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Originally Posted by jamesqf
I think we're talking about two different things here. 'Airing down' just isn't going to happen.
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I think you failed to read the article, my original post, and the title of the thread... 'Airing down' is a basic and necessary part of "off roading", the reason I posted this is because many 4x4 owners who run trails, choose wider and bulkier tires which aren't FE friendly... I was providing examples/data of how one can go with a more FE friendly tire/wheel combo without sacrificing their ability to use their truck wherever and however they want to.
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When did we start discussing dune buggies? Thought we were talking about driving trucks on rough dirt roads, where ability to go over rocks, potholes, and the like is what's important.
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Well since those tires were on a TRUCK, we haven't started discussing dune buggies. And last time I checked, sand is "off road" isn't it???? The images CLEARLY display how the contact patch of the tire changes when airing down. A truck has more grip and can climb rocks, tackle steep hills, float over sand/snow/mud.... I tire which is aired down conforms to the objects in it's path, where as a fully inflated tire has a smaller contact patch and substantially less traction. And on a final note "rough dirt roads" isn't off-roading... There is that key word "road" in the description. If all we care about are dirt/gravel roads then yes, airing down doesn't matter and going with less sidewall would be a good move if you were worried about on pavement handling.
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You pretty well have to drive your vehicle on pavement in order to get to where the dirt road starts, and the distance on pavement will likely be several times that on dirt. It's also likely (hereabouts, anyway) that a good part of the pavement portion will be twisty. So yes, I would appreciate the ability to go around curves at a reasonable speed.
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You do have to drive on them to get there... That's why it's called airing down, when you get there you let air out of your tires for off-road use. Then you put air back in when you leave the trails and go back to pavement. And "reasonable speed" on curves is a pretty relative and non-objective description which lacks any and all context. Any DOT approved (America) off-road tire should be able to handle a turn at the designated speed limit in optimal conditions (no rain or ice for example). But lots of people don't drive the speed limit, and lots of people take turns far faster than they should... I myself am guilt of this, but I am also incredibly familiar with my vehicle and it's tires capabilities.
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Whyever not? My goal is to be able to drive like a bat out of hell go through curves at a reasonable speed while using little fuel.
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Bat out of hell, and reasonable speed aren't the same thing in my book.... But as I said before, the term "reasonable" is far from objective when used as a measurement.
-C