Forest service and logging road tire pressure

[KillerBeee]

I've got a 2010 Chevy Duramax 3/4 ton pick up. I'm wondering what tire pressures you all run for logging road and back country roaming. I have very good condition Cooper Discoverer ATPII and also a new dedicated set of winter tires.
     Fire away with what you're doing and what works well for you. I don't really do much beyond the hard pack and gravel.
       Thanks,
             Dave
   

[logger]

I'm not a huge fan of airing way down, we can run up to 60 to 70 miles a day in some instances on gravel, example= if something is supposed run 70lbs i'll run it at 55 lbs way less rock drilling, get too low and run the risk of ruining a sidewall, I proven that one to myself a couple of times!

[Bearomatic180gr]

33 psi. 94 f150. 4 yrs only put air to my left steer tire once in the last 12ish months?
Michelin “total performance” same tires since January 2020. Lots of large rock in “my” road I take to honey hole haha 50 miles from my doorstep. Day hunting fool not an overnight stud.


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[MADMAX]

10 ply minimum 45 lbs all the time Tundra no issues

[WapitiTalk1]

What MMax said. You need @ least 10 plys especially if you’re in lava rock areas (cue our volcano area hunting here). They do not put good logging road tires on new rigs unless you ask for them. 

[time2hunt]

18-20 lbs 3/4 dodge mega cab colockum/quilimine country.


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[MADMAX]

18-20 lbs 3/4 dodge mega cab colockum/quilimine country.


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Up there add 3 spares too

[dewandgin]

2007 Duramax crew cab I run them at50psi all day never had a issue With BFG K02's. I am running BFG HD K/T's this year so we will see how they do. Very impressed with them so far.

[TripleB]

Ever since I put 10 ply tires  on my truck I quit dropping air. Haven’t had a problem. Prior to spending the money on good tires I’d put them at 18.

[Ghost Hunter]

Had a little rusty nail work its way thru a 14ply trailer tire.  Other than that, tires are not the weak link on a utility trailer I've put several thousand miles on since rebuilding it.  Run 65 psi on tires rated for 115psi, and load it accordingly.

[KillerBeee]

The tires are 10 ply. These Coopers are decent and not much miles on them. Thanks for the replies.

[Rugsnfeathers]

The tires are 10 ply. These Coopers are decent and not much miles on them. Thanks for the replies.

Since your question is tire pressure, and you mentioned that you're driving mostly gravel, if it was me, I'd just leave it alone.  I never aired down when I had my F250 power stroke with Toyo tires.  I now drive an F150 crew cab 3.5 L ecoboost, and I still don't air down.  Although, I have recovery boards in my truck bed, as well as a portable compressor I got from Harbor Freight.  Like some people mentioned too, If I'm venturing deep in the backcountry, I haul a second set of spare tire.  Oh, by the way, I also stow a tire repair kit, in case there's a small puncture.

[timberhunter]

Always had small pickups and ran 20 psi. during hunting season. Way better ride, less chatter on wash board, and better traction.

[KillerBeee]

One of the reasons I brought this up, was tire tread with rock-gravel stuck between the tread. I removed the old stuck gravel and rock and could see steel belt where it had been working it's way into the rubber. I was thinking that less pressure might soften the ride and minimize rock intrusion.

[Special T]

Lower air pressure reduces the possibility of an impact break. Logger mentioned rock drilling what is what you experienced.  If you can see the belt I would squirt some black paint in the hole to reduce the rusting which will reduce strenght and increase the likelihood of a blow out. It's not too bad if it's in the center of the tire but worse if it's on the edge of the steel belt.

[pd]

Since you asked.

I run 10-ply (Series E), 12 months the year.  45-psi.  I don't air down, even in hard rock (but I don't drive the Quilomene, either).  I learned my lessons years ago with the abysmal quality of rock that the Idaho Dept of Lands pays for on their forest roads (hint: 1" rock would be small, usually much bigger).  My truck is light, so I don't need to air up any higher than 45.  The key is the tire quality.

On washboard roads I bounce and dance all day long, this is a known problem.  I accept it.