'd love to hear them.....and please, feel free to get super nerdy and technical!!!!

I`d say the higher the speed = the higher the pressure needs to be.

If I remember I`ll ask my tire rep.

 

[SROC3]

I just ran the same trail tonight and tried 15 psi (instead of my normal 12 psi). I think 15 to 16 might be the sweet spot - assuming my tires heat up 2 more psi while running (so 17-18). For me its not too much about "how long I'm doing 30-40mph.....but how the vehicle reacts in those short moments if I need to make last second turns/maneuvers, avoid a rock I didn't see, brake suddenly to avoid a massive dip in the trail, etc. I would say i'd save the 12 psi days for rock-crawling.....but I'm not a big fan of it.

Side note: I've had this "creaking" sound from my undercarriage over the past 3 to 4 weeks....couldn't figure it out and was scared maybe I cracked a link mount or something. Then realized i did install aftermarket arms - Johnny Joints (from RockJock). Took them to shop, they greased them for free and SUPER QUIET now and VERY VERY smooth.......Grease your Joints PeopLe!!!! (This is a public service reminder from your fellow Bronco member)

 

[JohnnyBronco]

I am one of the less knowledgable ones.

At off rodeo - we ran at 25, but the guides said that was higher than they would typically run, since we had a few highway miles to get to the trail. Most folks I talk to run in that 15-20 range, but none of them really know why other than it just works out for them.

I guess the boundary conditions are
- do you get stuck digging ruts on the trail?
- are you slipping the bead or damaging the tires?

As long as you are between those two boundaries? I’m sure there’s some scientific rationale to it which I am looking forward to leaning as well

Just running on mostly dirt roads (not a lot of technical stuff), I was running about 25 for comfort. I dropped it to 18 last run and it was noticeably squishier and a lot more body roll - not sure I will stay there or not. I’m rarely going over 30 mph on the dirt but there’s some pavement in between the trails and we’ll get up to 50-60 there.

At off roadeo did you ever exceed 35 mph other than on highway to get there?

I have no knowledge to offer so take this with a grain of salt but 12 psi is like the lower limit without bead locks for sand dune running. 60-65 mph at 12 psi cold could wear out your sidewalls prematurely and without bead locks even lead to loss of pressure altogether.

If you have beadlocks (or runflats) would you run trails at 0 psi just because you could? Lowered pressure on trails is for increased traction in certain conditions not for comfort and those conditions possibly do not include running farm style gravel roads at 65 mph

 

[Noremac]

I was running 18-20psi on the stock territories with great results. You get a little sway in the corners, but can run home/base camp without airing up.. im not sure how i would feel about cornering on a road at 12psi

 

[TNTACO]

So here is a specific question regarding airing down. What about in sand only? We go on the beach a lot to surf fish (and other things) in Delaware and I didn't plan on airing down. I have a Jeep TJ with Wildpeaks and I don't air down. Was hoping not to do this on my Bronco 4D Wildtrak with Sas (on order). Thoughts?

 

[Noremac]

airing down in and is a good idea as it widens your contact area. the narrower the tire, the more likely you will sink/dig in.

exagerated, but think about rolling a beach ball on sand versus riding a bicycle.

 

[Dkirk]

This brings up a good question for those of us without bead lock wheels. I have stock wheels/tires on my 2024 BD. How much can I safely lower my air pressure for off road travel? I don’t rock crawl. Only rough dirt roads with some occasional small boulders.

 

[userdude]

This is what I think I know:

Off Roadeo said 25psi for liability reasons. Ace, the awesome Texas guide, said they simply weren't allow to recommend below that.

The GY Territory tire itself is said to be rated to 15psi. I don't have any documentation of this, so take it for what it's worth. However, this has been said to be the point where the bead is still solid based on how GY rates the tire. Below that you're at risk of the bead breaking. Hitting a rock or rut at higher speed I would think makes this more likely.

Given this, I don't think you need to be down that low for high speed off roading. I would suggest 15-25psi, maybe try 15/20/25 and see how it feels to you. Low psi, AFAIK, is about slow rock crawling (max traction, max tire patch), which you don't necessarily want running fast.

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