A common topic of discussion amongst ATVers is ATV Tire Pressure or more specifically “What pressure should I be running in my ATV tires?”. ATV tire pressure is a very important measurement that should be checked before each ride. An under/over inflated ATV tire can have adverse affects on handling, tire wear, traction, fuel mileage and the drive train.
ATV tire pressure is the amount of air in your tire measured in PSI here in the United States. The acronym PSI stands for “Pounds per Square Inch,” and it is the amount of force (pounds) that is exerted on an area of one square inch of the inside of the tire and wheel.
The correct tire pressure is kind of a personal preference depending on the type of terrain you ride and the load you are carrying but should never exceed the ATV manufacturers recommendation. Most ATV manufacturers recommend a tire pressures range as low as 2.5 PSI and as high as 10 PSI.
For hard packed high speed trail riding 7 – 8 PSI is commonly recommended. For an ATV loaded down with camping gear or an extra rider 8 – 9 PSI is typical but no more than 10 PSI. For slow technical riding on rocks, sand or snow 3 – 4 PSI is typical. For a good balance of high speed and ATV technical riding 5 – 6 PSI works for most.
Understanding tire pressure and how it affects your ATV is important to determine the pressure that is right for your style of riding. By lowering the tire pressure allows the tire to conform more to the shape of the terrain and provide more tire tread contact for more grip.
The lower the tire pressure the slower the speed should be otherwise you will risk rolling the tire off of the bead or loose of control due to the tire side walls flexing as you go into a high speed turn. Also by lower the tire pressure you will lose some ground clearance but the increased traction far outweighs the missing of a quarter to one half of an inch in clearance.
Driving too fast on tires with low pressure will overheat the tires resulting in premature tire damage. Low tire pressure also results in more tire drag at high speeds resulting in poor fuel economy and handling.
Increasing ATV tire pressure is usually to compensate for higher loads on the ATV or high speed trail riding on hard packed trails. Running too much tire pressure and the tire will crown causing increased wear on the center of the tire and a rougher ride.
If your riding style and terrain are fairly consistent, start with a tire pressure around 5 – 6 PSI and experiment raising and lowering the pressure a PSI or two until you find the pressure that is right for you and your style of riding.
If your riding style and/or terrain changes and you make the appropriate tire pressure adjustments for a specific ride make sure you readjust the pressure after the ride back to your normal pressure. Remember to check your tire pressure before each ride using a special low pressure tire gauge (0 – 15 PSI) which will give you a more accurate pressure reading.
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