Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: Dodster on July 31, 2006, 07:21:31 PM

Title: Airing down
Post by: Dodster on July 31, 2006, 07:21:31 PM
Ive seen loads of folks with 33s airing down and i can see the benefit of doing it.

I just wondered if the same would apply with my 31s, being a smaller tyre and all that...

Should i be doing this on 31s or would i be wasting my time...

cheers
Phil
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Post by: Anonymous on July 31, 2006, 07:55:24 PM
I do... makes a HUGE difference once you get down below ~ 16psi. I found that going to around 22 did very little to help though.

EE
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Post by: RichT on July 31, 2006, 08:05:58 PM
I air down to 12 psi when off roading, never had a problem. Traction is improved hugely, especially over hard/rocky ground, as the tyre can flex over and around obstacles. You would definitely see a benefit airing down your 31s.
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Post by: Anonymous on July 31, 2006, 08:18:34 PM
Go for it....just remind me to do it at the next off roading I do :?
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Post by: JamesH on July 31, 2006, 08:43:54 PM
I regularly air down my 31s, generally to about 16-18 psi but have done 14 with no problems. Any lower and you increase the risk of slipping the tyre off the rim, although I've only seen it a couple of times at about 8 psi.

Aired down makes hard ground and bumps smoother and the tyres really grab hard obstacles like rocks and stumps. I have noticed that I've taken a few more chunks out of my tyres since doing it regularly but I do like to drive rocky stuff a lot and it seems inevitable as BFGs aren't too strong.

Give it a try, don't be scared of going low - you have a spare and a good compressor will normally re-seat a slipped tyre. I'd also recommend Staun tyre deflators for ease, I've just ordered a set of E-bay after using Pete's (Thanks  :) ) in Wales.
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Post by: Manda on July 31, 2006, 08:55:02 PM
The only other thing to bear in mind is the loss of ground clearance as your side walls will squish.

Also different manufacturers have a different minimum psi's, I know I can air mine down to 9 psi.
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Post by: Dodster on July 31, 2006, 09:30:27 PM
Thanks all that seems fairly unanimous... 8)

The thing that inspired this thread was this..

http://www.ultimate-air.com/4wd_27.htm (http://www.ultimate-air.com/4wd_27.htm)

I found on another forum but i cant remember where..

James mentioned a good compressor, does anyone have any thoughts on the portable Viair which deflates aswell...

Thanks again
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Post by: Anonymous on August 01, 2006, 04:42:28 AM
I have a viair copy and am very happy with it.

Even with the comparitive slow speed compared to some of the others tested on there, tyre valves make a difference!

As for the deflation side, I use Stauns as well. And am ALWAYS asked to borrow them at events as you wind them on (I have 2 set ~16psi and 2 set at  ~29psi) and let two wheels down at a time. you can let all four down at once if you set them all up that way.

End of the day, I pump them to ~35PSI and then chuck the higher set stauns on to put me back to the right pressure.  (Which I have just remembered I need to adjust up to ~31/32psi now I have the 33's on)

EE :twisted:
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Post by: Dodster on August 01, 2006, 04:55:58 PM
Cheers Ed.. :smt023