Excellent video because you're actually doing something in snow that that demonstrates the difference what you're talking about actually can make. Thank you for that. And! Keep up the videos like this
What wonderful powder snow you get there unlike the wet snow we get (occasionally) in my part of the U.K. interesting to see the affect of lowering tyre pressure in the snow, I must admit it’s not something I’ve ever experimented with maybe I’ll give it a try if we get any snow this year. Thanks for posting.
If you can dig to the ground while not high centering, high pressure wins. If not, lower pressure to float more. In my case, 8-12" of snow is the tipping point.
Snow Driving (deep snow) makes sense to lower PSI. It is similar to driving in sand, lower PSI makes a larger footprint and less digging which equates to more grip. I am not sure why lowering PSI isn't common during winter driving, perhaps because of the higher speeds on highways, or that people don't have the capabilities or know-how to lower and raise their PSI. I plan on testing out lower PSI when we get a bigger storm down here in New England. I would also be curious as to how this affects ice driving (my guess is that it would be worse to lower PSI in ice.) Good Video Man!
Thanks for the comment. I too want to quantify the benefits or drawbacks to airing down for ice. You see bigger vehicles often handle icy roads better and I can only assume it's due to a higher pressure contact patch. That said there are lots of times we encounter ice on the trail and need to lower the PSI to get through. I wonder if in this case the lower psi is conforming to the irregularities in the trail and creating a little more mechanical grip.
Great video. I think in these conditions, airing down is helpful because flotation is what you are seeking. However, in regular street driving with snow that is only a few inches in depth, my testing reveals much worse traction with lower psi. I did a test at 32/16/10 psi and each time i lowered the pressure the traction was worse.
@@jacuzzibusguy Yeah I was thinking of this as well, depends on the kind of snow as well . If it compacts easily probably better of leaving it higher PSI, but if it is deep or doesn't compact then I think going lower PSI would help. I'm wondering if a pressure during normal snow conditions (2-4 inches) would be best around maybe 28-25PSI. I have been wanting to test this out myself but recently installed automatic lockers front and rear so winter driving is a bit more complex than normal open differentials, LSD or AWD. Thanks for your test results though, definetly good to know not to go under 20 psi at a minimum if I test this.
@@tylerdubois9020 I made a video recently that includes this test. I’m preparing to do a comprehensive test involving tire pressure for different type of tires: All terrain Mud terrain Winter All tests completed on a steep hill with only a couple inches of snow. Curious minds want to know! But you said it best in your video that it’s all dependent on the type of winter driving.
That's because anyone can say anything online. I've added some further information below. Now I will say that when manufacturers of both vehicles and tires set the operating pressures they have to consider the speeds at which the vehicle and tires are rated and the load its intended to be able to carry. They are not listing the pressure for maximum traction but rather safety (load/speed) as well as fuel economy. As such airing down should only ever be done off road!! I saw something that made sense the other day and that was "half pressure, half speed". Airing down is well know in the offroad community and widely used. I've heard that there have been people who have gotten their vehicles stuck in the deserts and died only to have the recovery team air down their tires and be able to drive their vehicles right out. It also make sense conceptually when you think about how a tire forms grip with a surface. It's kinda 2 parts, one is the coefficient of friction between the surface and the rubber compound at a microscopic level, as well as the mechanical engagement by the tires lugs to variations in the surface. Mainly for the second part of traction if you get the pressure down it increases the footprint and allows for more mechanical engagement with the surface. In extreme snow offroading (but also sand) it also decreases the surface pressure by area letting a vehicle float.
@@mercedesbenzs600bash it helps a TON if your in a lot of snow. It’s not so much the side to side contact but more so the front to back of each tire has way more rubber on the ground/snow kinda like having rubber tracks for each tire
Should always stick with manufacturers listed pressure while onroad. Offroad you'd have to experiment. Deep snow I'd suspect airing down would be no different but hard pack and ice it would be interesting to see if fewer studs with more force or more studs with less force works best.
Excellent video because you're actually doing something in snow that that demonstrates the difference what you're talking about actually can make. Thank you for that. And! Keep up the videos like this
What wonderful powder snow you get there unlike the wet snow we get (occasionally) in my part of the U.K. interesting to see the affect of lowering tyre pressure in the snow, I must admit it’s not something I’ve ever experimented with maybe I’ll give it a try if we get any snow this year. Thanks for posting.
Just the video I was looking for before my snow trip.
If you can dig to the ground while not high centering, high pressure wins. If not, lower pressure to float more. In my case, 8-12" of snow is the tipping point.
