How low?

Which type of tire can be run at lower pressures, tube or tubeless? In your experiece, what is considered low psi for a tube tire? I'm looking for information for off road use. Thanks.

 

What size are you looking at? I used to run my 35x14.50x15 boggers at 8 psi under 20 kms hr. My 35x12.50x15 mtrs where used lots at 15psi up to 80 kms hr.

 

I run 12 up front and as low as 7 psi in the back with 33x13.5 LTB Swampers with out bead locks.

 

In my experience, tube tire can only be run down to about 10psi before the tubes start sliding around and the rim cuts the valve stem.

Tubeless is the only way to go.
Radial tires are the best for low pressure and can be run down to below 1psi, 2 to 3 is pretty common with where I run. This is with a 37mtr but seen it done with gumbo, BFGs, swampers, and others. Radials make for a very nice all around tire and with the newer tires designs, the weak side wall statements aren't as true anymore.

You'll also see guy say bias ply has stronger sidewalls and are the best, unless you are crawling through sharp rock with the Jeep on it's side, they aren't worth it.

As for what pressures to run, this is very dependent on rig, rims, tire size, weight, bla bla bla, but a good starting point is 10psi for trail, I like a little lower with 37s in the 8psi range. Sand a little lower in the 6psi range and snow, 3psi is usually a good starting point if deep. Some sort of beadlock, be it paint, RTV, real beadlock, whatever, will help at lower psi but isn't needed to run the low psi.

 

My TSL's don't even bulge without going less that 8 psi I have actually driven it with 0psi(not on purpose) 32 x 9.5 and 15x7 rim. no bead lock efforts of any kind.

 

I run mine on the trail at 12psi.

I could probably go lower, since the sidewalls dont even bulge. (swamper ltb's 33x13.50-15's on 15x10's)


Honestly I didnt realize that anybody still made tube type tires in non-big rig sizes.

 

I run my BFG MT's at 8-10 lbs

 

I run my Krawlers at 7 psi on the rocks.