tire pressure for sand

[holshotracer]

when you drive into the silver lake orv park they have a sign that states tire psi no higher than 15 to 18 psi.

 

[FROADER]

I've always ran 15 in the rear and 17 in the front.

 

[Maniak]

When I was driving in very soft sand I run about 6 or 7 PSI. At 15 PSI I wasn't able to go up the hills.. When I go wheeling (rocks,dirt etc) I run 13-15 PSI unless I really need the clearance more than the traction (not usually the case)

This wasn't wet sand.. It was very dry (I was at Glamis). Supposivly (sp?), the sand is like beach sand, but much with no water.

I never popped a bead (sp?) on any of the tires, and I know I was pushing it.

Here is an example of the difference in tire pressure (this video shows how I did at different pressures).

http://mark.legendz.com/trip/2004/glamis-climb-produced1.wmv or http://mark.legendz.com/trip/2004/glamis-climb-produced1.MPG

BTW.. I have 32x11.50 tires (BFG AT KOs) on 15x8 rims with 4.10 gears...

 

[Arnie897]

when you drive into the silver lake orv park they have a sign that states tire psi no higher than 15 to 18 psi.

I'll be there this weekend running 10 psi

 

[holshotracer]

every one that i run with runs at 10 psi and that includes running real easy on pavement to the campground that we stay at witch is about 3 miles away and no one as blown a bead.

 

[TheRookie]

It all depends on the sand.. If its hard & packed, then run around 20 PSI.. If its soft like the sand I go thru in Delaware surf fishing, I highly suggest dropping down to 15 atleast.. Most places have air stations within a mile from the road. I know in Delaware there are air stations at most of the 4x4 access points on the beach. Not sure how it is up near you, but I would find out before dropping your pressure anymore.

Wait, Wait , Deleware beach 4x4 access? please elaborate. I was totaly unaware of this. And I only live about 15 mins from the deleware border.

 

[kenr74]

I usually drop my 31x10.5's down to 15psi. Pop it in low range 4x4 and pull my trailer with ATV's all over the dunes. Just have to watch the tranny temp guage!

 

[CaptKirk]

I just got back from the OBX (outer banks, NC). First time for me in the sand, what a blast. Drove on the beach everyday there. The signs down there say air down to 20 psi. I did this the first day and it drove kinda slugish. I didn't want to stop being worried of getting stuck. The sand there is very soft! I read my owners manual and it suggested not to air down at all, which I tried the second day. Bad idea! I got stuck until I aired down.
I found 15 psi and 4x4 low worked great. No problems at all. This is with stock rims and tires. And I had to drive a bit on the pavement to air back up. Just took it easy with no sharp turns and never had a problem.
I liked it so much I was wanting to know of more places to drive on the beach. Does anyone know of places in Maine that allow this?

 

[BigDave!!!]

i usually do 15 rear 18 front in pretty loose sand and i am 4x2, i have a crappy little tire pump that plugs into the cigarette lighter and was only like 20 bucks so i can pump back up when done off roading, takes forever though...

 

[jimbo74]

on my yota, i will be running 10 psi all around when i head out to pismo..... for slow stuff, that pressure is fine... however dont expect to be doing donuts with pressures that low.... lower than 15 psi and you will lose a bead, i have done it on my explorer..... my yota runs 31x10.5s on 15x7 explorer sawblade rims

 

[unclemeat]

Just a little advice to those of you with automatic transmissions. When you return home from the beach and sand driving, it is always a good idea to change your fluid.
Driving on sand generates extra heat in the transmission, so at least check or repace it.

 

[CaptKirk]

With auto trans, do you want to keep it in low gear while in 4x4 low? Or just leave it in drive when in 4x4 low? I left it in drive, but wasn't really sure.

 

[410Fortune]

depends on how fast you are going hahaha I prefer to always be in Low range in the sand, shift from 1-2-D myself, however for higher speed stupp high range 4x4 works fine, then same thing 1-2-D myself.


With a good auto trans cooling system you should not have issues, you always want to monitor your trans temp no matter what conditions with an auto....

 

[Rhett]

I have aired down to 12-15 psi on river sand and did ok. The river sand here, even when it's dry, is usually firmer than beach sand...not quite the same.

 

[holshotracer]

this past weekend i was running around 11 psi. the only problem was when i got stuck and had to be pulled out of the mud. there must of been a stick in the mud that i didn't see, because i started drive and tthe tire when flat. it was leakind from the bead.