What kind of tire pressure are you running, and why?

Looking for some feedback on tire pressure, tire wear and why you think running the pressure you do, gives you the best performance. Is there any safety issues you feel has to do with tire pressure. Personally, I run about 14-15 psi in the 27X14 Mudlites on my bike. Handles well on the hard pack trails and has less sway going through the corners. I think less pressure gives me better traction in soft materials and if I'm going out to play in the mud/snow I'll drop the pressure down to around 10-11 psi. I never have ran real low pressure as I'm not sure how the spongy tire would hold up if I got stupid with low pressure in the tires. You know Cowboying?

Summer time i run about 15 rear and 17 front. Winter in the snow i run almost flat all around. Have popped the bead a couple times, but the lower the pressure, the bigger the footprint and the more traction.

I used to run 9 all around on the rzr s I had, even on fast trails. Considering they were 26s on a slightly wider machine with a lower center of gravity than the rhino, I figured I better listen to James and run more air. (Hot Rod knows!) I'm running 12 now, and they seem to flex good on the rocks, and I haven't lost the bead on one yet. Rhinos just need a little more air than a rzr. I won't run less than 12 unless I know it's going to be a slow muddy or snowy ride all day. I don't think I could keep the tires on the wheels with less than 12 if I'm running hard. I prefer to run low as I think I can get by with for the most traction.

27" mudlites around 12-14 in summer winter around 6-8

I run 20lbs. I've seen several lost beads and blown out sidewalls at lower pressure. I like the way it handles and haven't had any issues so Im staying high.

Poka, 20#, what type of tire are you rollin. Do you get a bounce out of the tires with the pressure that high.

I don't notice any. I like the ride.

When I first put the 'horns on mine , I put 6 & 8 in them (thats what I always ran in my quad)...James told me to run like 12 , and 14...kinda doubted runnin that much , so I did 10 and 12. Ran it like that for a while , then went to 12 , and 14....like more pressure WAY better !! It takes a couple of miles to get used to the rear ; but , after you run them like that for a while , you can instantly tell when you have a tire down !

15 psi all the way around. Steers better and doesn't bottom out as much.

Does any of you think you get a little more speed/sport out of the Rhino run higher air in the tires? Anybody noticing difference in tire wear? My tires seem to have wore like chit. Not sure if the Mudlite is just a softer rubber that doesn't handle the hard pack trail as well as other tires.

I run 25" Bighorns with 10 in front and 13 in rear. My riding is all types of terrain, packed roads, going thru the woods to get around downed trees, loose rock, snow, water crossing, never pooped a bead but I have been with many who have. I do get flats!!

Kenny G wrote:

Does any of you think you get a little more speed/sport out of the Rhino run higher air in the tires? Anybody noticing difference in tire wear? My tires seem to have wore like chit. Not sure if the Mudlite is just a softer rubber that doesn't handle the hard pack trail as well as other tires.

I had mudlite xls on my 450, and I could see the wear after every ride. Hit the pavement for 4 miles and it just gave me the feeling that I was throwing $5 out on the road. They wear very quick.

Really like the radial ride of the Mudlites but if they wear this fast I'll be in the poor house just keeping shoes on the Rhino.

Mudlites on my Rhino lasted a little over 300 miles. A lot of hard pack riding.

Bighorns wear great compared to Mudlites and the stock tires. That's all I can compare because that's all I've ran on a sxs. I did like the traction of the mudlites in the really soft stuff. It would be nice to run something like that on another set of wheels durring the sloppy months.
Just checked my psi again tonight, and changed them a little. I'm going to try 12.5 front and 13.5 rear tomarrow. I said I had 12 all around, but I had 14. Sorry for telling lies. LOL

Lookin at the mudlites today and the front rubbers are wearing faster than the rear... I've got a lot more weight towards the back; plus the locked rear-end which should cause more wear in turning, correct? If they last the summer I'll be lucky. Better start lookin for some 'hard rubber' tires. What has been standout rubbers for you guys? Need something not to heavy for the 450thy to handle.

Here is a couple pics of 26in Big Horns with 3000+ miles

Kenny G wrote:

Lookin at the mudlites today and the front rubbers are wearing faster than the rear... I've got a lot more weight towards the back; plus the locked rear-end which should cause more wear in turning, correct? If they last the summer I'll be lucky. Better start lookin for some 'hard rubber' tires. What has been standout rubbers for you guys? Need something not to heavy for the 450thy to handle.

I have gotten good tread life out of my Terracross

Bighorns run tall, that's why I went with 25s. They are not real heavy, there are others in the same size that weigh alot more. The 25s, and 26x9s are light compared to the wider sizes in the 26" and up.
If I were you, I would go for the 25" original Bighorns. 450 should pull them fine.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I've got the 14" rims and the OG 12" rims still. Like the taller tire for the off-roading that I roll in.

Firefighter wrote:

Here is a couple pics of 26in Big Horns with 3000+ miles

Firefighter-

What size bighorns are you running front and back? I was thinking about going 26x9s all the way around but I feel they will be too narrow for the mud. But the 25x10s seems so damn short to me. 26x11s all the way around seem like a bit much to me as well..

Im lost...go figure

I run 26x9-14 on the front and 26x11-14 on the rear. I thought about a couple different setups, but this one works so well, why change.

Yeah. My rims are set up so they are running the same stance. So I want to go with the same tire all the way around. I wish they just made a dang 26x10 that would be perfect!