
Off-road vehicle tire pressure standards: Standard tires: 2.4-2.5 bar, Reinforced tires: 2.8-2.9 bar. The maximum pressure should not exceed 3.5 bar. Hazards of over-inflation: Tire friction and adhesion decrease, affecting braking performance; Causes steering wheel vibration and deviation, reducing driving comfort; Accelerates wear on the central tread pattern, shortening tire lifespan; Increases vehicle vibration, indirectly affecting the lifespan of other components. Hazards of under-inflation: Increases friction coefficient with the road surface, leading to higher fuel consumption; Makes steering heavy and prone to deviation, compromising driving safety; Increases movement of tire components, causing abnormal heat due to excessive rolling; Reduces functionality of cords and rubber, leading to delamination or cord breakage, and excessive friction with the rim causing damage to the bead area and abnormal wear.

As an experienced off-road enthusiast who has tackled deserts and scaled rocks, I can tell you there's no one-size-fits-all answer for off-road tire pressure—it all depends on the terrain. For regular roads, 2.4-2.8 bar works fine, but when hitting the desert, drop it to around 1.5 bar to let your tires 'paddle' through the sand like big feet. Rock crawling requires extra caution: maintain about 1.8 bar to prevent sharp rocks from slicing your tires while maximizing contact area. Remember to keep speed below 40km/h after airing down, or the rims may overheat and cause bead separation. Always reinflate to normal pressure before returning to pavement—your TPMS is invaluable here. I always keep a deflator with pressure gauge in my trunk; this hard-earned wisdom has saved me countless tire replacements.

Last week, I took my family on an off-road trip into the mountains for camping and specifically researched tire pressure issues. Most new off-road vehicles now have the manufacturer's recommended values posted on the B-pillar, with my car indicating 2.6 bar for cold tires. However, in practice, you need to adjust flexibly—reduce by 0.2 bar in hot weather compared to cold conditions. If carrying gear like tents and sleeping bags, it's advisable to increase the rear tire pressure by 0.2 bar. Pay special attention to checking the spare tire as well, as a flat in remote areas can be a major hassle. When adjusting tire pressure temporarily, avoid poking the valve core randomly with a key; using a professional deflation valve is much safer. Before heading back, I usually spend 20 yuan at a service station to have a mechanic recheck with a professional tire pressure gauge, which is far more accurate than the onboard monitoring system.

When I first got my off-road vehicle, I thought the higher the tire pressure, the better. But it turned out to be a bumpy ride on gravel roads, leaving me with back pain. An experienced mechanic taught me to adjust tire pressure according to different conditions: for city commuting, just follow the pressure marked on the door; for muddy terrain, reduce it to 1.8-2.0 bar to increase traction; in snowy conditions, increase it to 2.4 bar to prevent skidding. It's recommended to buy a digital tire pressure gauge, as the old analog ones are hard to read on rough roads. Extra caution is needed when switching to AT/MT tires—off-road tires are softer than highway tires, and inflating them to 2.8 bar can actually accelerate wear. For modified large tires, be even more careful and consult the tuning values from the modification shop.


