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Gravel Road Tire Pressure

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by POW HOUND, Aug 23, 2021.

  1. Aug 23, 2021 at 11:50 AM
    #1
    POW HOUND

    POW HOUND [OP] No friends on a powder day

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    When I search all I find is people arguing about 2-3 psi difference on-road tire pressures haha, how low are you guys going on those long washboarded gravel roads? I did a test down to 20 psi but I was getting mixed signals between two cheap guages so I can't say for sure what I was at. Doesn't seem to be a lot of sidewall protection on the stock Goodyears
     
  2. Aug 23, 2021 at 11:55 AM
    #2
    stevesnj

    stevesnj Well-Known Member

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    You just need to air down when you get to very loose gravel, rocks, sand, snow at lower speeds.
     
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  3. Aug 23, 2021 at 12:01 PM
    #3
    mrtonyd

    mrtonyd Well-Known Member

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    my truck had like 30 psi when i bought it, and thats where it stayed until i got it serviced again earlier this summer and they bumped it up to 40 psi.

    i dont seek out rock crawling, but driving through the mountains in colorado leads me to some bumpy stuff. i have a compressor and air down/up stuff, but never use it. still smoother than my old expedition
     
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  4. Aug 23, 2021 at 12:07 PM
    #4
    maxmk8

    maxmk8 Well-Known Member

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    20-25psi for air down scenarios. Anything less you may lose the bead.
     
  5. Aug 23, 2021 at 12:14 PM
    #5
    Brownie_Man

    Brownie_Man Well-Known Member

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    I travel a lot of gravel roads like you mention. I have E load 265/75R16 tires that I air down to between 22-25lbs. I find this smooths out the bumps some, making a little more enjoyable travel. I decided to switch from the stock Goodyears before 10,000 miles because I didn't trust the sidewalls with the roads I frequented. Of course a big lead tire weight went straight through the tread of one of my E loads on I95 with only about 700 miles on it. Go figure.
     
    POW HOUND[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  6. Aug 23, 2021 at 12:44 PM
    #6
    POW HOUND

    POW HOUND [OP] No friends on a powder day

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    I'm not looking as much for traction, just to rattle the truck less on the washboarded and rough roads. I air down just because of the distance I travel to fishing/camping spots without paved roads on weekends.
     
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  7. Aug 23, 2021 at 12:46 PM
    #7
    POW HOUND

    POW HOUND [OP] No friends on a powder day

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    Awesome input thank you, I agree on the Goodyears sidewall. Doesn't seem like the worst but not a lot of protection if you air down and ride on them for distance.
     
  8. Aug 23, 2021 at 12:49 PM
    #8
    POW HOUND

    POW HOUND [OP] No friends on a powder day

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    20 was what I was thinking for a lowest number, thanks for the confirmation!
     
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  9. Aug 23, 2021 at 12:53 PM
    #9
    EatSleepTacos

    EatSleepTacos Well-Known Member

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    For this scenario, I would go 20 for the sake of comfort. Don't be scared to go lower though. You're at the greatest chance of rolling a bead when you're <12 psi and also making abrupt turns, ripping donuts, etc. Rolling a bead is harder than you might think. I say this because if you let out a little more pressure than intended, your truck won't implode.
     
  10. Aug 23, 2021 at 12:53 PM
    #10
    corrado-correr

    corrado-correr Well-Known Member

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    32psi warm works for me on the gravel/washboard. i like to dive fast.
     
  11. Aug 23, 2021 at 12:55 PM
    #11
    Mods2Travel

    Mods2Travel Well-Known Member

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    It's a balance between low enough to provide comfort, but not low enough to drag sidewall or overheat. Make sure there's no dirt pattern on the sidewall past the side lugs from it touching the ground, and stop after a bit to make sure the tires aren't overheating. I had them get pretty hot at 20psi doing 40-45mph gravel roads with potholes. Other than that, have fun. Just keep using the same gauge so you know what your numbers mean.

    That being said, 20psi is my lowest. I had sidewall touching ground on some rocks at 17. (265/65/17 at the time). I would go lower if I ever got caught in deep sand and needed more flotation though.
     
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  12. Aug 23, 2021 at 12:56 PM
    #12
    ian rogers

    ian rogers Well-Known Member

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    15 psi seems about right, I have run that at high speed on gravel with good results. If the bed is empty I would consider going down more in the rear.
     
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  13. Aug 23, 2021 at 1:01 PM
    #13
    a2lowvw

    a2lowvw Well-Known Member

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    Remember on Tacomaworld nothing is agreed upon and everything should be argued over. :cool:
     
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  14. Aug 23, 2021 at 1:01 PM
    #14
    Mods2Travel

    Mods2Travel Well-Known Member

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    Just re-read the original post. If you're running stock tires with no sidewall lugs...I might stay in the upper 20's. I'm definitely rolling the sidwall lugs onto the ground at 20. I aired down someones rental Taco to 26 for some rocky trails in Colorado and there were definitely marks on the sidewalls after.
     
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  15. Aug 23, 2021 at 1:16 PM
    #15
    POW HOUND

    POW HOUND [OP] No friends on a powder day

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    Gotcha, yeah the stock goodyears have sidewall lugs but nothing gnarly or anything. Thanks for the input, it makes a lot of sense and I appreciate it!
     
  16. Aug 23, 2021 at 1:24 PM
    #16
    Bertw192

    Bertw192 Well-Known Member

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    I'm going to go out on a limb and say that tire pressure is WAY too high. Assuming you don't have crazy loading (weight) on your truck.
     
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  17. Aug 23, 2021 at 1:31 PM
    #17
    mrtonyd

    mrtonyd Well-Known Member

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    i agree. was a little disappointed when i got my truck back with that psi. i run a little over 30 now and will drop a bit when cold weather comes around
     
    Bertw192[QUOTED] likes this.
  18. Aug 23, 2021 at 1:33 PM
    #18
    GSRON

    GSRON Well-Known Member

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  19. Aug 23, 2021 at 1:34 PM
    #19
    gudujarlson

    gudujarlson Well-Known Member

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    Air down for gravel roads? What sort of craziness is this? I grew up in an area where a majority of the country roads were gravel and no one ever aired down for them. Same for snow covered roads. I guess if have lots of spare time, go ahead. I do agree that E-load tires ride like a dump truck when aired up.
     
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  20. Aug 23, 2021 at 1:38 PM
    #20
    jasmits1

    jasmits1 Well-Known Member

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    I've never bothered for gravel roads. I've spent plenty of time driving around on gravel and washboard at 20psi if I was aired down for something more technical and never found it to make enough difference to be worth the hassle. I run between like 33 and 35 on the street(edit: on E-range KO2s).

    In fact, on the stock suspension(for the Off Road at least) really the biggest issue with gravel road comfort is that the suspension is too soft and allows for way too much uncontrolled body movement. Nasty and even moderate washboard seemed to throw it into some kind of weird resonance where the shocks completely fail to dampen the springs. Softening the system further by airing down seemed to make it worse if anything.

    The only way really to smooth out washboard is to follow the sage advice of Jeremy Clarkson:

    [​IMG]
     
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