What PSI do you keep your tires when you off roading?

What PSI do you guys keep your tires when you off roading on:

1. Rocks
2. Mud
3. Sand
4. Snow

Moreover, what is the minimum PSI to have your tires on and not beeing afraid of taking tires off of your wheels?

So far the lowest I've gone is 13-15 psi on my MT's. I know you can go lower but it worked fine in the mud and small rocks.

I've been as low as 2 3/4 psi.
-Chris

anywhere from 10-20psi

I run about 18-20 since I dont have a full size spare at the moment.

18 works well and is a good balance between risk and performance, but I wouldn't even do that unless you have tire repair materials, a good spare, tools and of course air.

It can also depend on the tire your running. A stock tire you don't want to air down to much because of the lack of a strong sidewall. With a more aggressive tire you can air down more because the sidewall has more resistance to wrinkling and will support the vechicle at a lower pressure.

Everything you wanted to know about tire pressure but were afraid to ask :

Tire pressure

I usually run around 20-25. I ran 20 on Rubicon and did just fine.

I usually run around 20-25. I ran 20 on Rubicon and did just fine.

Please post pictures of your Xterra on the Rubicon, we'd love to see them.

1. Rocks... 12-15
2. Mud... 12
3. Sand... 8-12
4. Snow... 24 with chains (standard street pressure

See ya on the trail,
Doc

i have bfg at's and at gox, on 1 run (stony creek)i ran street pressure (35ish). on poughkeepsie and engineer (rocks and switchbacks) i ran 20 and noticed a huge difference in traction and comfort. can't wait for the swaybar disconnects for further improvements!

Me too!

Although, in his defense, there are portions of the Rubicon that aren't too difficult. If you travel "backwards" on the Rubicon trail, it's pretty tame until Cadillac Hill, which is essentially the last obstacle most people cross after travelling in west-to-east (the more popular direction). I've driven that part in my Pathfinder with only 31" tires and a 2" lift.

The western entrance at Loon Lake, on the other hand...

Sorry, no pictures as of yet. It was my brother-in-law's bachelor party and he took the digital camera with him on his honeymoon. Will post pics when he gets back.

XPLORx4 is right. If you travel backwards, which is what we did, there are portions that aren't too difficult. I really didn't think Cadillac Hill was too bad. If I didn't have rockers and an ARB I might have come back with a little less X, but besides the grinding and slamming in the boulder field not extremely difficult. Unfortunately we didn't make it the whole trail as we hit the Cadillac Hill at 11 p.m. and didn't think it was too wise to try the whole thing at that time of night. But none the less I will post pics once I get them.

An why aren't you in PNWX? There are plenty of trails here in Washington that are on par with the Rubicon.

The "whole" Rubicon takes 2-3 days for modified rigs. An Xterra is not capable of running it.

So what's this I hear about the Liberty (and all Jeeps) being able to do the Rubicon stock? Yeah, they take a lot of bypasses, but unless they're not talking about the "whole" thing then I'm confused.

BTW, I usually air down from 30 to 20 psi for trail use, 20 is still enough to get to an air supply that isn't too far away, though I now carry a 7-gallon tank that can bring all 4 tires back from 15 to 25 psi.

Brent

The Liberty did not pass the infamous Jeep Rubicon testing with a lot of winching.

The Cherokee and Grand Cherokee have made it. There is a big difference between a Cherokee and an Xterra.

Okay, then I just have to ask:

Why on Earth did you buy an Xterra?

You are one of the biggest critics of the Xterra's abilities off-road, yet you are also one of the biggest proponents of taking your truck off-road whenever you can.

I just have to wonder, what was the benefit of buying an Xterra for $23-25K, when you could have probably found a very decent used Cherokee for about half that, and then put the rest of the money into the (many!) aftermarket parts available for the Jeep?

Also, you would have had a solid front axle . . .

