If you want to improve your 4×4’s off-road performance, the easiest and most affordable way to do that is to make sure your tires have the right air pressure. However, you should be mindful of a few factors when you do so. CarSwitch.com, an online marketplace to buy certified used cars for sale in Dubai, has prepared this guide to help you set the ideal air pressure.
Tools Required
If you need to get the job done efficiently, use a valve core remover tool to deflate tires. Otherwise, you can also utilize a pen or a key to remove air from the valve stem. A valve core remover tool will let you go down from 30 psi to 7 psi in a few minutes. Since it’s easy to lose the valve core, be very careful. That’s why it might even be a good idea to have a few spare ones on hand. You also need an air quality pressure gauge which will display markings for low pressure. You need to make sure the air pressure is correct for safety and performance reasons. If you forget the gauge, you can refer to your ride’s TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) display if it has one. They are pretty accurate and can be a substitute for a pressure gauge.
PSI
There is no universal PSI (pounds per square inch) air pressure number. Be sure to refer to your vehicle owner’s manual to make sure you set the right air pressure. If you don’t have a Beadlock wheel, you should not drop the tire pressure below 10 psi. Getting below 10 psi without some kind of locking mechanism to keep the bead in place can cause the tire to de-bead. If this happens, you will have to change out the tire and both the wheel and tire could get damaged. It’s a good idea to start at 20 psi and then go down from there. Some factors you need to take into account include the size of the wheel, the diameter of the tire, the weight of the vehicle, and the terrain you are on.
Locking The Tire
If you hit a trail regularly, you can try getting Beadlock wheels. Standard wheels use air pressure to secure the tire in place. A Beadlock wheel, on the other hand, features a mechanical mechanism to lock tire beads in place. When the tire is locked to the wheel, you can drop the air pressure to single-digit too.
Off-Road Performance
A tire is a kind of like a basketball in that a fully inflated one will have no problem bouncing around. That’s because of the high air pressure. The same holds true for your tires. Instead of adapting to the terrain, it will constantly push away from it and this will lead to poor performance and a harsh ride. However, if you take enough air out, the tires will conform to the train. This will lead to a smoother ride.
Tire Options
Make sure you choose tires that can handle the job as not all are designed to manage low air-pressure torture off-road.
Air Up
When you get back on the road, you can use something like the VIAIR compressor and air up your tires. If you don’t want to invest in an onboard air system, you will have to opt for pay-to-pump air compressors.
Looking for a reliable off-road vehicle for your next adventure? Be sure to check out the wide range of used cars for sale in Dubai on CarSwitch.com, which only lists certified and inspected vehicles.