# Driving acura mdx on sand

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-acura-mdx-on-sand/30408>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [May 13, 2009, 1:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-acura-mdx-on-sand/30408 "2009-05-13T13:19:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ackura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@ackura](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ackura)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 1:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-acura-mdx-on-sand/30408/1 "2009-05-13T13:19:45Z")

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Can the acura mdx (2005 model) be driven on sand using the VTM-4 Lock and assuming pressure in tires has been dropped to approx. 12-15 psi?

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-acura-mdx-on-sand/30408/2 "2009-05-13T13:24:01Z")

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Your Owner’s Manual should cover the topic of driving on sand, and which AWD and/or traction control setting should be used for that type of driving.

Unless you have the ability to reinflate the tires before driving on roads, I would advise against reducing the tire pressure.

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**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-acura-mdx-on-sand/30408/3 "2009-05-13T17:33:01Z")

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You should only use the lock if you get stuck or are in imminent danger of becoming stuck.

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**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driving-acura-mdx-on-sand/30408/4 "2009-05-13T21:01:30Z")

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Locking the center differential in most AWD cars is a worthwhile feature and SHOULD be used in those difficult conditions to ALLOW wheels spin if it also disables the traction control.  
BTW, ON sand no help; IN deep sand yes. As long as wheels are allowed to slip, no problem. I wouldn’t drop tire pressure that much…it’s not a dune buggy.  
How would you like to hit a hidden rock with those expensive alloys ?