Did a search, didn't really find any threads that answered my question.
Last weekend took the truck out, to two spots that I travel at a few times each year. Prior to this time, I had no problem crawling up the fairly steep banks. This time, (after fixing one rusted hub, d'oh!) I couldn't climb either one without getting a running start.
I'm sure the angle of the bank has changed some, just due to use, but even with that change, it was kind of depressing.
I'm running 33x10.5R15 BFG AT/KO's, on stock 8" wheels, gov-locked rear. (it works) My cousin, in his longer wheelbase F150, running stock, or at least stock size Toyo AT's, (I believe 265/75R16) was able to EASILY climb the same bank, with no wheelspin, and no running start. I'm sure in his case, the longer wheelbase made all the difference, as I noticed his front end had already crested while the back tires were still on relatively flat ground. Didn't feel/sound like there was any traction control in effect. The K5 had both sets of tires on the bank at the same time.
Essentially the surface is compact river rock and dirt, but dry. It was pretty obvious the tires would start spinning, and once all the dirt was removed, they had no purchase on the rocks that were left sticking up. The previous times I've gone up these, the surfaces had absorbed a lot more moisture.
I've found that these tires aren't real great in snow either. I planned this year during the snow, airing down, and seeing if it made any difference. Now that I've already had a problem when it's dry and warm out, thought I might try airing down while it's enjoyable to be outside.
Curious if there are any guidelines to airing down that I should be aware of? Minimum PSI before you start running into issues with the tire staying on the wheel, how much less is typically needed to get that extra little bit of traction, etc. These are fairly stiff sidewalled tires, but it would seem to me, that with the fairly aggressive tread on the sides, that if they were aired down, it certainly wouldn't HURT to have that tread helping. As it is, with the compacted surface, the side tread isn't doing me any good. It would *seem* to me that more footprint is the key, that I'm not really having a tread pattern issue. Although even more surface contact (more rubber, less gaps in tread blocks) would seem to be a good thing. These tires are like new, so I don't plan on changing them.
Last weekend took the truck out, to two spots that I travel at a few times each year. Prior to this time, I had no problem crawling up the fairly steep banks. This time, (after fixing one rusted hub, d'oh!) I couldn't climb either one without getting a running start.
I'm sure the angle of the bank has changed some, just due to use, but even with that change, it was kind of depressing.
I'm running 33x10.5R15 BFG AT/KO's, on stock 8" wheels, gov-locked rear. (it works) My cousin, in his longer wheelbase F150, running stock, or at least stock size Toyo AT's, (I believe 265/75R16) was able to EASILY climb the same bank, with no wheelspin, and no running start. I'm sure in his case, the longer wheelbase made all the difference, as I noticed his front end had already crested while the back tires were still on relatively flat ground. Didn't feel/sound like there was any traction control in effect. The K5 had both sets of tires on the bank at the same time.
Essentially the surface is compact river rock and dirt, but dry. It was pretty obvious the tires would start spinning, and once all the dirt was removed, they had no purchase on the rocks that were left sticking up. The previous times I've gone up these, the surfaces had absorbed a lot more moisture.
I've found that these tires aren't real great in snow either. I planned this year during the snow, airing down, and seeing if it made any difference. Now that I've already had a problem when it's dry and warm out, thought I might try airing down while it's enjoyable to be outside.
Curious if there are any guidelines to airing down that I should be aware of? Minimum PSI before you start running into issues with the tire staying on the wheel, how much less is typically needed to get that extra little bit of traction, etc. These are fairly stiff sidewalled tires, but it would seem to me, that with the fairly aggressive tread on the sides, that if they were aired down, it certainly wouldn't HURT to have that tread helping. As it is, with the compacted surface, the side tread isn't doing me any good. It would *seem* to me that more footprint is the key, that I'm not really having a tread pattern issue. Although even more surface contact (more rubber, less gaps in tread blocks) would seem to be a good thing. These tires are like new, so I don't plan on changing them.
