Airing down: why tire pressure makes the ride
The single biggest upgrade for a rough trail costs nothing. Here is how low to go, when, and how to get home after.
Wheel It Team
Ask any trail guide the fastest way to make a rig ride better and they will point at your valve stems.
What airing down actually does
Dropping from street pressure to trail pressure lengthens your tire's contact patch. More rubber on the rock means more grip, less bounce, and a ride that stops rattling your fillings on washboard.
Numbers to start with
- Full-size rigs on 35s: 15-18 psi
- Mid-size on all-terrains: 18-22 psi
- Side-by-sides: check your door sticker and drop a quarter
Rocky, slow technical trails reward the low end. Fast gravel wants a few psi back.
The part people forget
Air back up before the highway. Low pressure at speed builds heat, and heat kills tires. A $40 compressor lives in the truck box for exactly this reason.
See a ride day you like? Every listing shows the terrain so you know what pressure to run before you arrive.
