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Author: Subject: Tire pressure when off-roading
David K
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[*] posted on 4-23-2009 at 05:28 PM


Sure... they would do... I just happen to have personal experience with Subaru (1977-1993) owning 3 4WD wagons each with over 100,000 mostly Baja miles on them!

4WD, always...




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[*] posted on 4-23-2009 at 05:32 PM
Thanks, David!


You get a gold star... or taco with all the trimmings!

Mil Gracias, Mulegena ;)
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David K
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[*] posted on 4-23-2009 at 05:39 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Mulegena
You get a gold star... or taco with all the trimmings!

Mil Gracias, Mulegena ;)


Oh boy! Thank you!!!:cool:




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[*] posted on 4-23-2009 at 07:58 PM
Taco with all the trimmings


This website shows amazing Tacos and stunning photography. One of my favorites

http://www.bajataco.com




No worries
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David K
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[*] posted on 4-24-2009 at 07:47 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by Curt63
This website shows amazing Tacos and stunning photography. One of my favorites

http://www.bajataco.com


'bajataco' is a Baja Nomad... and we got to meet him at Viva Baja #3 (he and his esposa flew to Oceanside with Capt. Mike, from Arizona to attend):



Sharon and Chris 'Baja Taco', flew into Oceanside with Capt. Mike and Janeen,
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http://www.bajataco.com/Baja/bajamap.html




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[*] posted on 4-24-2009 at 05:58 PM
Hot Air


This thread is starting to inflate itself.

Harry Lewellyn is really a research/test/fanatic! The book shown is well worth it, even for us "older guys" like AridNeal.

His advice is right on the money, real world experience, and I'd follow it without a doubt.

You think the article that started this thread is pretty long? You ought to read the one Harry did on whether or not to drain water from an ice chest while off-roading! It's a doozy!
(or is that doozey?) or...

BFG ALL TERRAINS RULE! We've plugged a sidewall or two and the tires are still floating along.

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David K
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[*] posted on 4-24-2009 at 06:18 PM


Ice Chest Water? Drain man, drain!:lol:

Unless it is only containing cans of beer!!:coolup:




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comitan
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[*] posted on 4-24-2009 at 06:47 PM


:o:o:o:oDK, What if your vehicle overheats or you are stranded out in the middle of nowhere and no water.



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[*] posted on 4-24-2009 at 07:17 PM
Drain, man, drain?


Comitan - you got that right!

But the article didn't consider that issue.

Hey David K, no fair condensing four pages into three words!

But it isn't quite that simple in all cases. Wish I had the skills to type it our here, but it would take me way too long.

No need to hijack this air talk with ice talk

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[*] posted on 4-25-2009 at 10:30 AM


I remember helping Mike Doherty in a SF250 race a few years ago and he broke an axle in his class 8 truck. He got stuck several times before we lowered the tire pressure down to 4lbs in his BFG 37 inch project tires. He made it up and down the three washes and almost got out of Matomi but came upon a stuck buggie where he too got stuck and timed out of the race. It was a one wheel drive truck that was a handfull to handle because it was always wanting to turn.
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David K
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[*] posted on 4-26-2009 at 09:46 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by comitan
:o:o:o:oDK, What if your vehicle overheats or you are stranded out in the middle of nowhere and no water.


Well C, as a desert camper all my life I am never low on water and I don't include the ice chest water in the calculation. I have a 6 gallon water jug for general purpose needs and lot's of drinking water... in addition to the fine Mexican beer.

Besides, I drive a Toyota... and it never breaks down!:lol::light:




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[*] posted on 4-26-2009 at 06:29 PM
tires and tire pressure


here is my take on tires and tire pressure for off-pavement driving :

know the (manufacturer recommended) street pressure for your stock tire size (see sticker inside gas filler door - its not the max pressure on your tire side wall!)
for all dirt roads, rough trails and hard packed beaches deflate to 2/3 of street pressure
for all soft sand beaches deflate to 1/3 of street pressure
http://www.4x4abc.com/jeep101/soft-sand-deflate.html

softer tires will also create a smoother ride on washboard
softer tires will less likely have tread punctures
side wall cuts by larger surface rocks can only be avoided by driving very carefully - more tire pressure will not really save you
http://www.4x4abc.com/jeep101/rocks.html

If you are done driving on dirt you can still drive safely with 2/3 pressure on pavement - you don't have to immediately pump up your tires to street pressure. Only if you plan on driving above 50 mph for the next 5 hours, street pressure is recommended. It'll make the tire live longer and will save you gas (2/3 pressure on pavement will drop your mpg by about 2).
1/3 pressure (beach) should be brought up immediately if you like to drive fast on washboard (if you don't drive faster than 30 mph, you can keep 1/3 for a while). Pavement will definitely demand more than 1/3.
Safest tool to re-inflate the tires is a $10 upright bicycle pump. Forget plug in compressors - when you need them they are dead (and they are painfully slow).
http://www.4x4abc.com/jeep101/plugnplay.html

The best tire for Baja is BFGoodrich - either as AT or MT.

