Hit The Trail Smoother With Universal R4T Tire Deflators For The 5th Gen 4Runner
The quest to find the easiest and fastest way to air up and down has spurred a wealth of new product innovations using hoses, fittings, gauges, compressors, and even sometimes permanently mounted complex systems that resemble the plumbing network in a high rise apartment complex.
Is it possible that one of the simplest, smallest, and least expensive tools for airing down can also be one of the fastest methods as well? Well, we’re about to find out with a set of Runnin’ 4 Tacos (R4T) tire deflators.
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- Runnin’ 4 Tacos Tire Deflators: Check Price
Why do you need R4T tire deflators?
Airing down is a necessary evil of offroading… sometimes to the point of avoiding it at our own peril. In case this concept is new to you, airing down gives your tires more surface area to grip rocks and obstacles, and helps your tires “float” over sand and snow with fewer chances of getting bogged down or stuck. It can also give you a smoother ride on rough roads and rocky terrain. Regardless of these benefits, sometimes I’ll avoid airing down to save time and jump right into a trail. I usually regret it.
Having a set of tire deflators mitigates a lot of the time and hassle of airing down, so you can still jump onto the trails before you go gray. Unless you’re already gray. In that case, your time is even that much more valuable because there’s so much less of it left.
With these R4T tire deflators, you can go from 40 PSI to 12 PSI in just a few minutes without any hoses or gauges to mess with. Simply set the deflators to your desired tire pressure at home. When you’re rolling from asphalt to dirt, just screw them on, and the air automatically flows out and stops at the pre-set pressure. Screw them off and put them back into their soft leather pouch.
Sound pretty easy? Well, it pretty much is that easy.
Setting your R4T tire deflators
This cheat sheet comes in the package, but the following goes a bit deeper on how to set up your tire deflators.
Step 1. Set A Tire To The Desired PSI
Deflate a spare tire to your desired pressure. I used the spare on the back of my rig and dropped the air pressure to around 12 PSI. Everyone has a different opinion on the best air pressure, and it varies based on what type of terrain or surface you’re about to roll onto.
The size of your wheels and tires and the weight of your vehicle are also factors. Some say to start at 15-20 PSI and work your way down to what feels good to you. I usually ask everyone I’m out with and see what they’re doing, and take an average.
If I’m alone, I like to go down to about 12PSI for snow (our current situation on the trails near Bend). I don’t have any science behind the number 12. I just like the number. I’m also a bit superstitious, so I definitely want to avoid 13.
Step 2. Prep Tire Deflator
Once your spare is at 12 PSI (Or whatever your lucky number is), wind the lock ring and adjusting cap all the way down (clockwise) on the deflator.
Step 3. Attach Tire Deflator
Screw the deflator onto the spare tire’s valve stem. Note that when you screw them on and off the valve stem, you should use the base of the deflator closest to the wheel. If you twist on the lock ring and cap, they may come out of adjustment.
Step 4. Set Pressure On Tire Deflator
Unwind the adjusting cap (counter-clockwise) until air begins to release. As you hear air release, immediately tighten the adjusting cap back to the position where air stops releasing. Be careful not to let too much air out at this stage, otherwise, your settings may be off.
Step 5. Lock-In Adjustments
Turn the lock ring up to the adjusting cap and tighten. If it wasn’t obvious, the locking ring “locks” the adjusting cap so it doesn’t accidentally get re-adjusted in the bag, or when you’re handling the deflators.
The deflator is now set at the desired pressure. Do the same with the other three tire deflators. Again, be careful not to let too much air out as you go through the process. There’s some room for error here, but obviously, this will be more accurate, the more precise you are with the process.
Step 6. You’re All Set
Once you have your tire deflators set to the desired pressure, the hard work is done. Throw them in the bag and keep them handy for your next day in the dirt.
Airing Down For The Trail
When you roll to the edge of the asphalt, the air-down process is as simple as A, B, C.
Step A
Remove all 4 valve stem caps one by one, and screw on each tire deflator firmly.
REMINDER: When you screw them on and off the valve stem, you should use the base of the deflator closest to the wheel (as mentioned above). If you twist on the lock ring and adjust the cap, they will come out of adjustment.
After each tire deflator is attached, air will begin flowing out of the tire. When the tire hits the preset pressure (In my case, 12 PSI) it’ll automatically stop.
Step B
Remove the tire deflators and place them back in the leather pouch.
Step C
Hit the trail.
Final Thoughts
To go from 40 PSI to 12 PSI took just over four and a half minutes for one tire. If you do them all four simultaneously, add about a minute or two to take off the valve stems and screw on the deflators, then take them off again, you’re probably aired down in about seven minutes.
In a world of complexity, these tire deflators really are as easy as they sound. The first time I went wheeling with friends, I remember someone whipping out a set of tire deflators and airing down almost magically. I was always mystified by them, and kinda always meant to get some, but for some reason, I never did, until now. And I’m glad I did.
The R4T tire deflators are super easy to use and small enough to throw into the console. Personally, my favorite part is the soft, tastefully-branded R4T leather pouch. It sounds weird, but rubbing and squeezing it gently in my palm helped me cope with the intense stress of writing this article 😉 Hope it was helpful.
