What is best tire pressure for snow tire traction?

[Ozz]

I have a set of snow tires on steel wheels for my MM and am wondering if it's better to go a little soft on the tire pressure or if the best traction can be had with higher pressure.

Thanks.

[Mr. Man]

This a "depends" kind of question. Depending on the conditions of snow (powdery v sleet v slush) or ice. tyre pressures would all be different. I would just go with the recommended air pressure as the road crews get the snow removed quickly and you would be constantly airing up and down. Seems like to much of as PITA.

[Glockafella]

2 schools of thought on this...

1) Max pressure - this gives you the most pressure to the ground on minimum tire tread, for cutting threw the snow and such. The entire cars weight is on a couple inches of tire tread.

2) Low pressure - spreads out the weight of the car more but puts more tire tread on the ground. The entire cars weight is on the maximum amount of tread.

[JUST 1BULLITT]

Hey Glockfella,
CONGRATS on your snowtires and wheels! Way to go. Since I live here too I know EXACTLY the kind snow and road conditions you're talking about; I'd go with MORE air or PSI in them all...you don't get "Better traction" by maintaining lower or less air pressure in the tires; the SAE guys say it's a "myth..." (More PSI in this extreme cold weather is better anyway; as the friggin' air molecules move "mucho slower" in this cold and tires tend to lose air more...unless you're running Nitrofill like I do in my Marauder and CVPI's...but even they're suspectible....) And NO, "I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night...BUT i did want to offer ya my 2 cents. Drive safe dude and STAY WARM!

[mercman04]

Go with the proper psi ,i also have to 50# bags of rock salt in me trunk ......

[252life]

The recommended pressure, then ad 3 Psi
(When the "warm" air you inflate the tire with gets cold the tire pressure goes down.)

[Ms. Denmark]

The recommended pressure, then ad 3 Psi
(When the "warm" air you inflate the tire with gets cold the tire pressure goes down.)

Coming form Sweden......I guess you should know!!

[Ozz]

OK, so the opinions vary from 'use stock pressure' up to 'use increased pressure'. Nobody suggests using less pressure in winter tires.

I have relatively skinny tires on the car in the winter and with increased pressure, the rear tires do not have much traction. Mind you that I'm driving on slightly snow covered/icy roads and not through 6" of snow usually.

General tire question - why does decreasing pressure in summer tires increase traction on dry pavement.
I've always wondered about the trade off:
More contact area at a lower tire pressure vs Less contact area at higher tire pressure...

How's it work and why would it be different in the winter???