I have a Disco 2 running 285 75 BFG KM2 Mud terrains. These tires are awesome where I live in Virginia, however in a few months I'll be heading out west to do some wheeling in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana with plans to do some of the highest passes. I have a friend from colorado who swears that I need to switch to 265 All-terrains do to the fact that the altitude will cause my tires to bounce (even aired down?). He also said that All-terrains are better on rock than mud. I just want a second opinion on the matter, I think my tires will be fine.
Tires at Altitude
- Thread starter Rover4Life
- Start date
Does your friend drive a Subaru?
20psi is 20psi, period. You may have to adjust for altitude once you get out there, but that's a one time thing. Tons of people run the KM2 and other mud tires in all sorts of elevation with no problems.
Yes your tires have more sidewall so they could be bouncier, but drive it like a Disco and not an Ultra4 car and you'll be fine. Spending a grand on smaller less aggressive tires is not necessary at all.
20psi is 20psi, period. You may have to adjust for altitude once you get out there, but that's a one time thing. Tons of people run the KM2 and other mud tires in all sorts of elevation with no problems.
Yes your tires have more sidewall so they could be bouncier, but drive it like a Disco and not an Ultra4 car and you'll be fine. Spending a grand on smaller less aggressive tires is not necessary at all.
I'd need an explanation for that. I'm not saying it's crap, because I've heard things that sounded like crap before that turned out to be true, but this certainly sounds like crap.
For whatever it's worth - when you air up your tires, your pressure gauge shows not absolute pressure, but pressure differential between what's inside and outside the tire. So altitude will not change anything.
For the type of wheeling you seems to plan on doing, any tire will do.
For the type of wheeling you seems to plan on doing, any tire will do.
If you're expecting more snow or wet weather you could have your KM2 siped.
I'm pretty sure you're running the exact same size and model tire that Bill Burke had on his Defender when I saw it at SCARR in 2013. Being that he gets his tires for free, I'd assume if the size was a problem in Colorado, he'd get something else.
I'm pretty sure you're running the exact same size and model tire that Bill Burke had on his Defender when I saw it at SCARR in 2013. Being that he gets his tires for free, I'd assume if the size was a problem in Colorado, he'd get something else.
It's crap. Your friend must have been enjoying too much mind-altering drugs if he experienced that.
EDIT:
What you will experience is a noticeable lack of engine power at altitude. If you are not re-geared with those 285s, you'll be suffering on the highway in the right lane (STAY IN THE RIGHT LANE
). I suffer with 255/85s and I'm re-geared. On the trail, you may have to give it some more gas than you're used to, but you'll be fine.
EDIT:
What you will experience is a noticeable lack of engine power at altitude. If you are not re-geared with those 285s, you'll be suffering on the highway in the right lane (STAY IN THE RIGHT LANE
). I suffer with 255/85s and I'm re-geared. On the trail, you may have to give it some more gas than you're used to, but you'll be fine.
Never mind your tires, how will your body handle the altitude? Physiological responses to altitude gains vary widely from one person to the next, but if you're going to head up to 9,000 - 12,000 feet from sea level with no acclimation you are going to feel it. Likely just mild Acute Mountain Sickness (headache, nausea), but in rare cases people have more severe reactions. During your first couple days at altitude lay off the alcohol, take aspirin if you feel a headache (blood thinner), and every day drink lots of water.
My only thought is that he thinks I might make the tires bounce or that the less aggressive tires will keep me from going places I really shouldn't go, as I am known to have a fondness for the skinny peddle. The hole in the side of my D2's transmission from the front drive shaft due to some airtime at the top of a hill climb will attest to that lol. But hey I'm 20 and need to get that out of my system now. ��
After hearing that... I hope you're planning on not being alone. The trails here can go to some very remote places... places where you may not see another vehicle all day. And some of these trails are on shelf roads with a VERY dangerous/deadly drop to the downhill side. It's not for those with a loose right foot - you have to keep your wits about you. There's at least one 4wd/offroading death a year in the state, most involving going over the edge.
It'll all depend on where you want to explore. I do explore some remote areas by myself, because I've learned (the hard way on a few occasions) not to take risks and to make calculated moves when treading on very narrow, high altitude trails (these, for the most part, are on old mining paths where ore cars or narrow wagons once operated). It's sobering to be above treeline on jagged, loose/shifting rocks with only a few feet between you and the edge - one wrong move and it's game over. If you're out alone, pack like it. That includes tools, spare parts, and survival items... and make sure someone knows your travel plan/path. That way, when you don't show back up, they have information to give to the search teams. IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR... as of late, it's been hikers.
/soapbox :victory:
This is good advice. Pay attention to your body. A few of my family members who visit have learned they don't want to get much above 9,000... it's hit or miss on who it will affect. I had one out on a trail that peaks at 8,600 feet and with the physical exertion of getting out to spot, etc. they were getting questionable (and this is someone who's had a mild stroke in the past). I began doing the math on how long it would take to get off the trail and to civilization to meet EMT and it wasn't promising.
And don't count on cell phone service on the trail... it'll be hit or miss... mostly miss.
When we lived up there, my son and I had a scary time on some trail near Idaho Springs. Got out of it fine but I was more than a little concerned for a few minutes. After that, I never did anything but easy trails alone. What people call moderate in Colorado is borderline impossible in Texas.
I never wheeled Blanca Peak, but I've heard that several people have died from going over the edge on that trail.