Tire Pressure Monitoring System Minimum Tire Pressure

I am looking at taking my new Tacoma out on the beach at the Outer Banks in NC maybe in April. One of the required items is a low pressure tire gauge. I was hoping someone could either let me know or point me to somewhere that would tell me, what is the lowest pressure that the system will read in a single tire? Also, is there any way to disable the warning sounds or lights when I am doing this so I am not having to hear and see the warnings. If it makes any difference, I have a 2018. Thanks in advance.

 

I would not rely on the systems tire pressure monitors when airing down the vehicle. Use a dedicated gauge and drop down to around 20 psi. Once you start driving the sensors will update and show your new tire pressure as well as a warning. There is no beeping, just a warning light. I actually keep the tire pressure screen on the display so I would know right away if a tire was rapidly losing air.

The tire pressure monitors will likely work all the way down to zero PSI but at that point your tire will probably fall off the rim. I think 15 psi is probably a save value to stay above.

 

Thanks, thats kind of what I was thinking too. If memory serves me correctly, on the OBX the recommended PSI is about 15. I know on my Jeep when I got a flat tire it wouldnt read below around 20. If the onboard system is accurate enough to that low of PSI, it would be much easier to use it so that I would be able to monitor pressures while driving around.

 

I don’t know for a fact it will read down to 1 psi but at 15 psi you will be able to monitor all the tires from the screen.

I’d also recommend getting a set of deflators so you can drop the air in all 4 tires down at the same time. It makes it super quick and easy when you are entering the beach. Around me there is usually a traffic jam with everyone deflating. It takes me sub 5 minutes to deflate all the tires while other people spend 20 minutes doing it manually.

 

Ive run 13 psi in mine (as per oem gauge)
That’s with TRD pro wheels and 285 75 17 duratracs

 

Your tpms will light up at about 26 psi. I've always run 18 in the sand. Not much difference between 15 and 18 as far as tire spread. No alarm, just a light. Tolerable.

 

I bought JT Brooks tire deflators so I could air down all 4 tires at the same time. I did a test and documented it on video. I got down to 10 psi and I was only off by 1 psi using the deflators.

 

read your manual in the TPMS section

If you reset the TPMS with the switch under the dash, it takes the current tire pressure the tires are at and sets it as the baseline..


So if you want your tires at 20psi, just set them all and hold the switch down until the TPMS warning light blinks 3 times, and then you have reset it... After 10 mins and a few miles, itll show the pressures on the infoscreen..

 

So it sounds like it may be reliable enough to not need to worry about having a handheld pressure gauge. And the deflators are a very interesting idea. I dont think that I would use them enough to justify purchasing them. I believe I would probably go with an on board air compressor before the deflators.

 

Tire pressure in the sand depends on the tire and vehicle. Most of us run between 15 & 20 pounds. I run 20 on my 2016 Tacoma with stock tire, but on my 1983 Pickup I don't air down my 12.5 x 35 Mickey Thompson's that have 28 pounds.

 

Yes. On board air is money.

 

I have been looking around trying to find somewhere to mount it on the truck so that I can remove it easily once my lease is up, I can get to it when needed, and so that it is out of the way when I don't need it. I also want to have it wired in and a switch on the dash to turn it on when I need it. Since I am also planning on putting a power inverter in one of the stock bed boxes, I was thinking of just getting a large enough wire (about 4 gauge, to be able to handle 60 A max) and have the compressor possibly between the bed and the fender, near where the inverter would be.