What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

How low psi on 16.5 NON-beadlocks??

Kay86K5

Kay86K5

1/2 ton status
GMOTM Winner
Joined
Mar 9, 2012
Posts
3,911
Reaction score
5,231
Location
Emmett, ID
So, I was wondering if there are any of you out there who have run 16.5" rims that are not beadlocks......and how low have you gone without blowing beads? I really would like some trailworthyfab recentered h1's, but just don't have the money for that right now. So it looks like I will be sticking with my rockcrawlers. I was thinking about going 12-15 psi. Do you think that is too low, or could I go lower? Anyone with some experience with this, or know someone who does, please let me know what you think. Thanks :waytogo:
 
12 to 15 will work...no powerslides though!
I have run 16.5s for 32 years, lost LOTS of beads even at street pressures. Drive like you are on 16.5s with 10 psi and you will be good!
 
I ran 13psi RELIGOUSLY on 16.5", non-beadlocks.
That was with 37" hummer take offs.

Never slipped a bead, and I WAILED ON IT.
 
The 16.5 x 6.75" rims are pretty OK with a 12.5 tire on em. I ran down to low teens and never had an issue. You want a tire a fair bit wider on those rims to help hold the bead better at lower pressures.
 
I run a 39.5x18.5 Bogger on 16.5x14 rims and never popped one. I never run below 15 as I am a lazy fella. Also I never do rock crawling or anything, Illinois biggest rocks are in your driveway.
 
20 psi is as low as I've dared on wheeling trips on my tow rig, 37x12.50x16.5's. Never lost a bead but it sees relatively light wheeling (depending on who you ask :pimp: ).
 
I did 13psi I think it was with 37x12.5s on 9.75 wide wheels.


No bead losing issues, or spinning tires. But the sidewall moves away from the wheel and you get dirt and rocks etc in between the tire and rim and it leaks and then the tire pops off the wheel because you lose too much air.


Beadlocks or die :haha:
 
I run mine at 15 with 35x12.5 on 16.5x8.25 rims. The key is to have enough side wall over the lip so it can't push the bead off the rim. If you are worried don't drop it lower than 20psi. On the street mine are only at 25 because of the load range e tires I have. So the 15 psi isn't to bad on off road.
 
I have 39 5 x 15 TSL's on 9.75 alum rims and run @ 15 on sand
It does well, but as mentioned no hard turns or hanging it out in the rear
I have gone as low as 5 lbs to flatten them enough to get it in the shop door
But sure didn't look like the tire was happy at that press for more than a couple minutes
I pumped back up once inside
 
Pretty sure nate runs 10 psi in the sand and never lost a bead.

And we turn the ferd on prerunner mode on certain occasions :whistle:
 
Thanks for all the feedback guys. I have 38.5x14.5 TSL SX's. So from what everyone is saying here, I think I will try somewhere in the range of 15 -17 psi and start playing with it from there. I think I could go 13-15 and be fine, but the last thing I want to do is blow a bead on the trail and spill all of my great airsoft balancing BB's all over and have to buy more :haha:. Thanks again guys. If anyone else has experience with this, post it up.
 
Depending on the terrain be careful of crap getting in the bead. I would bring a couple cans of starting fluid to reseat the bead if you have issues. You wont know its too low untill its too late. Then you gotta get the tire back on somehow :haha:
 
I run my 16.5s with 25+ psi, the extra traction is just not worth losing a bead to me. With my 8 inch wide 16.5s the only way I can get the bead to seat is with ether and that sucks, especially on the trail. I plan on getting another set of hummer wheels or a different wheel size soon though.

With my gm factory 16.5x6.75s I would run as low as 8 but they have a small safety bead like a normal wheel, plus they are super narrow which also helps.
 
I ran my old swampers, 38x16's, at 15psi on a set of 16.5x9.75" wheels all last season and never had any issues, that is on a 6000 lb rig also. Of course now with H1's and 42's with 8psi......wow what a difference :D
 
jt512 said:
I ran my old swampers, 38x16's, at 15psi on a set of 16.5x9.75" wheels all last season and never had any issues, that is on a 6000 lb rig also. Of course now with H1's and 42's with 8psi......wow what a difference :D
Click to expand...

I want some recentered h1's so bad. But $1000 just for 4 from TWF is just too steep for me right now. Hopefully I can get some sooner than later, ya know!!
 
Kay86K5 said:
I want some recentered h1's so bad. But $1000 just for 4 from TWF is just too steep for me right now. Hopefully I can get some sooner than later, ya know!!
Click to expand...

I picked up 4 H1's from a surplus guy for 175 shipped, got pressed centers, rock rings, and new o rings for around $300 then inserts for 2 plus shipping ....so around $700 or so. It wasn't too bad of a job to do, if I didn't have a plasma cutter it may not have been as simple.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom