The 411 on 4WD: What’s Up With Airing Down?

Whether you’re a self-proclaimed “car person” or not, at some point during automotive adolescence you likely were taught the importance of maintaining good tire pressure. Not only will keeping your tires aired properly increase performance and tire longevity on the road, but also — more importantly — keeps you and all your precious cargo as safe as possible. It’s one of the easiest and most vital parts of car monitoring and maintenance.

However, there are places where airing down your tires is a good idea. In fact, it will even increase performance.

When you’re heading to the trail, beach, or other place with highly varied terrain, traction takes priority above all else. And to achieve the amount of traction needed to get through or over the obstacle in your path, airing down is your best bet.

How Low Do I Go?

Despite what the bros online or down at your local trail tell you, there is no magic number or perfected formula to assist in calculating how much air you should let out. Your rig – with its unique weight balance and suspension setup – matched with your tires and tread life, aren’t the same as anyone else’s. It’s going to require trial and error to find out what works best. So, play around with different pressures in various types of terrain to see where your vehicle feels the most comfortable and capable.

While there are several schools of thought and preference on where to start, we’ll keep it simple: Begin by airing down 5-10 psi per tire. If it’s sand or dirt you’re tackling, start at the lower end of that range. If the terrain is rockier, you can let a bit more out to start. And, if you find yourself getting stuck, then release a bit more for additional grip. Just remember—lower tire pressure and lower speeds go hand in hand. The more air you let out, the slower you should be going.

Does Airing Down Really Help?

So, how exactly does letting air out of your tires increase traction? After all, it seems counterintuitive, right? We’re always told that keeping tires within their suggested psi zone is the best for on-road performance and safety.

But off-road – especially at slower speeds – you can see that a lower-psi tire actually increases the amount of surface area your tire is making with your terrain. A standard mud or all terrain tire with lower air pressure leaves a larger footprint and can easily gain 1-2” of width. And of course, the more tread of your tire that is in contact with your terrain, the more grip and traction it will provide you.

Still confused? Just ask Tom Brady how he gained a better grip on the football in the 2014 AFC Championship game… It certainly wasn’t ADDING psi to the football. #justsayin

Plus, an aired down set of tires can smooth out rocky terrain in addition to offering better grip. The lower psi will force your tires to contour to the obstacle and lessen the ‘bounciness’ of your trek. So this will not only make your ride a bit more comfortable, but save your suspension a little bit of wear and tear.

Ever hear of “Jeep Disease,” common back in World War II? Without going into detail, air down your tires and you won’t have to worry about it.

What Comes Down Must Go Up

But before you even think about letting air out of your tires on the trail, you need to SERIOUSLY ask yourself this most important of questions:

“How am I going to air up before I get back on the pavement?”

You can certainly rely on the nearest service station, but how far away from the trail is that? And how good is their airing equipment? It’s never the best of ideas to put all your faith in an external option like this. I’m sure others can wing it, but the anxiety of having to figure out where I’m getting my post-trail psi fix would cast a dark cloud on my whole wheeling adventure.

That’s why most seasoned off-roaders bring their solution with them – usually in the form of a portable or vehicle-mounted air compressor. A great option, for sure, but it still takes a decent amount of time to air up all four rubbers so they’re highway ready.

Now there’s a better way…

UpDownAir 4 Tire Inflation System

The folks at UpDownAir have only been on the scene for a few short years, but they’ve already managed to shake up the “air delivery business,” as founder Scott Poncher calls it.

The company’s 4 Tire Inflation System applications connect to a proprietary EGOI 2 compressor, popular on-board units from ARB and Viair, or to an external inlet or air pump. From there, just connect the four provided whips to your tire valve stems, and run them to the hi-flow valves installed near each tire. Then use the controller to select whether you’re inflating or deflating, flip a switch, and watch your tires air to your desired psi. Not just one tire at a time either—all four tires at once! You’ll be halfway home while others will still be gathering their tools or searching for an air station.

With application-specific controller box mounts, there’s no need to hunt for a place to mount.

Current bracket offerings include:

• Jeep Gladiator
• Jeep Wrangler JL
• Jeep JK Wrangler (Front Engine Mount Location)
• Jeep JK Wrangler (Rear Engine Mount Location)
• 2014+ Tacoma
• 2017+ Ford F-150 Raptor

If you have a different application, you’re not left out—just opt for the universal mount kit.

Adjusting tire pressure can be a hassle for even the most seasoned of off-roaders. With Up Down Air, ensure that you have quick, easy access to air so you can get to, through, and from the trail.