question about offroading...
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: 0,0,1
If my memory serves me well, thinking back to the days of beach dune buggies, anything less than a Pxxx/50R/xx will get you stuck in the sand. Back then tires were sized by letters and numbers and we ran on G50-15 because the G60-15 tires got stuck. The lower the number the wider the tire (75, 70, 65, 60, 55, 50)
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
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Also, keep in mind that you might be limited to only 4WDLo when in the sand. The drag from the sand is very high and you will over stress the tranny driving in high.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,792
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From: Richland, WA
Typically, the bigger and wider the tires, the better they are. But you absolutely do not want big wheels and low profile tires. You want a tall side wall so you can let some air out and get a nice bulge. I have 33x12.5x15s on my Bronco and at 8-10 psi I can pretty much go anywhere I want. But that is a completely different animal than an Expedition.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,792
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From: Richland, WA
The ideal pressure to run really depends on your tire/wheel combination, driving skill, tools available. I've never had a problem in the sand with my combination at 8-10 psi. Plus I have tools and on-board-air to re-seat a bead on the trail; so I'm a little more willing to push the 'limit'. Of course you could always get a set of bead lockers and drop the pressure as low as you want.
Fleet Owner
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Trailering
Joined: May 2014
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I live in Colorado and went to Sand Dunes National Park a few weeks ago in my stock 2006 XlT 4x4. The stock size is 265/70 R17 and they suggested lowering tire pressure but I did not have a way to raise it back up. I went down the main off-road trail and got in trouble pretty quick. I was struggling in about 18" of sand. I got out of there quick. I now have a way to lower then raise the pressure but wow that got my attention quick...
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