Off road tire pressure (for rocks)

[RuggedH2]

Stagger,

Have you ever popped a bead? You know that 15-18 is perfect, how? Lower pressure is better for rocks. There are hazards. That's why beadlocks have become so popular off road.

Unless you've gone low enough to pop a bead, I don't think you know the "perfect" answer for the H3. I see the common logic, but it's not so clear for every 4x4, many go as low as they can. Buggies commonly run 3 psi with beadlocks.

Thanks for "dumbing" it down for me.

[stagger_lee]

Wasn't trying o dumb it down chief.
I have popped a bead at 10lbs on my scout. I have popped a bead at 12lbs on rocks in my old FJ80. It depends a lot on the tires. The toyos seem to have a pretty stiff sidewall as well as the goodyear MTRs. BFGs aren't as stiff, and I had super Swampers before and they were like jello. I have not popped a bead on the H3 yet, because I haven't pushed my luck. There is really no perfect pressure. You can pop a bead a 15lbs if you hit an obstacle just right you know? I dont have the knowledge or experience in the H3 as some of the others on here, but I have been off roading my whole life, in multiple rigs and set ups, so I have really just come of with the perfect pressure that works for me and that I feel comfortable with.

I also would rather sacrifice a bit of extra traction by not running really low pressure in order to save me from down time on the trail. Im sure you could go lower then I do and be fine. Eventually I would like to get a set of beadies just for the trail to be used on the H3.

[Hunner]

On my H3 with MTMTZ 33's with 3 ply side walls, which are 33.1 this shot is when I ran 20lbs. I was rolling over on the side wall alot and broke a piece off the edge of a couple of rims. I now run 26 in the rocks. I have one tire that got 4 slices in the side wall that run from the outside edge towards the middle. It is now on the rack for emergency use only.

[Hunner]

The second one is common where I wheel. Jagged shelves of shale and Ouachita stone, used to sharpen knives, stick out in narrow ravines and if you run too low with the sidwall pouched out, you get a cracked rim edge. 26lbs works for me.

[stagger_lee]

There you go perfect example of what works for you. You have loose rock, wet rock, solid smooth rock, jagged rock...you cant come up with a number that works for all situations. I like to run a little bit more pressure than what I think is a safe PSI, I dont want to be stressed out while Im wheelin.

Thanks for the pics Hunner. Looks like those (bridgestones?) have a little softer sidewall then the toyos, therefore higher PSI is ideal. Would you think that to be correct Hunner?

[Wisha Haddan H3]

Speaking of popping a bead at low pressures, has anyone ever tried (or seen) Staun beadlocks?

[RuggedH2]

Originally Posted by Wisha Haddan H3

Speaking of popping a bead at low pressures, has anyone ever tried (or seen) Staun beadlocks?

I have seen those, they look very interesting. The list didn't show a 16x7.5 though.

[Hunner]

I forgot to point out those "are" the Bridgestones in the pictures before I dumped them for the MTMtz. Its an age thang, senior moment. The Mt are stiffer side walls but Im still running 26 in the conditions I wheel. Had one H3 run 15 on Bridgestones and she got a rock stuck between the wheel and tire! Baseball size!
Here is another shot, with the Bridgestones and other stones in a "mine field" This is one of the reasons I decided on the MTmtz. It seems to be a tougher tire so far and grips on those side lugs which protect the sidewall. Guess I got over the new and have not shot many new "tire shots" oh boy now I have a mission..............oh and the Mtz got into those flares so I had to take them off. The side lugs rubbed in these conditions. They also rub my front sway bar in certain conditons. Thus Im glad I did not go for 35 in this tire.

[RuggedH2]

Originally Posted by Hunner

On my H3 with MTMTZ 33's with 3 ply side walls, which are 33.1 this shot is when I ran 20lbs. I was rolling over on the side wall alot and broke a piece off the edge of a couple of rims. I now run 26 in the rocks. I have one tire that got 4 slices in the side wall that run from the outside edge towards the middle. It is now on the rack for emergency use only.

Damn that sidewall is much more flexible than the Toyo. I have read that the Goodyear wranglers are also very flexible. The pic I posted in the beginning of this thread was of the Toyos at 15. They aren't flexing over the rocks hardly at all.

I'm also glad that the rock here is not like the shale and knife sharpening stone you have there. You can still rip a tire here, but that looks heinous.