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 Post subject: Air down street tires?
PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 1:40 pm 
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Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:15 am
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Location: Henderson
A colleague of mine is teaching a Field Biology course for the first time this semester, and he's asked me to come do a guest lecture this Friday on off-roading. :D

If these students become field biologists, they'll get stuck with whatever vehicles are available through their employer, and be expected to use them to get to whatever field sites they are assigned. It's highly unlikely that they will get fantastic off-road-capable jeeps. When I was a grad student, our vehicle was a dinky, two-wheel drive pickup. Luckily, I didn't have to go off-roading for my work.

I can cover the basics of what to do and what not to do, regardless of what kind of vehicle they end up with. But, I've got a question. Airing down big, beefy off-roading tires is a good idea. What about street tires? Can/should they be aired down, or not?

What do you think?


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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:39 pm 
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I have only aired down street tires when I've been stuck in the sand or crossing an area of deep sand. I would not recommend doing this just for a smoother ride. Throw in a shovel and water for good measure.

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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:38 pm 
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You'll get the same benefits airing down your street tires as your offroad jeep tires. However I'd agree with Steve and not recommend it, unless they have a good tire gauge so they don't go too low and a have a way to air their tires back up before returning to the pavement.


Glen


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PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:23 pm 
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When I first got my Grand, I aired down my street tires to about 20lbs and while wheeling, I thought for sure i was going to cut a sidewall because of the low pressure. I agree, I wouldn't recommend airing down a standard load sidewalled tire. But in the case of needing better traction in a low traction situation, do what you got to do but only if you have a way to air back up..

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PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:44 pm 
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Thanks folks! That's basically what I thought too....


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PostPosted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 1:11 pm 
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Joined: Sat Nov 16, 2013 5:36 pm
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It depends on how tall the side walls are. I used to air down my street tires until I got tired of my slow air pump /lol. You can't air down as far as off-road tires though. Well you could but you're increasing the chance of a tire failure unlike with off-road tires that have side lugs and thicker side walls. I wouldn't air down more than 5 PSI tops though.


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