Tire Pressure Range on Skinny Tires?

Question for anyone who may know.

I have Falken Wildpeak MT01 235/85R16's on 5th Gen 4r wheels.
What's a reasonable deflated air pressure to run them at, on forest service roads, or the typical trail ride?

 

I run whatever seems comfortable (on my 255/85 R16 load E ST/Maxx). I find that to be between 15-20 PSI depending on the road conditions. Usually on the lower end, since that's where my deflators are set to.

My recommendation would be to run as high a pressure as you feel like is (a) relatively comfortable and (b) gives you the benefit of airing down. It will also depend a bit on the load rating of your tires (C, D, E, etc.). With skinny tires (a good choice IMO), you'll find that you need to go to lower pressures in order to get the same "pillowy" feel that wider tires give at slightly higher pressures. So, I'd start around 18 and then decide if you want to remove a little more.

 

Air down when (or preferably before) you need to for traction or comfort. Forest service roads cover the spectrum, typically no need to air down at all... but if you must 20 psi is a good place to start. Below 10 I sweat popping a bead. Bring a means to re-seat a tire if heading for low psi. Hair spray (or other) and a lighter will do the trick - tire off or trucked jacked of course. And of course a means of reinflating. It's a hassle, not a big deal, just a hassle. Don't just do it because that's what all the cool kids are doing...they're really no that cool.

 

20 is more than fine to start with. On fire roads you don't want to go too low, since with higher speeds come higher chance of the tire rolling over and loosing a bead, crashing and dying. You know, minor stuff.

I run 18 psi (that's what by deflators are set at). I wanted a little lower than 20, but didn't want to run 15 (or less) all the time. So 18 it is... It's pretty arbitrary.

Personally, the fire method would be a last resort to re-seat a bead. You can use a ratchet strap and an air tank, or use your spare tire (that's what it's there for). IMO too much risk when you're out in the wilderness for the fire method unless you really have to.

 

Agree with others here to test it out. My 235/85r16 are at about 30psi on road, 10-20 off-road has been no trouble for me. Honestly I hardly feel any difference until I get down to about 15psi - then things really smooth out.

 

255/85r16 STMaxx here as well, on 4lo and slow crawling type terrain I run them at 12 - 15psi.

For fire road type stuff in 4hi I'll do 20psi.

Gone as low as 8 to get unstuck in sand but put air in them after I got out.

 

Thank you all for your input.
I'm new to all the "off road" part of being a 4x4 owner.
Info from people with experience, I tuck that under my hat.

 

Are those Falken MTs E rated?
E rated tires they have stiffer sidewalls, so going down to ~12 - 15psi is no issue. If you have a lighter load tire you want to be more careful going down that low as the sidewalls flex more and aren't as strong as heavier load tires. Can cause them to roll off the wheel or puncture.

 

Yes they are. Which is mainly why I was asking, what the safe range would be.
As a little insurance and longevity, I picked up a matching spare tire for rotation purposes.