tire pressure for ice

srimes

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Cabot, AR

• Jan 29, 2010

• #1

We're about to get a good ice and snow storm here. What tire pressure do y'all run for icy roads? I just dropped mine to 24 psi from my regular 30 in my 235 BFG A/Ts.

 

R

RustyRocker

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Clearfiled, PA

• Jan 29, 2010

• #2

with BFG ATs you should be fine even at 30psi.......depends on driving style and terrain, but my dads 2001 has those same tires on it, 235s....and we run 35 psi year round, no probs.......and we live in PA, so ice and snow are the norm in winter.......lower pressure would be even better tho, but will hurt mileage some.....

 

C

COLOUXJ

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Colorado

• Jan 29, 2010

• #3

for icy roads the higher pressures are better.

I run my Duratracs at 35-38 when the roads are icy

There is a smaller contact patch on the ground, which means higher psi, high psi is better for ice.

If it is 2 feet of powder it is better to run a lower psi so you drive on top of the powder

 

hubs97xj

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Fort Wayne, IN

• Jan 29, 2010

• #4

I run 32-35 year round. Your driving style will be a significantly larger factor than your tire pressure.

 

Tim_MN

Freakish Hand Strength

NAXJA Member

Location

Minneapolis, MN

• Jan 29, 2010

• #5

COLOUXJ said:

for icy roads the higher pressures are better. There is a smaller contact patch on the ground, which means higher psi, high psi is better for ice. If it is 2 feet of powder it is better to run a lower psi so you drive on top of the powder

Click to expand...

Umm, no.

Maintain the same tire pressure, no matter what the weather. If the available traction is reduce by snow or ice, drive more slowly. Also accelerate, slow down/stop, and turn gradually and smoothly. Sudden or abrupt changes in the vehicles speed or direction will break traction and may send you skidding or spinning.

If you are driving off road in snow, reduce your tire pressure just as you would normally on a 4x4 trail.

 

Last edited: Jan 29, 2010

R

RustyRocker

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Clearfiled, PA

• Jan 29, 2010

• #6

Forgot to mention.......i was alwasy told growing up to " drive like there is an egg under both pedal"...meaning, light use of both pedals, to start and stop......i still use this method to this day in my head while winter driving......no wrecks in my 34 yrs, lol......so far, so good!

 

W

winterbeater

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Royal Oak, Michigan

• Jan 29, 2010

• #7

I wouldn't change my tire pressure for ice, but if I was going to, I would decrease it. Slightly bigger contact patch that way. But if you really hit ice, I doubt that tire pressure matters.

 

kastein

NAXJA Member

NAXJA Member

Location

Rainy side of Washington

• Jan 29, 2010

• #8

If you hit real ice, the only thing that's going to help you is driving carefully (I like RustyRocker's phrase there), or a sand dispenser in front of each tire like on freight locomotives, or studded tires.

Drive carefully.