How low can you go

[BigRedDog]

I read the tire pressure article at www.toyotaoffroad.com/Articles/Projects/Tire_Pressure/Tire_Pressure.htm and it helped me alot, but also left me with some questions. I'm looking for general guidelines, but also on what will be my specific setup: M/T Classic Lock 15x10 and M/T Baja MTZ Radial Traditional 33x12.5.


At what pressure will you pretty much insure that your bead will pop off on a non beadlock rim? I've heard of beadlocks safely being able to run at 4psi.


When a tire is 6 ply at the tread and 3 ply at the sidewall how much abrasion can the sidewall take at low pressure? At full pressure? Is it quantifiable?

Does low tire pressure put more strain on your driveline in 4wd?
Specificaly the front end with the joints?

Thanks for the help over coming my n00bness

[rockcrawlintoy]

yeah it pust more strain. low pressure = bigger contact pacth so more traction. i have been down to 2 psi with non beadlock rims with no issues.

Drew

[fourwd1]

bigreddog said:

At what pressure will you pretty much insure that your bead will pop off on a non beadlock rim? I've heard of beadlocks safely being able to run at 4psi.

There is no magic number. There are too many variables, rim width vs tire width, vehicle weight, and the situation is a big factor.

[speedy]

My friend lost his bead at 8 psi after slogging around in the mud all day then trying to climb down a narrow trail. We both got a ton of mud in the bead and both had leaky tires until we cleaned and reseated them. I ran 8 psi for most of the trip with no other problems. I am sure dry conditions would have been easier on the tires.