Air Down in Snow?

SilveradoWV · January 25, 2003

Does anyone air down in the snow or winter? If I am in 2wd in a snow covered parking lot or etc..., I spin like crazy! I just dropped 10psi out of my tires for the rest of Winter. Just wondering if anyone else drops their pressure? ???

nhkid28 · January 25, 2003

I wouldnt. The skinner the tire the better traction in the snow. The only exception to this that I can think of is maybe if you are offroading in the snow. In that case you are better off with more flotation so you wont sink in.

Just keep you tires inflated per spec and you are going to get the best traction possible out of the tire.

timk49 · January 25, 2003

SNOW????

asepgrad98 · January 25, 2003

its bad for the tires to run low air pressure. maybe put weight in the bed instead

SilveradoWV · January 26, 2003

The place I got my tires said I could run them at 45psi all of the time. But so far I have ran 60psi until today when I dropped them to 50psi.

Shaners · January 26, 2003

The place I got my tires said I could run them at 45psi all of the time. But so far I have ran 60psi until today when I dropped them to 50psi.

60 psi is probably too high for your truck (especially empty). I run mine at 55 front and 50 rear (max infaltion is 80 psi), but that is on my 6000 lb HD crewcab with a fiberglass cap.

I installed a set of "LT" Bridgestones on my '00 Silverado 1500 and ran them at 45 psi empty. I'm not positive, but I think the Max inflation for the stock 1500 aluminum rim is around 60 psi. It should be stamped on the inside of the rim if I'm not mistaken.

SilveradoWV · January 26, 2003

I ran mine at 45 when I first got them and they got really hot, I then put them at 60 and they ran cool everytime I checked. They are Cooper Discoverer ATs, 8 ply.

January 26, 2003

I never changed pressure in snow.

Just be careful, a little weight in the bed is a great idea. I always carried inner tubes full of sand/salt mix. The tubes kept the water out and if I needed traction, I had the sand/salt to throw down.

Just cut big truck tubes and tie up the ends with safety wire.

Shaners · January 26, 2003

Cooper Discovers are great tires!!! Congrats on a fine choice. :thumb: I ran the "off-brand" Coursers or Mastercraft before, and found they were awsome tires!!! (made by Cooper)

Some heat in the tires is a good thing... don't overinflate them and wear the centers out.... Those tires should be awesome in the snow, because mine were great!!! :thumb:

jmeredith · January 26, 2003

lower air pressure will absolutely increase traction.

I run my rear 285/75 bfg at's at 40 with an empty bed and fiberglass canopy. this is the pressure where I get full and even tread contact with pavement.

you can test for your optimum pressure using chalk or a very shallow puddle near dry smooth pavement. first air up your tires. then chalk up a portion, or drive through that shallow puddle onto dry pavement. you will easily see that at 60 you do not get full tread width contact which of course means uneven tire wear. gradually reduce the air pressure repeating this cycle until you see the full tread width 'blocking' on the pavement evenly.

you can also use a dusty gravel road where it meets pavement.

definitely let some air out. you can go down to 45 without any worry. any more than that you should use the above procedure to determine optimum pressure for your truck/tire combo. just remember to air up when hauling/towing.

-jm

HillHound · January 26, 2003

I had my truck's BFG AT tires at 60psi and was getting awful traction in snow, especially when I was driving in fields and on some old dirt/gravel roads that are not plowed. I deflated the tires down to about 45psi and now it goes great on and off road.

I'll air them back up when the snow quits flying!

SilveradoWV · January 26, 2003

Thanks guys! I do like the Cooper Discoverer ATs and have no problems at all when in 4x4 but have been thinking my 2wd traction seems a little weak. I have them at 50 right now, when I catch a warm day I will try the chalk thing.