Minimum tire pressure for off-roading

Just bought a 21 Tacoma TRD Off Road with Goodyear Wrangler Adventure tires of 265/70R16 size (stock). Goodyear tech chat says no pressure lower than 29psi. Nothing crazy in the way of off-roading as I am new to the “game”. What is lowest tire pressure I can go to in your opinion? Thanks.

 

Look at the placard on the driver's door jamb. It will have the information you are seeking.

 

Standard load I recommend 20-25psi. This provides better traction, less chance for puncture, and less opportunity for the bead to unseat.

The truck will drive like a cloud.

I usually do 25psi just because its faster to re-inflate after.

 

That's for normal driving, not off road.

 

Depends.

On road- keep it at the placard

Off road - terrain specific: only deflate as much as needed. In soft sand I really hate going below 15 out of fear of rolling the bead. Rocky stuff, 25 if I'm going slow.

 

Placard says 30. As another mentioned above, I feel this is on road “official “ number. Slower Off roading is another story. Wanting the better traction yet not wanting to roll a tire off the bead. Thanks for all the responses.

 

Don't go below 10 on stock rims and tires.

 

Sure, I understand that. Although, it is a good place to begin.

It'd sure be a bitch to drop to 15-25 psi to roll a bead off the rim......then your out in the boonies trying to figure out a way to jack up the truck to put on the spare.......

 

Can of brake cleaner and a lighter will get that bead to reseat

 

I hear starting fluid (ether) is a common choice. Using that method has some high risk.

 

Yes, yes it does, but if done properly (nobody gets hurt), it cheaper than a tow.

 

This will be a learning process no doubt. I’m trying to avoid the trail mishaps . Do you feel pressures are tire/rim specific? Or, are generic, don’t go below “x” safe enough (nothing in life is guaranteed) ?

 

One thought: the more you air down, the less overall clearance you have.

 

I used to think that, but it makes a massive difference on a trail. Less is more.

 

Personally I like to air down only as necessary given the clearance consideration. Last trail I rode, I was scraping a tiny bit on berms. Didn’t air down. Worked out best, in that situation, for me.

 

Yes, it matters about tire and rim/wheel.
Stock is a 16, 17 or 18 × 7... these are narrow
Most aftermarket will be 8 to 9 inches wide running a 33 e load tire. As I am, I can go down to about 8lbs. Wider wheel, thicker tire.

 

If you fear busting a dead just stay home. Seriously, if you go into the outdoors you should have the tools to fix simple stuff. Otherwise, it’s like calling a paramedic for a splinter.

To keep this on track, adjust tire pressure to load and terrain. If you pop a bead fix it and go up a couple of pounds.

By the way, regarding the explosive reseating of a tire, have someone who knows how teach you how to do it. I once responded to a fellow that decided to use gasoline. He used too much. Major facial trauma. Rubber isn’t as soft as you think!

 

As low as you can without throwing a bead.

 

I have a list of Michelin, at wich pressure for load on tire, down to 20kmph/12.5mph used max speed on hard road

And also for in mud/sand about 50% of that for 20kmph on road.
For on track about 80% of that for 65kmph/40mph max speed on road
Those speeds then are the maximum allowed.

I will have to calculate it for you, but probably your tires are that oversised, that on road upto 99mph, safe lowest pressure is in the 20 psi range, so on track 80% of that is 16 psi, and in mud sand mayby even 10 psi.
But then before you drive home on the road, you need to highen up the pressure to 20 psi.

Its then yust how far you want to go.

 

Great information! Thank You.