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The very notion of airing down your tires may seem counterproductive in the broader scope of driving. We've heard many stories of poor fuel economy, reduced handling dynamics, increased tire wear, and even blowouts caused by driving on under-inflated tires. However, all these things ring true for when you're cruising at 70 miles per hour down the interstate. Take an off-roader and place it on a surface such as sand or mud, and you'll find that the pros recommend airing down your tires, depending on the surface that you're going to be tackling. Let us take you through why you need to air your tires down, the required tools, and how you should go about it. Looking for tire and wheel accessories? You'll find it all right here on 4 Wheel Parts, so you don't need to waste any time searching for the tools that we describe in this article. Why Air Down Your Tires? Tires grip the surface with what's known as a contact patch. The contact patch is a square to rectangular patch that forms where the tire is pressed down onto the surface by the vehicle's weight. For driving on roads, your vehicle will come with a recommended tire pressure that ensures the correct size of the contact patch to ensure that handling and braking are optimal while minimizing fuel consumption and reducing tire wear. Tire wear can occur when driving on under-inflated tires, which can even lead to blowouts, as the under-inflated tire flexes more, generates more heat, and causes increased degradation. However, what rings true for the road doesn't matter on the trails. You aren't going to be cruising at 70mph with your eye on fuel economy when you're on the trails. What's more important to you is to have a good time, stay safe, and not get stuck. This is where you need to air down your tires in order to traverse certain kinds of surfaces. Let's look at some instances where you need to air down your tires, as well as by how much from their normal recommended on-road pressure. Dirt roads and moderate-level trails When you encounter dirt roads and trails of moderate difficulty with washboard surfaces, reducing your tire pressure by around 25% is an excellent formula for a decent blend of traction, capability, and ride comfort. Rock crawling When you're rock crawling, you want your tire to be able to flex, as well as grip smooth or slippery rocks by deforming around them. That's why the recommended deflation figure for this activity is 35% from normal pressure. You'll get a wider contact patch that offers better grip. Process & Tips The process for airing down your off-road tires isn't complex, as long as you've got the necessary tools that we've outlined in the previous section. Basically, you just need to follow the steps below. - Determine the required pressure for your tires based on the surface you're going to tackle and what we've recommended above. If there's a pro in your group, go by what they say.
- Remove the dust cap from your tire valve, and connect the tire deflator.
- Gently release the pressure until the gauge indicates your desired pressure. Ensure that you remove the deflator from the valve quickly so that air does not escape while removing it.
- Once you've finished the trail and are ready to drive on the pavement again, don't forget to air your tires back up to their recommended pressures for tarmac driving.
Some tips to make the process easier include: - Check your tire pressures before setting off from home, and ensure that they are set to the recommended pressures for road or tarmac driving. This simple step will ensure you catch any potential air leaks before setting off.
- Always ensure that you've stopped on firm and level ground before airing your tires down.
- When airing your tires back up, keep an eye on the air compressor, and ensure that it isn't overheating. Many cheaper air compressors can only operate for a few minutes at a time before needing to cool down.
Tires, Wheels, and Everything Off-Road At 4 Wheel Parts Hit us up at 4 Wheel Parts for all your off-road requirements. No item is too big or small for us, as we deal with hundreds of brands, and carry thousands of high-quality products. You can either visit us at one of our 90+ physical stores located nationwide, or visit our website to browse the entire range, as well as make purchases from the comfort of your armchair. If you choose this avenue, you don't need to worry about timely delivery as we've got six distribution centers and a great logistics team to ensure that your order reaches your doorstep as quickly as possible, and in good condition. If you're a newbie or seeking some advice, our friendly off-road experts are happy to offer help and support via our physical stores, or through the website. A price matching policy ensures that you always get the best prices from us, and we offer applicable warranties depending on each item. Choose 4 Wheel Parts for all your off-road requirements and you won't need anyone else – really.
Process & Tips The process for airing down your off-road tires isn't complex, as long as you've got the necessary tools that we've outlined in the previous section. Basically, you just need to follow the steps below. - Determine the required pressure for your tires based on the surface you're going to tackle and what we've recommended above. If there's a pro in your group, go by what they say.
- Remove the dust cap from your tire valve, and connect the tire deflator.
- Gently release the pressure until the gauge indicates your desired pressure. Ensure that you remove the deflator from the valve quickly so that air does not escape while removing it.
- Once you've finished the trail and are ready to drive on the pavement again, don't forget to air your tires back up to their recommended pressures for tarmac driving.
Some tips to make the process easier include: - Check your tire pressures before setting off from home, and ensure that they are set to the recommended pressures for road or tarmac driving. This simple step will ensure you catch any potential air leaks before setting off.
- Always ensure that you've stopped on firm and level ground before airing your tires down.
- When airing your tires back up, keep an eye on the air compressor, and ensure that it isn't overheating. Many cheaper air compressors can only operate for a few minutes at a time before needing to cool down.
Tires, Wheels, and Everything Off-Road At 4 Wheel Parts Hit us up at 4 Wheel Parts for all your off-road requirements. No item is too big or small for us, as we deal with hundreds of brands, and carry thousands of high-quality products. You can either visit us at one of our 90+ physical stores located nationwide, or visit our website to browse the entire range, as well as make purchases from the comfort of your armchair. If you choose this avenue, you don't need to worry about timely delivery as we've got six distribution centers and a great logistics team to ensure that your order reaches your doorstep as quickly as possible, and in good condition. If you're a newbie or seeking some advice, our friendly off-road experts are happy to offer help and support via our physical stores, or through the website. A price matching policy ensures that you always get the best prices from us, and we offer applicable warranties depending on each item. Choose 4 Wheel Parts for all your off-road requirements and you won't need anyone else – really.
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