Airing down for ice?

Heading out to go tap a few trees and repair some damage from today's sleet storm. Without bead locks and 33" Falcon At3s what Psi should I go down to. My friend also is coming, and he is running Nitto 34s without bead locks. Conditions are 2" of ice over 2" of powder. I added about 200 lbs to the bed. It is nasty out there, but it needs get done.

 

Without beadlocks I wouldn't go under 15-20lbs. Have some lighter fluid and matches handy just incase you pop a bead.

 

When I was on 33s and 34s with no beadlocks I was regularly as low as 12 psi. You could comfortably go down to 15 with pretty much zero risk of blowing a bead.

Edit: Airing down doesn't help much for traction on ice, but it will help with puncture resistance if you start breaking through the ice.

 

I watch too many you tube videos. LOL. Normally I run 20 -22 (Too chicken to go lower). I am heading out in a few and will start off at 18 and see how it goes. Thanks

 

I should also add that the pressures ran above were on load E tires, so they're a bit stiffer and do well at those lower PSI. I wouldn't feel comfortable taking a SL rated tire below 18-20 since they're not quite as robust. Not sure what kind of tires you're running.

 

Ice is the great equalizer. Can you use tire chains there in your area? Airing down really doesn't matter with ice. Ice and snow, maybe.

 

Falken load E 10 ply.

 

Oh yeah, 15 psi all day babyyyy.

 

Unfortunately, my old chains will not fit my new tires. I hesitated to buy new ones due to clearance issues. It is tight back there and I am worried about doing damage.

 

The tires pre drilled for studs? My DuraTracs were. That is time consuming though..lol

 

No. Good idea though. I should be Ok. If we get jammed up. I am sure we could grab a tractor.

 

Or if you can get some MaXTrax or something. Good luck though!

 

still tons of snow in the woods. Just need to stay on the path. Lol

 

If you have hills you may want to get out and walk them before going down or up. If it's icy you may not be able to stop once you start going down or make out all the way up, both situations leaving you sliding uncontrollably to the bottom

 

g

 

When you hit the ice get out and walk. If you fall down, don't drive there.

 

Weird day. After2 days of 50-degree weather and 24 hours of wind and rain followed by 10-degree weather and sunshine. Nothing but 10 to 20 inches of slush. I have a video, but it won't upload. Basically, me going into ditch while trying to get the perfect camera angle. The photo is where I went off and was easily able to get out.

 

Sorry. I am a dummy. The car is about 10 mins away from my location. The whole town just got flooded out due to an ice jam. Weird

 

For ice, you want the opposite of airing down. You want pressure. Remember, your tire pressure is exactly how much pressure your tires are exerting on the ground. downward pressure helps create some grip on ice, and surface area does not.

 

I agree for on road. I watched a few vids and opinions vary for off road. I guess I was trying ask if there was a sweet spot to get the sidewall to bite. I would love to go out front of my house and do some testing with our 48-degree weather today. Looks like only 4 wheelers out there today so my testing will have to wait.