How important is airing down for sand?

I have a stock 2017 Limited that I have taken to the beach once or twice already and I did not air down. Obviously it’s not “necessary” because I did fine but how much of a difference will it really make?

Should I wait until I’m actually stuck to air down? Or is there advantages to doing it proactively.

Thanks!

 

Airing down when you’re stuck will more than likely do nothing, and might make you pop a bead. If you’re on stock limited tires airing down won’t be much of help since they’re street tires. Just drive cautiously, and maybe investing in some self recovery traction boards might not be a bad idea if youre at the beach frequently.

i.e. know your limits.

 

Not going to get a lot of float with low profile tires.

 

It all depends on the type and depth of the sand. I air down to 20psi to start for places like Glamis, Dumont Dunes, and Pismo.

 

This will vary. I have access to a private beach and drive on it a few times a year. The second time I drove on it I started bogging down and sinking in an area where sand had piled up during a flood. I was able to redirect and use some momentum to get back to solid ground.

I started airing down before going back there and haven't come close to getting stuck since.

My point is that it may not always be necessary, but it will always make a difference. Even with the low profile Limited tires, you can get some flotation by airing down. I would start out at 25 PSI or so and go lower if necessary.

 

If you're going to OBX (Carova), yes it's necessary. You might get by for a while but you also beat the shit out of the beach. If you're going to Daytona, then no it's not necessary