Canadian Nissan Truck Club

Should you air down for snow? In the city and what about a back road with a foot or two of snow?


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In the city, no you want the smallest footprint possible to cut through.

Out of town is the same unless there is so much snow you stand a chance of staying on top.

Thought that in the city. I was in a situation last weekend where I was actually getting high centered in the wet snow. Dug myself out. Could have used some max trax.

I was thinking more about being on road, depth of the snow is basically what determines your choice.

I do not air down in the winter. I keep the pressure in winter tires somewhere between what Nissan recommends (~35psi) and the tire's max pressure (~45psi). I find 35psi too low; tires are really grippy and gas mileage is bad. At the tire's max I do not find enough grip when it is slick.

I carry a small collapsible shovel with me in case I need to dig out. When I had my 2wd dodge pickup I carried a snowmobile track cut in two pieces and extra weight. I would throw them in the back of the X if I think I might need them.

How did you get yourself high centred? Dreaming big?

45 psi. What tires are those? Went up to the lake and stayed over. It snowed about 6 more inches and warmed up to make it wet. There was already 12 inches when we got there. It was fluffy though. We got out of there eventually, but had to “find” a way out.

It was on a back road thing that does get plowed. Just not to often.

I don't remember the name. Brand name winter tires not chinese knock-offs.

I that situation I would do the same as you...plow through. If the tire was making its way down the surface I might have aired down to get more grip. Too much and you might start floating on the snow.

You have a winch to get you out if you get stuck and a wench to give you a push (shhhh...don't tell Bernie I said that)

I think you are right. Both would help.


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Actually keeping pressure high to reduce flotation helps the vehicle sink down to grip the underlying surface.

Airing down would help in the case where the underlying surface is too far down and you need to float to stay on top. It would also be good is there is no snow depth issue, where airing down will give you extra grip for traction and stability, especially where ice in an issue.

It's circumstantial, but I think in most circumstances, the situation where airing down would be more often and more beneficial

There was a situation a few years ago where I had to help a buddy. He lived out in a area with cottages and he couldn't even get out of his driveway in his Focus. I was suppose to go home sick that day after going to sick parade, but since I was the only one able and capable of helping him, I went. Regardless, I find that a cold/flu goes away quicker if you work it out of your system, and I couldn't leave a friend in need when I was able to help.

Anyway, this area got hit by a massive ice storm that night compared to us and I didn't know. I was running my old studdless winter tires from living in Ontario. There was a hill that I needed to go up. That hill, people were coming down, sliding, bumping and bouncing off the guard rail on the opposite (my side) and back into their lane to either continue on, or get stuck in the snow bank. I tried getting up as is in 4WD with no luck. I backed away and had aired down quite a bit, but to that PSI I don't remember (this is back in 2014) and attempted it again in 4-LO, and stick much more to the right to grab snow for extra traction and make it up without a fuss. As you can see, even a snow plow got in the ditch, and even myself I got stuck on the way down that same hill. I stopped to let a truck pull out a car and while waiting, the truck slowly slide nose first into said snow. They were gone when I realised I actually needed help and got out by doing some interesting pirouetting of the truck down the hill. The road was closed off by a cop as I left. I had to take a flatbed since the cop wouldn't let me drive her home. I had broken a shock. What a sick day that turned out to be. One of the many reasons why I'm a firm user of proper winter tires. I also now run studded tires since I'm legally allowed to here.

Bah, shocks are over rated.

Yeah,just get coilovers.

I'll keep the leaf springs in the rear. I've got a nice setup now with good flex and a quite capable load. Would be fun to however go coilover up front.

Yes, I am surprised you can hawl that weight.


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Of course you are cause it is not a jeep.

Snafu wrote:Of course you are cause it is not a jeep.

grr, no it’s because I can’t believe that the leaf springs didn’t snap.


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the x kid wrote:

Snafu wrote:Of course you are cause it is not a jeep.

grr, no it’s because I can’t believe that the leaf springs didn’t snap.


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It's all that "flex"

the x kid wrote:

Snafu wrote:Of course you are cause it is not a jeep.

grr, no it’s because I can’t believe that the leaf springs didn’t snap.

lol...I just love poking the bear!

the x kid wrote:Thought that in the city. I was in a situation last weekend where I was actually getting high centered in the wet snow. Dug myself out. Could have used some max trax.

If you're really stuck, a floor mat can work as a max trax in a pinch.