Thanks for the video will try for my first time this week.
Right on Right on 👍
Snow Driving (deep snow) makes sense to lower PSI. It is similar to driving in sand, lower PSI makes a larger footprint and less digging which equates to more grip.
I am not sure why lowering PSI isn't common during winter driving, perhaps because of the higher speeds on highways, or that people don't have the capabilities or know-how to lower and raise their PSI.
I plan on testing out lower PSI when we get a bigger storm down here in New England.
I would also be curious as to how this affects ice driving (my guess is that it would be worse to lower PSI in ice.)
Good Video Man!
Thanks for the comment. I too want to quantify the benefits or drawbacks to airing down for ice. You see bigger vehicles often handle icy roads better and I can only assume it's due to a higher pressure contact patch. That said there are lots of times we encounter ice on the trail and need to lower the PSI to get through. I wonder if in this case the lower psi is conforming to the irregularities in the trail and creating a little more mechanical grip.
Great video. I think in these conditions, airing down is helpful because flotation is what you are seeking.
However, in regular street driving with snow that is only a few inches in depth, my testing reveals much worse traction with lower psi. I did a test at 32/16/10 psi and each time i lowered the pressure the traction was worse.
@@jacuzzibusguy Yeah I was thinking of this as well, depends on the kind of snow as well . If it compacts easily probably better of leaving it higher PSI, but if it is deep or doesn't compact then I think going lower PSI would help.
I'm wondering if a pressure during normal snow conditions (2-4 inches) would be best around maybe 28-25PSI.
I have been wanting to test this out myself but recently installed automatic lockers front and rear so winter driving is a bit more complex than normal open differentials, LSD or AWD.
Thanks for your test results though, definetly good to know not to go under 20 psi at a minimum if I test this.
@@tylerdubois9020 I made a video recently that includes this test.
I’m preparing to do a comprehensive test involving tire pressure for different type of tires:
All terrain
Mud terrain
Winter
All tests completed on a steep hill with only a couple inches of snow.
Curious minds want to know!
But you said it best in your video that it’s all dependent on the type of winter driving.
@@jacuzzibusguy Yeah I think keeping certain things consistant would be important to (i.e. the vehicle and tire size).
I live in the uk with 30years of driving, I swear by letting air out but when you search on the internet it states it's a myth.
That's because anyone can say anything online. I've added some further information below.
Now I will say that when manufacturers of both vehicles and tires set the operating pressures they have to consider the speeds at which the vehicle and tires are rated and the load its intended to be able to carry. They are not listing the pressure for maximum traction but rather safety (load/speed) as well as fuel economy. As such airing down should only ever be done off road!! I saw something that made sense the other day and that was "half pressure, half speed". Airing down is well know in the offroad community and widely used. I've heard that there have been people who have gotten their vehicles stuck in the deserts and died only to have the recovery team air down their tires and be able to drive their vehicles right out.
It also make sense conceptually when you think about how a tire forms grip with a surface. It's kinda 2 parts, one is the coefficient of friction between the surface and the rubber compound at a microscopic level, as well as the mechanical engagement by the tires lugs to variations in the surface. Mainly for the second part of traction if you get the pressure down it increases the footprint and allows for more mechanical engagement with the surface. In extreme snow offroading (but also sand) it also decreases the surface pressure by area letting a vehicle float.
So for the most part it's beneficial to your driving huh???
@@mercedesbenzs600bash it helps a TON if your in a lot of snow. It’s not so much the side to side contact but more so the front to back of each tire has way more rubber on the ground/snow kinda like having rubber tracks for each tire
@@nik6561 Much appreciated...
You really should only air down when rock crawling or on rough gravel/washboards roads. For snow and sand you want to slice through the snow.
If you don't have snow tires, like in this video, then airing down might help. If you have snow tires -- don't air down.
Good tip. What video soft ware editing are you using.
Thanks! I use iMovie which came pre-loaded on my computer. I have quite a few issues with it that I think are because my computer is over 8 years old.
So with studded tires i should stay at 32 psi ?
Should always stick with manufacturers listed pressure while onroad. Offroad you'd have to experiment. Deep snow I'd suspect airing down would be no different but hard pack and ice it would be interesting to see if fewer studs with more force or more studs with less force works best.
@@OkanaganOverland ok , thanks bud .
Driving in 3" of snow
Airing down on hard snow or ice makes things a lot worse.
I kinda wanted to try it out here in anchorage but your comment has me nervous now
It isn't a good thing at highway speeds!
But most people won't be doing regular highway speeds in the snow so I feel lowering that air pressure will be beneficial...