What is the best TYRE pressure for gravel roads?
Andrew Patterson
Published Apr 19, 2026
Tyre pressure for gravel roads and general outback dirt tracks
- General gravel roads: 35psi.
- Rough gravel: 26psi to 32psi.
- Jagged rocks: 16psi to 24psi.
- Crook gravel roads and tracks: 26psi.
What pressure should gravel tires be?
Gravel tires are often 40-80 PSI. While they are a good starting point, those ranges are too broad and conservative for most riders.What is a good PSI for off roading?
Generally, for most off road vehicles 15-20 PSI is a good starting point compared to 35 PSI +/- found on most stock tires. For very soft sand - such as dune running - 10 PSI may be optimal but at tire pressures that low, you are risking the tire coming off the bead.What pressure should my all terrain tyres be?
As a general rule you should follow the recommended tyre pressures as stated on your vehicle's tyre placard for on-road driving which, for most 4×4 wagons and utes, will be between 30psi and 38psi.Should you air down for gravel?
“If you are just hitting some gravel roads and are travelling long distances at speed, anywhere from 25 to 28 PSI will be perfect.” “When we get down to some slower crawling, we can lower the pressure a little bit more. Some mud, some rocks, and general 4WD terrain, 20 to 25PSI is the rule of thumb.”What's the BEST Gravel Tyre Pressure // Wiggle Guides 2021
What pressure should 4WD tires be?
For most 4x4, you'll probably find that a PSI between 14-18 will do the trick, although you might need to lower it a bit further for certain terrains.Is it better to have more or less air in tires?
It's always better to go too high than too low with tire pressure, Gary (to a point). As you say, tire pressure changes along with the outside temperature. For every change of 10 degrees in the outside temperature, tire pressure changes about 1 psi.Should you lower tire pressure on dirt roads?
Lowering tyre pressure on dirt roads to 28 PSI gives the car better traction and less probability of tyre puncture. Enabling a high range 4×4 mode will give even more traction.Are 38c tires good for gravel?
For Gravel Worlds, you are more than ok with 35c or larger. 38c is a very common width to local riders. Our gravel generally rolls pretty fast, so Panaracer Gravel King SK or SS models will work great!Are lower TYRE pressures faster?
Vibration & CyclingMountain bikes and gravel bikes use large tires with lower pressure and sometimes shocks, to help absorb vibration. In these disciplines, it is somewhat common knowledge that lower tire pressure creates better grip, lowers vibration, and improves speed.