Minimum pressure for Dunlop AT22 for sand driving

[lafona00 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close lafona00]

Hi Guys,

Next week end I am going for my first real sand dune driving.
Around 50 families are gathering together in the middle of the desert for an Halloween family party.

The road to reach is quite easy but the last few hundreds yards would be sand driving and also Dune driving!

I have some AT22 (i know what you think about those tyres!!!) I wish the dealer would have agreed to give me some GG AT2!!!

I was wondering what is the minimum pressure you would put on tyres to drive the last few hundreds yards in the sand and while driving on the dune.

Also if you have any advice on the way to go up the dune, I am ready to listen!
- i suppose i need to start using 2nd start button even locking the diff and starting on 3rd gear

Christmas is will me a full 3 days desert driving instruction classes!

Thanks guys for your help

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

Re: Minimum pressure for Dunlop AT22 for sand driving

my first trip in mine was to stockton sand dunes . dunlop AT20 grandtreks highway tires only dropped to 18psi . drove straight up all the big dunes never had a problem . others did . dont be scared of the loud pedal and momentum is your friend . these tires are actually very good in sand , they have rounded edges and bag out nicely in sand . when driving on the beach near home i still run 38 psi , haven't had to let them down yet . a bit of common sense helps too. dont forget to punch the centre diff lock button in . i mean press it.

[lafona00 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close lafona00]

Re: Minimum pressure for Dunlop AT22 for sand driving

Hi Kav,

Thank you so much for the answers and advices.

Waouh! Never though the tyre could stay on the rim with so low pressure. 18psi that seems very low. But I will follow your advice.
Centre diff lock IN
And I suppose no need to be very quick... just a little bit of power.

I have bought a second hand exhaust jack. Just in case I need to put back some sand below the tyres!

Would you also be on low gear?

[gxllouie Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxllouie]

Re: Minimum pressure for Dunlop AT22 for sand driving

Hi Kav,

Thank you so much for the answers and advices.

Waouh! Never though the tyre could stay on the rim with so low pressure. 18psi that seems very low. But I will follow your advice.
Centre diff lock IN
And I suppose no need to be very quick... just a little bit of power.

I have bought a second hand exhaust jack. Just in case I need to put back some sand below the tyres!

Would you also be on low gear?

18-20 would be about right for soft sand driving. if you get bogged drop em as low as 10 - but put em back up when you're out. i would only use low range on sand if the sand is very soft, otherwise just lock the centre diff.

and don't worry about the "grand craps" as people call them - i drove scenic rim 4wd adventure park with AT20's running 40 psi and had no issues whatsoever. the prado's traction control is excellent and the downhill assist, while it sounds like crap, works a treat. these aids will pull you through. having said that, some stiffer/stronger side walls (from an AT tyre) would be beneficial to prevent punctures - and may reduce body roll??

louie

[lafona00 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close lafona00]

Re: Minimum pressure for Dunlop AT22 for sand driving

Hi Louis,

Thanks so much for your help

I have also been told to have a spare tyres to be over inflated... ie: 87 psi?

Why the spare would need to be so much over inflated?

Any ideas.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Minimum pressure for Dunlop AT22 for sand driving

I have run 15psi on my Wrangler MT/Rs without a problem. When you are rnning pressures this low, make sure you don't do suddent turns as this will roll the tyre bead off the rim.

Always travel straight up the sand dune. If you get stuck, reverse straight down. Never do a turn on the side of a dune and never travel across it. Your car will roll if the dune is steep enough.

As others have said, use the centre diff lock and stay in high range with plenty of right foot if needed.

As for over inflating the spare, the only thing I can think of is so that you can inflate other tyres if you have the right hose fittings to connect 2 tyres together. The higher pressure from the spare will inflate another tyre of lower pressure.

[gxllouie Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxllouie]

Re: Minimum pressure for Dunlop AT22 for sand driving

As for over inflating the spare, the only thing I can think of is so that you can inflate other tyres if you have the right hose fittings to connect 2 tyres together. The higher pressure from the spare will inflate another tyre of lower pressure.

yeah mate,

apart from this, i cannot think of any reason why you would do this. i'd go buy a compressor and leave the spare alone if i were you.

louie

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Re: Minimum pressure for Dunlop AT22 for sand driving

Hi Louis,

Thanks so much for your help

I have also been told to have a spare tyres to be over inflated... ie: 87 psi?

Why the spare would need to be so much over inflated?

Any ideas.

I agree that the only reason this makes sense is to use it in place of a compressor, maximum inflation for a dunlop AT20 is 51psi, with 87psi cold and even more with it in the sun, i think it would be bordering on dangerous. The tyre is not designed to take that sort of pressure. A compressor and a good tyre gauge are must have items for sand driving IMO.

Cheers Andrew

[lafona00 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close lafona00]

Re: Minimum pressure for Dunlop AT22 for sand driving

Thanks Andrew,

I am going tomorrow to buy a compressor... I will leave the 5th tyre at normal pressure.
Thanks all for your advice.
I will get you some pictures

Thanks again

[lafona00 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close lafona00]

Re: Minimum pressure for Dunlop AT22 for sand driving

Hi Guys,

Thanks so much for your advices.

It was great.
Deflated the tyres till 18psi... and it was a walk in the park!

Even more experience driver have been caught thinking the sand was harder.

You should see 3 pictures of sun set attached...
But My format is invalid...
Can you help "again"

[gxllouie Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxllouie]

Re: Minimum pressure for Dunlop AT22 for sand driving

Hi Guys,

Thanks so much for your advices.

It was great.
Deflated the tyres till 18psi... and it was a walk in the park!

Even more experience driver have been caught thinking the sand was harder.

You should see 3 pictures of sun set attached...
But My format is invalid...
Can you help "again"

hey mate,

chuck your photo on photobucket (http://www.photobucket.com) and click share. then click link code. copy the coding for forums into your post. that should do it.

louie