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Does Airing Down on the Trail Really Matter?

Does Airing Down on the Trail Really Matter?

Jan 16, 2026

How Vehicle Weight and Tire Load Rating Affect Airing Down on the Trail

Airing down your tires can improve traction, but our recent tests show it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Vehicle weight, tire load rating, and tire design all play a critical role in how much your tire footprint actually increases when lowering PSI. Here’s what we found:

 

Key Takeaways

Vehicle Weight Matters

  • Lighter trucks with heavy, stiff tires see minimal sidewall deformation at lower PSI.
  • Heavier trucks press the tires down more, creating a larger contact patch and a smoother ride over obstacles.

Tire Load Rating Affects Flex

  • E-rated six-ply tires are designed to support heavier vehicles, which makes their sidewalls stiffer.
  • On lighter vehicles, these tires don’t flex as much, so the increase in footprint is limited even when airing down significantly.

Tire Design Impacts Performance

  • Tall, narrow tires are designed to “find the bottom” of soft terrain rather than float, so airing down has limited effect.
  • Wider tires designed to float on top of soft surfaces benefit more from air-downs—but only if the vehicle has enough weight to press the tire into the terrain.

PSI vs. Performance

  • Daily driving PSI (35 in our test) works well for dirt roads and light off-road conditions.
  • Dropping to moderate PSI (25) increases sidewall flex slightly, improving traction on rocks and uneven surfaces.
  • Extreme PSI reduction (17–20) shows the most deformation, but its effectiveness depends heavily on the vehicle’s weight and tire design.

Practical Insight

  • Airing down alone doesn’t guarantee better traction—vehicle weight, tire load rating, and tire design must all align.
  • Consider your trail, your tires, and your truck before dropping PSI for traction or comfort.
  • For some setups, a heavier tire or vehicle will see far more benefit from air-downs than a light truck with stiff tires.

Lowering tire pressure can improve traction and comfort off-road, but it’s not a magic solution. The benefits are maximized when the vehicle is heavy enough to press the tires down, the tires are rated appropriately for the load, and the tire design matches the terrain you’re driving. Understanding how these factors interact ensures you get the most out of airing down without compromising safety or tire performance.

Team BROG