What is the suitable tire pressure for AT tires?
2 Answers
Cold tire pressure between 2.2~2.5 is normal, and the generally recommended cold tire pressure is 2.5, which results in lower fuel consumption and keeps the tire pressure within the safe range of 3.0 during high-speed driving. Hazards of over-inflation: Reduced tire friction and adhesion, affecting braking performance; causes steering wheel vibration and deviation, reducing driving comfort; accelerates wear on the central tread pattern, shortening tire lifespan; increases body vibration, indirectly affecting the lifespan of other components; overstretches tire cords, reducing elasticity and increasing the load on the car during driving. Hazards of under-inflation: Increases friction with the road surface, leading to higher fuel consumption; makes the steering wheel heavy and prone to deviation, compromising driving safety; increases movement in various parts of the tire, causing abnormal heat due to excessive rolling; weakens cord and rubber functions, leading to delamination or cord breakage and excessive friction with the rim, damaging the bead area and causing abnormal wear; multiplies friction with the ground, sharply raising tire temperature, softening the tire, and drastically reducing strength. High-speed driving may result in a blowout. For daily tire use, pay attention to the following: Regularly inspect the tire surface for cracks, deformations, or other defects. As the tread wears, the grooves gradually become shallow. If the tread is worn flat, it loses its drainage and anti-slip functions, significantly reducing the car's performance. Small cracks can be potential hazards for blowouts during high-speed driving. Additionally, promptly remove pebbles from the grooves. Park on level ground whenever possible. Avoid parking on roads with thick, sharp, or pointed stones. Do not park near or in contact with petroleum products, acids, or other materials that deteriorate rubber. After parking, avoid turning the steering wheel, as this accelerates tire wear. Do not splash water to cool tires. In hot weather or during high-speed driving, tires are prone to overheating, and pressure increases. In such cases, stop to let the tires cool naturally. Never release air to reduce pressure or splash water to cool, as this can cause abnormal aging of the tread rubber. Avoid sudden braking. Minimize frequent or hard braking to prevent accelerated tread wear due to dragging between the tire and the ground.
I've been driving off-road vehicles for over a decade, and you really can't inflate AT tires casually! On paved roads, I recommend referring to the standard values on the door label, but never blindly follow the factory data. When driving on sand, I reduce the pressure to 1.0-1.5 bar to increase the contact area, while for rock crawling, I inflate to 3.0 bar to prevent bead separation. Around 1.8 bar is ideal in mud to avoid mud slinging. Remember, after switching to AT tires, the displayed speed will be about 5% slower than actual. Tire pressure above 3.5 bar causes abnormal wear at the center, while below 1.0 bar risks damaging the sidewalls. Installing a tire pressure monitoring system is crucial—last week while heading to Tibet, I noticed the tire temperature was 7℃ higher than usual, prompting me to stop and check, only to find a nail puncture.
