For you guys who drive in snow

[longhauler]

In the winter time I usually like to take some air out of the tires. The max psi on my tires is 80psi. I took the psi down to 60, I don't tow in the winter so I'm not worried about having less air pressure. Just wondering what psi you guys are running around with in the winter time when not towing.

Thanks

[socoguy]

Chris I lower from 80 PSI to 65 PSI better traction in snow. The added benefit of a softer ride is also nice. I generally run 65 whenever I am not towing.

[DavisK]

I keep mine at the suggested 60 psi front, 70 psi rear.

[jakesz28]

I have dropped the pressure down in a lot of truck tires to about 40 psi.

Not in my truck but in my Hummer H3 i dropped the air pressure to 18 psi while I was in Moab Utah. Never aired up for 10 days. Even with the occasional trip down the highway. That vehicle weights in at about 5800 lbs.

[Lloyd]

I'm at 50#. Have done it that way for years. With no weight in the box, you can't see any belly on the sidewall.

[cowboy_71]

Recently checked mine...50#, decided to leave it for a better ride....not going to camp soon.

[sleepyT]

Originally Posted by Lloyd

I'm at 50#. Have done it that way for years. With no weight in the box, you can't see any belly on the sidewall.

Lloyd
I'll see your 50 and go down another 5... I run 45# in all four in the winter... That way it don't run the middle out of the tire...

[mark5w]

Tommy, and I thought you were full of hot air.

[longhauler]

Originally Posted by sleepyT

Lloyd
I'll see your 50 and go down another 5... I run 45# in all four in the winter... That way it don't run the middle out of the tire...

SleepyT.....whats your max psi for the tires, mine is 80 psi, I can't find anywhere what the lowest psi I can run in the tire. I prolly have a total weight of 500 to 600lbs in the box.

[mark5w]

Lowering the tire pressure for winter driving is an Old Wives Tale. Actually, cold weather lowers your tire pressure.
I wouldn't lower the tire pressure too much. When the tire pressure is low, the middle of the tire does not make good contact with the road and does not evacuate the water from the tread of the tire. Like Tommy said, it don't wear out the middle of the tire, so it makes less traction with the road.

[WildWildWest]

Much colder here and I still run 80psi rear and 65 psi front year round. Lots of highway miles for me and I get better mileage running the same pressure year round. Traction doesn't seem to change much if I do air down. Ride is better with lower pressure but tires seem to wear better aired up all the time.

[sleepyT]

Originally Posted by longhauler

SleepyT.....whats your max psi for the tires, mine is 80 psi,

Chris
My max is 80 PSI...When I bought new tires the guy that mounted them put 45 PSI in them...I asked him about the pressure, he said watch how the tires wear then adjust the pressure accordingly.... (unloaded)

When I'm towing I run 55 in front and 80 in rear tires...

[OhioMark]

Just my two cents here..Lloyd is on the money here folks,

Father in law and Uncle are both retired tire engineers (live in Akron here..all the old school big guys were originally here..Goodyear, Firestone, General, BF Goodrich) so lots of tire experts around town..

Uncle actually does forensic expert witness work in cases with fatalities...Anyways, they've always preached to maintain the recommended pressures, even in cold...if you drop the pressure, at a certain temp your tire will actually cup on the road, readucing contact. There are soooo many variables to tire performance, is best to just follow the mfg recommendations..if you changed tires (P to E), follow the recommendations for the newer tire.

[johnboytoo]

While the mfg suggestion is for a 'typical', 'average' load,
I usually do adjust my pressures for the actual weight carried in my vehicles...even to the point of getting the tpms adjusted so I CAN run the psi I want....

Lower psi for driving on the sand is a known,
so it goes to show that a 'little' lowering for fluffy snow might help keep you on top, but not that much....

and just like driving in the mud,
there are two schools of thought...
one is fat, soft tires to stay on top the mud and the other is tall, skinny tires to break through the mud down to solid ground...

you can either do a google search for the "Chalk test" or look on your tire mfg's website for the load inflation charts and based on the weight your tires are carrying adjust to that...

[sleepyT]

Recommended presure on my rear tires is 80 psi.. If I ran that pressure all year I would be buying tires every year...I would run the center out of the tire...

[longhauler]

thanks for all the info guys

[DavisK]

Originally Posted by mark5w

Lowering the tire pressure for winter driving is an Old Wives Tale. Actually, cold weather lowers your tire pressure.
I wouldn't lower the tire pressure too much. When the tire pressure is low, the middle of the tire does not make good contact with the road and does not evacuate the water from the tread of the tire. Like Tommy said, it don't wear out the middle of the tire, so it makes less traction with the road.

The quote below is from the Rubber Manufacturers Association

Contrary to common belief, underinflation does not give tires better traction in the snow. It only makes them more vulnerable to damage. Winter or summer, your tire’s worst enemy is underinflation. Of course, you should check your tires when the weather turns cold, and bring them up to correct pressure.

[Lloyd]

Originally Posted by DavisK

The quote below is from the Rubber Manufacturers Association

Quote:
Contrary to common belief, underinflation does not give tires better traction in the snow. It only makes them more vulnerable to damage. Winter or summer, your tire’s worst enemy is underinflation. Of course, you should check your tires when the weather turns cold, and bring them up to correct pressure.


I know I'm not going to convince everybody, but that's OK. That's what makes the world go around--different opinions.


I don't buy that quote.

If you don't have a load on the tires, where is the need for 80# of air pressure?
As far as it not helping any for traction, what will slip on snow or ice first, a soft soled rubber overshoe, or a hard leather soled shoe?
Not quite apples to apples, but it gives the idea. A tire when cold pumped up to 80# air pressure will be just like that leather soled shoe.

[mark5w]

There is scientific evidence to prove the point that underinflation does not improve traction. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...e.jsp?techid=3

Like Ripley said "Believe it; or not"

[Lloyd]

I choose to not believe it.
As far as I'm concerned my example says it all.