Lower air pressures without beadlocks?

[94xcab4x4]

How low of pressure can you safely run with out beadlocks? My cousin and i are going wheeling in the snow comming up and we want to try and lower our tire pressure to help for traction but don't know how low we can go without beadlocks?

 

[wahlstrom1]

It all depends on weight, rim and tire width. I ran 12psi with 12.50 wide tires on 9" wide rims and never popped a bead under my 5k lb ranger on UA. Tim Hardy pull's the valve stems out on his 14.50 boggers and 10" rims under a 2100lb Zuk... no popped beads there either.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

36x12.50R15 TSX SX's on 15x8" wheels, no bead locks. Had them down to 8-10psi without problems.

 

[94xcab4x4]

Well they are heavy trucks 6000-7000lbs and my tires are 285/75r16 on 16x8 and my cousins are 265/75r16s on factory 96f250 rims.

 

[wahlstrom1]

I'd say 10-14lbs, anywhere in that range should be safe.... now anything on a 16.5" rim is a different story, look at them the wrng way and they fall off the bead.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

You also may even be better off leaving the air pressure in depending on the conditions.... And your tires, if you have studded snow tires and where you go has ice underneath you may be better off leaving them at about 50psi so that it digs right down to traction.

 

[feellnfroggy]

I have 31x10.50's on my ranger 93 ext cab 4.0 and I am running about 22 the lowest I go is 18 without BL's. I was down to 22 the other day with my 33's and I slid into an enbankment and it popped the tire off the rim and bead instantly, never had it happen with full pressure, just just make sure your prepared to reseat the tire if the case comes up, it will determine how much lower you can go.