Just curious, Ian . . . I get the feeling that you are going to drive the hell out of the Xterra because others say you can't, not because it's the best vehicle for the job . . .

Of course, my Xterra is a clean mall-cruiser, and will stay that way, so what do I know?

XC, I didn't read anything into Ian's post, it was straight up. The Cherokee will spank the Xterra off road. Doesn't mean we all have to get the most capable rig. Half the fun is pushing the Xterra further than we think possible, into the territory where a lot of Cherokee owners wouldn't think it, or even their Cherokees, can go.

simmah dahn nah,
Brent

What's even more fun is getting in your X in the morning and having it actually start...while your neighbor with his POS Cherokee cranks his starter 100 times before giving up and hitching a ride with you. Cherokees may be better than an X off-road, but the first thing you have to do is get off-road....a very big challenge for a most unreliable vehicle. The hassle of owning a Cherokee is not worth trading for off-road capability.

Interesting. Are you sure?? I thought the Xterra is based on the same chassis as the Frontier...

1998 Frontier on the Rubicon

Nice big picture of the top of Big Sluice.

My butt was 'tight' when I dropped down
off of that rock.

If you drop down off that center rock 45 degrees
to the left (the best way when we were there),
you hit the dirt wall on the left at a pretty
good clip even geared down and you have to
make a hard right turn to keep from flipping.

The rest of Big Sluice is easier going
down than up but this obstacle was easier
coming back up.

Toy Man

That Frontier is running parts you can't get yet.
When they are available, then yes, an Xterra should be able to make it taking all the bypasses.
But if you're going to take all the bypasses, why bother doing it ?

Such as?...
(if you're referring to the 'Mexican LSD', then just substitute an ARB locker.)

So you really meant "A [stock] Xterra is not capable of running it. "
Hmmm.. let's see:
1) It's requires the use of 4-LO
2) It's beautiful scenery. (Rubicon:CA::Black Bear:CO)
3) Even the Rubicon bypasses are 4 to 4+ difficulty
4) Show the Jeepers and Yota crowd that Nissans can play, too.

3.9:1 gearing.

Not all that many bypasses.

There might be a bypass at the start of
the Ellis Creek entrance but no bypass
for Walker hill and on to Little Sluice.

Little Sluice is very optional - most do
not take it. No bypass (that I know of)
off Granite Slab to Buck Island Lake to
Big Sluice and down to Rubicon Springs.

No bypass for Cadillac Hill

Toy Man

Actually, the difference in gearing between 2.02 and 3.9 has very little to do with how well an Xterra is going to tackle the Rubicon. Sure, low gearing allows for more controlled obstacle negotiation, but I'd wager that any Xterra with a rear locker, rock sliders, 3" lift, and 31" tires can make it... albeit with caution. Lower t-case gears would help, but aren't necessary equipment.

On vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, careful use of the parking brake/brake/gas can help moderate crawl speed both up and down large rocks. It's kind of a pain in the butt (to have to work around the 2.02:1 ratio), but it's possible. Nonetheless, sign me up for those crawler gears!

Take pics when you do it!

Back on topic.....

32" BFG MT km's 28-30 on the street.

18 for typical offroading, can also drive highway speeds if needing air.

I have a CO2 setup, so I've went down to 7.5 for sand and rocks. Huge improvement in ride quality. I didn't do anything at 7.5 that I hadn't done at 18 so I typically don't go this low to prevent breaking a bead.

Swampers TSL 31' Bias ply
1. Rocks 18psi
2. Mud 18psi
3. Sand 12psi
4. Snow 12psi
5. Street 24psi
Crappy assed Grabbers
1. Rocks 25 psi
2. Mud 25 psi
3. Sand 20 psi
4. Snow 20 psi
5. Street 34 psi
-Rick

Good article. Lot's of details and tests that you can perform to verify the results for yourself.

"I created the Internet" - Al Gore, Jr.

Go checkout the entrance to HighRider trail, up past Sultan. Wow!!