PSI air down for snow? 3"-7" of wet snow expected in Memphis on Friday! 😱

[wcjeep]

Start at 20psi. Stay off the freeway.

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[BUSHRVN]

Canadian here, we live with snow for 5-6 months a year and very frequently litterally drive on skating rink ice condition roads. (Fun actually)
In your case, wet snow and the ground not being frozen, you want your tires to cut through the slush and vacate it from the treads so that you’re not trying to “float” on the slush. So I wouldn’t air down at all really, not more than 5 psi for sure. The slush will/might pack under the tires as you drive causing traction problems but in 4x4, you’ll do fine. Just remember that just because 4x4 helps get moving good, stopping is the biggest factor, test your braking without traffic and learn the much more stopping distance that’s required. ALWAYS be watching your rear view mirrors, you might need to try and get out of the way of that vehicle coming too fast behind you. As already mentioned, find a safe field or large lot that you know doesn’t have parking curbs lurking under the snow and test things out.
The other drivers are the biggest problem!!!

 

[SmokyMtnsJeepGirl]

Step 1: find a vacant parking lot or open field and go play! Do massive donuts! Lose control of it and figure out how to recover! Hit the brakes hard, see what happens and learn how to deal with it!

Step 2: catch your breath and think about what you learned, letting it sink in for when you need it.

I love this! Heck yeah! Let's go play!!!! Who needs snow angels when you can do donuts instead!
And I know just the perfect place

 

[SmokyMtnsJeepGirl]

Canadian here, we live with snow for 5-6 months a year and very frequently litterally drive on skating rink ice condition roads. (Fun actually)
In your case, wet snow and the ground not being frozen, you want your tires to cut through the slush and vacate it from the treads so that you’re not trying to “float” on the slush. So I wouldn’t air down at all really, not more than 5 psi for sure. The slush will/might pack under the tires as you drive causing traction problems but in 4x4, you’ll do fine. Just remember that just because 4x4 helps get moving good, stopping is the biggest factor, test your braking without traffic and learn the much more stopping distance that’s required. ALWAYS be watching your rear view mirrors, you might need to try and get out of the way of that vehicle coming too fast behind you. As already mentioned, find a safe field or large lot that you know doesn’t have parking curbs lurking under the snow and test things out.
The other drivers are the biggest problem!!!

Thank you! I've driven a 2-door Jeep for 35 years, but now that I'm in a 4-door it's like I've gone completely stupid - lol. Well, that, and I've only had my 4-door for a month. Heck, I'm still getting used to all the electronic gadgets and things. It's sure not like my '08!
I miss my manual window JK something fierce
Thank you so much for all of the good advice! I love my Jeep family and in time I know I'll love my JLU, too.

 

[DRVMN]

I would leave everything "As Is". I've lived in Minnesota all my life, so navigating snow is nothing new here. My advice - slow way down. The biggest mistake drivers make here is they forget that no mater what vehicle they drive, it won't stop any better regardless of 4x4, 4x2, front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, etc. Ice and packed snow will be slippery for all vehicles. Begin your slow-down much sooner for stop signs and stop lights, take curves slower, and trust your anti-lock brakes. Anticipate what other drivers are doing (or not doing) and keep a safe following distance. Leave early, and if you have a longer drive, make sure you use the restroom before heading out (don't ask me how I know this). Sometimes I feel like I'm the slowest one on the Interstate, but I'm also the one that is not in the ditch! Leaving a half-hour early and arriving safe takes less time than ending up in the ditch and waiting a couple hours for a tow. Ice is a whole different ball game. I'd rather have a foot of snow than 1/16" of ice, because ice shuts down everything. Intersections are sometimes bad because vehicles have been stopped and exhaust begins to freeze on the pavement (black ice).

Bottom line - Enjoy the snow! It's beautiful and I couldn't imagine not having the change in seasons. 3" to 7" will definitely slow our traffic down in Minnesota and maybe cause some two-hour late starts for school districts, but we we get through it with a smile on our face! I get that in your area, it's something that you're not used to, and there is definitely a learning curve and it takes experience to drive in snow. Your Jeep will get through the snow better than passenger cars, but it will not stop any better or allow you to take curves faster than anyone else!

When we prepare for our first snow of the season and cold weather, one of the things that is mentioned on the news is to make sure your tires are properly inflated, but never any mention of taking air out. Many drivers forget that for every 10 degrees of temperature change, tire pressure will change by one p.s.i., so a lot of people are driving with underinflated tires already.

Take care and drive safe (and slow)!

 

[Zandcwhite]

Step 1: find a vacant parking lot or open field and go play! Do massive donuts! Lose control of it and figure out how to recover! Hit the brakes hard, see what happens and learn how to deal with it!

Step 2: catch your breath and think about what you learned, letting it sink in for when you need it.

The best advice I've probably ever seen in this forum. This is the exact reason the wife did rally school. The second she showed any interest in doing it I told her to sign up for the next available class. The only way to get good at recovering from losing control is experience. The only way to know when you're getting close to the limit is to cross it a few times. Obviously a controlled environment is the safe way to do it, of course some of us were just teenage hooligans and learned the hard way.

 

[siggy]

My advice…get beedlocks asap, air down to 6psi, add chains, throw a winch on, and get a hi-lift jack.

Way overthinking this. Put er in 4wd if you need to, but that’s about it. I don’t get snow often where I live, but did just get 11”. Good time. Got the ole gal out, turned off traction control, and had a gay ole time.

 

[Twisted10]

ive lived in western ny almost all my life. we get a little snow.

ive never touched my on road vehicles psi. one of them being a HD truck so the tires are at 60lbs most of the time.

 

[ceddy]

Lol. Drive with caution and leave more distance with the car in front of you. No need to air down for snow.

 

[Jay_NM]

We can get heavy snow where I live. I have never messed with tire air pressure for different conditions. Just slow down and drive in 4H on snow pack. Easy on brakes. And yes your 4 door will handle better than a 2 door in snow conditions. A longer wheelbase helps a lot with handling, especially during braking.

 

[Xcoaste]

NE driver here. Never changed my psi. Just slow down.

 

[ceddy]

If anything you DON'T want to increase the contact patch on snow. You want the tire to be able to dig in.

 

[Ratbert]

If anything you DON'T want to increase the contact patch on snow. You want the tire to be able to dig in.

I'm thinking there are specific snow situations where that's true, but definitely not across the board. https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...snow-someone-did-the-tests-down-to-10.140504/

 

[hamiamham69]

The best advice so far is to practice in the parking lot. If you can go a few times as the snow builds and you will gain both the confidence and the skills necessary.

Also - and I do t think this was mentioned - but I am a fan of engine braking and hill descent control if you have it.

I would only air down radically - ie to the single digits - if you are stuck and. It making any traction. You can’t exactly drive fast at 5psi and you do risk spinning the tire off the rim. Trust me; I’ve done it and more then once.

slow speed, more distance and if you can avoid hills do so

 

[DarthAWM]

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