R4T Tire Deflators Review & Overview – A Quick, Affordable & Simple Trail Hack To Save Time While Airing Down Your Tires
Airing down your Tacoma’s tires makes for smooth riding and good grip when driving over bumpy off-road terrain. Until now I have known only two ways to deflate tires before hitting the trails: manually depress each individual tire valve or run over a good hard nail.
The problem with the first option is that it takes a while, counting all four wheels, and you must stop every so often and check the pressure with a gauge. If you go too far with one, then your tires’ pressures are uneven and you must pump that one back up, etc. The problem with the second is that it is very quick and probably won’t stop leaking until flat.
The Runnin4Tacos Tire Deflators give you a road-side break by automatically deflating your tires to the correct pressure. These tire deflators are essentially pressure regulators that release air until a certain pressure is maintained, at which point they automatically close off.
The idea behind the R4T Tire Deflators is for off-road enjoyers to screw the deflators onto each tire’s valve stem and then let them do their work. They’re extremely easy to use, fit nicely in your glove compartment, and come in a cool leather storage pouch.
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R4T Tire Deflator Review
How To Use
The deflators will bring down your tire pressure to whatever level you desire.
First, to tune your deflators you will need to deflate a spare tire down to whatever pressure you prefer for off-roading. I use between 15-18 psi. Next, wind the locking ring and the adjusting cap all the way down (clockwise). Then, screw the deflator onto the tire’s valve stem. Now, unwind (counter-clockwise) the adjusting cap until air begins to release, then tighten the adjusting cap until the air stops leaking. Finally, turn the locking ring up to the adjusting cap in order to lock it in place. Repeat these steps for all four deflators.
Now your tire deflators are set to the PSI of your spare tire. When you go to deflate your truck tires next time, you’ll just screw each of the deflators onto your tires’ valve stems and let them do their work. The hissing sound will start up and then stop automatically. That’s when they’re done, and the pressure is at its proper mark. Easy!
Initial Thoughts & Review
When it comes to over-landing there are two rules I live by: space and efficiency. In order to have a pleasurable experience off-road, we want things to pack down tightly and to work quickly when needed. R4T’s Tire Deflators shave a few minutes off of those final, exciting moments between leaving the pavement and hitting the trail.
While on a recent trip in Utah and Arizona, I aired down several times with these deflators. Each time I was able to screw all four deflators onto all tires and then walk away to attend to other matters. When I returned after a few minutes, each tire was at 16 PSI, precisely. It’s a worry-free, hassle-free trail hack.
I also really like not having to crouch down by each tire and hang out by the dust for a few minutes while holding a manual deflator to the tire. Especially while my friends are busy hobbling around their rigs, stooping and checking their tires. I checked the pressure each time, just to be sure they worked and didn’t lose their settings I had initially locked in after repeated use (and lots of bumpy rides in between). After five air-downs the tires went to the same levels again and again. That’s a win for consistency.
There are great options for deflating your tires, and what works best for you will depend upon your use and setup. The advantage of R4T’s deflators would be deflating all four at once and, again, not having to hangout for a few minutes squatting down by your tires. But it definitely gets the job done reliably and fast! There are other brands that make similar options – but the cost is a bit steeper, and it seems to me that they both function comparably.
The one deflator that I think has an advantage over the R4T’s is the MORRFlate Quad Inflation + Deflation kit. It comes with that nice deflator chuck and gauge I mentioned above, but it connects to all four tires at once. That’s right: it allows you to deflate all four tires at the same time, monitored by one gauge simultaneously. It’s super slick. The only hang up is cost. The kit runs much more than the cost of R4T’s setup. So, I’d put the R4T Tire Deflators in a top category for convenience and price when compared to other options.
Overall, the R4T Tire Deflators made my trail prep a little more smooth and easy. Just don’t forget to take them off before heading off into the trails!