If you drive on Baja dirt a lot, you should consider tires with more air volume (wider, taller tires). Larger tires with more air volume are stronger and safer than stock size tires. They can also be driven at lower psi than stock tires and that makes for a much better ride on washboard.

When I started exploring Baja I had so many flat tires that I eventually carried 2 spares. After I had larger tires installed I never had a flat again (last 20 years).

saludos
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[*] posted on 4-26-2009 at 06:38 PM
35" tires


quick question:
i somehow now am driving around on 35" tires. They are huuuuge! But not sure what is the best tire pressure for these things. I usually have 18 to 20 psi for driving around the very poor roads around BCS and drop down to 12 when i need get across lots of sand, but this was on stock or slightly oversized tires. Should I go so low with these big guys?
thanks
Aq
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[*] posted on 4-26-2009 at 06:52 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by aqbluegreen
quick question:
i somehow now am driving around on 35" tires. They are huuuuge! But not sure what is the best tire pressure for these things. I usually have 18 to 20 psi for driving around the very poor roads around BCS and drop down to 12 when i need get across lots of sand, but this was on stock or slightly oversized tires. Should I go so low with these big guys?
thanks
Aq
What type of truck do you have and what is it's weight?

I have 35" BFG tires on an '88 Toyota 4x4 and I run 4 pounds for beach and 6 pounds for desert. At 6 pounds they do not look flat...

I purchased tis truck new and ran the same size tires back then and inflating the tires to only 18 P.S.I. on the highway and got 60k out of a set of BFG's.




Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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[*] posted on 4-26-2009 at 07:49 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by aqbluegreen
quick question:
i somehow now am driving around on 35" tires. .... Should I go so low with these big guys?
thanks
Aq


aqbluegreen,

since your 35's were most likely not stock you can follow this method to find out the correct street pressure (and then follow the 1/3 and 2/3 rule for sand and dirt):

Make a chalk line all the way across the tire thread, and drive a few yards. If the chalk line rubs off in the center your pressure is too high - air down more. If the edges of the chalk line rub off first, try adding some air. Your goal is that the line rubs off from shoulder to shoulder.
For long freeway trips add 20% to improve mpg.
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[*] posted on 4-26-2009 at 08:31 PM


Thanks 4X4ABC for chiming in on this - great stuff on your links also.



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[*] posted on 4-26-2009 at 10:52 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by 4x4abc
Quote:
Originally posted by aqbluegreen
quick question:
i somehow now am driving around on 35" tires. .... Should I go so low with these big guys?
thanks
Aq


aqbluegreen,

since your 35's were most likely not stock you can follow this method to find out the correct street pressure (and then follow the 1/3 and 2/3 rule for sand and dirt):

Make a chalk line all the way across the tire thread, and drive a few yards. If the chalk line rubs off in the center your pressure is too high - air down more. If the edges of the chalk line rub off first, try adding some air. Your goal is that the line rubs off from shoulder to shoulder.
For long freeway trips add 20% to improve mpg.


actually, that's a fools way to roll dice with tire pressures. if running stock tires, your minimum pressure for street and highway driving should same as written on your door frame. if running non-stock tires, go to a tire store and ask them to look up pressure and load ratings for your tire / vehicle weight. really, when you are running 70 MPH on a hot day, you want to stay above minimum pressure. low pressure tires at high speed lead to blow outs, don't roll dice with hokey chalk lines and voodoo.
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[*] posted on 4-27-2009 at 07:26 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by 4x4abc
Quote:
Originally posted by aqbluegreen
quick question:
i somehow now am driving around on 35" tires. .... Should I go so low with these big guys?
thanks
Aq


aqbluegreen,

since your 35's were most likely not stock you can follow this method to find out the correct street pressure (and then follow the 1/3 and 2/3 rule for sand and dirt):

Make a chalk line all the way across the tire thread, and drive a few yards. If the chalk line rubs off in the center your pressure is too high - air down more. If the edges of the chalk line rub off first, try adding some air. Your goal is that the line rubs off from shoulder to shoulder.
For long freeway trips add 20% to improve mpg.


Also make sure your rims are wide enough that they are not bowing the tire. Larger tires on stock rims for example will not allow you to take advantage of the full footprint except at low tire pressures.
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[*] posted on 4-27-2009 at 08:28 AM


AQ
Consdering the over all weght of your rig I would say 20 lbs will be good for wash board and normal sand. Any lower and you'll get a lot of side to side roll and side wall bulge. There's probably some similar rigs around your area, see what their doing.
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[*] posted on 4-27-2009 at 04:13 PM


Gracias!

Aq
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