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KO2 air pressure on highways

RandyMc

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What pressure do you run on the road? I've driven my stock 33" KO2s with 33#s cold, up to 40#s cold on the interstate, trying to find some sweet spot. I know the manufacturer recommends 37#s.

I've even had a long time Jeep guy tell me I should be running on almost the high limit of 50#s on the highway. I can't seem to hit the right pressure for my Rubicon 4xe that I feel comfortable boogying at 75-80 mph, and I have other Jeeps fly by me, even with aggressive all-terrain tires.
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My wife and I have 33's on both of our Jeeps. They seem to like 36/37 at highway operating temps, which is probably 32-33 when cold. The mileage is slightly better also.
 

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I have the KO 2 on my 22 Rubi . I like to run them softer .Only issue is when I do with the colder temps it throws the sensor light . Kinda forces me to the 35 psi range . So highway driving ends up 37-38.
 

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I've been running 36 psi in KO2s since 2018, I switched my tires and whees from my 18 to my 22, the tires now have about 50k miles and the wear is even. Hoping the K03s will provide the same wear and durability with better rain traction...
 

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What pressure do you run on the road? I've driven my stock 33" KO2s with 33#s cold, up to 40#s cold on the interstate, trying to find some sweet spot. I know the manufacturer recommends 37#s.

I've even had a long time Jeep guy tell me I should be running on almost the high limit of 50#s on the highway. I can't seem to hit the right pressure for my Rubicon 4xe that I feel comfortable boogying at 75-80 mph, and I have other Jeeps fly by me, even with aggressive all-terrain tires.
For a recent summer roadtrip up and down the West Coast put tires at 30-31psi cold which triggers the low pressure light. On a relatively low mileage 2018 with OEM KO2s.

Ran speeds 75-80mph constant and easy with our trusty Escort RD. Zero issues flying by other Jeeps with no problems. Steady as a rock 2 finger straight steering with zero wander zero wobble. Sorry about that. Haha!

Btw treads are finally and now wearing perfectly level across the tread face. But did have them around 28-29psi for a couple years to balance out the way high 37psi sticker overinflation. Also have another KO2 back-up take off set on OEM wheels - but these originals are surprisingly holding up perfect this winter. Zero issues with traction in wet by just easing off the go pedal and slowing down a bit. Simple common sense.

Is a complete beast in the snow tooling around the city and super easy getting up to ski resorts. Almost unstoppable and very tank-like. Tons better than our very capable rally inspired full-time AWD 50/50 stick Subie sedan. But on ice and wet the Subie wins easy peasy.

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Factory 33" KO2's here

I don't overthink it. When I air them up, I go to 37psi. Anywhere between 34-37psi is fine by me.

The guy who recommended you do 50psi+ is insane. That'll bald the middle of your tread real quick.
 

Joe's_Roxy

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I try to keep my cold pressure at 32-33 so my running temps are around 37. I am on my second set of KO2s and I got 60k out of the first set. Sitting at 105k right now and still have plenty of tread left.

It is almost unbelievable just how much these tires change in tire pressure from cold to hot. Don't fret it too much and enjoy the drive.
 

Rhinebeck01

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I try to keep my cold pressure at 32-33 so my running temps are around 37. I am on my second set of KO2s and I got 60k out of the first set. Sitting at 105k right now and still have plenty of tread left.

It is almost unbelievable just how much these tires change in tire pressure from cold to hot. Don't fret it too much and enjoy the drive.
Yes, 32# psi, cold pressure in warm weather.

For those that live in locales where temps dip substantially, set cold pressure to 35# or you will get low tire pressure warnings each am.

Setting cold temps in Summer or Winter to 37# psi as per door placard is not the way to go..
 

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What pressure do you run on the road? I've driven my stock 33" KO2s with 33#s cold, up to 40#s cold on the interstate, trying to find some sweet spot. I know the manufacturer recommends 37#s.

I've even had a long time Jeep guy tell me I should be running on almost the high limit of 50#s on the highway. I can't seem to hit the right pressure for my Rubicon 4xe that I feel comfortable boogying at 75-80 mph, and I have other Jeeps fly by me, even with aggressive all-terrain tires.
I use the specified pressure of 36 for all on road driving with the KO2's. She rides smooth and steady and gets reasonable fuel milage.
 

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I use the specified pressure of 36 for all on road driving with the KO2's. She rides smooth and steady and gets reasonable fuel milage.
In Florida, even in Winter months 36 is high. In hot, Summer 36 is way to high.

Summer in Florida, 32# psi is best. Set cold psi early in AM before Sun rises.
 

That_Guy

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When I drive long highway stretches, I find OEM recommendation gets great mpg: 37-38 (cold tires) on stock KO2 35’s (‘21 XR Rubicon). Have run from east coast to CO, WY, ID, OR a couple of summers now and get decent mpg. Hot tire pressure will go up to low 40’s. If it’s really hot or lots of elevation changes, I’ll check and keep hot tire pressure under 42. My guess is the 50# is a safety limit hot.

Around town I run a little lighter for comfort - 33-35.
 
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RandyMc

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Factory 33" KO2's here

I don't overthink it. When I air them up, I go to 37psi. Anywhere between 34-37psi is fine by me.

The guy who recommended you do 50psi+ is insane. That'll bald the middle of your tread real quick.
Yeah, I thought that, too. But, otherwise, he was good to show me some trail tricks so I questioned myself.

I started off new running the 37#s spec, and took it down to 33 after a few weeks. I ran it at 40#s last weekend returning from the mountains. Coming over the Cumberland Plateau with the high winds was scary.

These KO2s are the best tire I've ever run in all of my adult years of Cherokees and pickup trucks. Handled the snow around here and in the mountains without a problem, doesn't even stutter in the farm mud, rides and handles really well on the road for an aggressive tread. I think I'm just not cut out for 80+ mph regardless.

I'm going to eventually bump it to 34"-35", I have the Bestop granite bumpers ordered (what a deal a couple of days ago!), and likely add a Warn winch. I think the weight will offset the 35" when I get to that. As an aside, I get why Jeep doesn't include steel bumpers due to varying tastes and aftermarket choices, but I am not satisfied at all with the plastic bumpers.

I am seriously considering the Teraflex Falcon 2.2 stabilizer to see if it helps me be more comfortable with the highway speeds, besides it just seems handy to adjust the stiffness. I'm likely to not do that until after the Land Between The Lakes Jamboree in May so I have a better feeling on what three days of off-roading is like.
 
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Murphydog

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I've made 2 trips from the PNW to Moab, both at end of summer. I set my cold PSI to 33. They warmed up to 37-38 on the road. This was comfortable for me. I wasn't the faster vehicle on the road, but easily kept up with traffic.

Interesting comments about the TPMS lights. With the cold snap a few weeks back 3 tires were at 31 and one was at 30, yet the warning lights never came on, in fact the only time I have ever had em alert is when I air down for trails
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