When I go off roading what should I deflate the tires to?

Hi and thank you for your help. I have 285/70/17 installed. They’re currently inflated to 38 psi. When I go off roading what should I deflate them to?

Thank you!

 

There is no specific number. Situation dictates tire pressure. Environmental (snow, sand, mud, etc.) vehicle weight, tire load range and your throttle control will all change what pressure is right.

I would recommend against going below 20 psi until you get more familiar with offroading and your vehicle. Below 20 psi you're beginning to dance with popping a bead based on your throttle control and terrain.

 

Lose the nerf bars, window panels, and ditch lights! The first two items will catch on stuff and cause more damage, that is if you're going to hit real trails.

Your tires will determine what you deflate to.

I only run 10 ply on my rig now, and ran 10 ply on my last two rigs; for either of those I would deflate down to 8psi depending on conditions but sometimes as high as 15psi.

If you go that low on say, a 6 ply, you run the risk of breaking the bead.

 

What load range are they?

As mentioned by @Kwikvette , you don't want to go as low with a C, or SL, as you would with E's.

My 285's are LT/C, and I generally run them around 20 for most stuff. But, I'll go a bit lower in some situations.

OTOH, my MT's are LT/E, and I usually start around 15. I'll go down to around 12 pretty regularly. I wouldn't feel safe much lower than 10 without beadlocks, personally, but I've heard of people going to 7 or 8. I would probably only go this low if I were stuck, or in exceptional circumstances.

 

All good advice so far. Especially about catching the steps or panels on rocks, bushes, etc. I broke off a step pretty quickly in rocky area of the desert. Replaced them with proper sliders that are tucked in.

if you’re idea off off-road is basics fire roads and mellow trails then you don’t need to deflate as much as indicated above.

 

When the mud is clay-like, I tend to go pretty low (7-8psi).

This stuff was nasty the other day -



Bonus points if you can spot the missing flare I broke off on a trail.

 

The furthest rear driver's side?


My tires look super flat at 8. It makes me too nervous about losing a bead.

 

That pic was taken before my friend and I parted ways so I was aired up. But yeah they're pretty damn flat looking when down that low.

And correct; lost my rear driver trim.

I lost my front passenger trim on the 4Runner and my exhaust on the Tacoma.

 

Maybe I'll try running 8 the next time I get into some sketchy stuff.

Do you guys carry starting fluid and a torch in case you lose a bead?

 

Hope, hope is what keeps my tires on my wheels

I used to run co2 on one rig, but I sold that awhile back. I should consider carrying one once again *just in case*

 

Is this on stock tire size?

Im still stock size, and get spooked at anything below 18 lol. Although, this turns out to be convenient because we tend to go back and forth between roads and trail, and gravel.

 

So, what gen is yours?

 

Probably doesn't even own a 4Runner. I guess a Tacoma 3.4 5sp

 

I won't disagree to that.

 

1st gens are definitely awesome.

Err, are we talking Tacos or 4runners??

I was curious, because the first gen 4runner is about a thousand pounds lighter than a fifth gen. So, it might not necessarily be a good comparison to what pressure you run off-road. Aside from the difference in weight, nobody with a fifth gen can even run that size tire.

 

The first gen 4Runner is like 3700 lb.

I'm not arguing at all. I'm saying that if one vehicle is 20% lighter than the other, it's less likely to pop a bead if all other things are equal.

Also, I just weighed my 4Runner a few weeks ago, and it was 5,520 lb, with no camping gear in it and the back seats removed. So, there's potential for a significant weight difference.

 

Mine is 4750 empty. So, I have nearly 800 lb of steel bolted on plus recovery gear total. It was a certified truck scale.

There's a possibility that about 200# of that was me, but I was trying to stand off of the scale when they weighed it

 

My Limited is 5060lbs (at the time mods 285/70R17 tires and Ironman FCP suspension)
and
TRD Pro is 5000lbs (at the time mods rsg sliders and full aluminum skids). Since my 285s are relatively light weight it won't be much of a difference now I guess.

 

Are you calling me fat?

JK.

 

~15psi has been great for me on all types of trails (LT285/70r17 load C)

 

Lowest I've gone is 12psi

 

I go no lower than 15psi.

 

Everyone reporting their psi should really say what load range they're running too...

 

I’m running E load tires. My off roading is fairly light duty other than driving over sharp basalt rocks. I don’t bother airing down. Keep tire pressures at 36-37 psi.