I started running ATV when they only had 3 tires and no shocks or springs. Low tire pressure was the only suspension. I still run 3# and not to go over 4#. Think of it this way. Lower the air pressure in a basketball and it will not bounce. The higher the pressure in the ball the greater the bounce. The greater the tire pressure the more bound the bike will have. When you are running over the rocks I do not want the bike bouncing. Plus it helps to save the tires from punctures. When the tire is against a rock, tree or whatever you have the tire will give making it harder for the rock or other sharp objects from cutting the tire. This, in the long run, makes for the softest ride. With the tires that we are using with the higher sidewall rating, the low pressure will show little difference in ground clearance. When I was mounting some 8 ply rating tires I removed the valve stem to see how much the tire went down if I were to have a flat. With my weight on the far corner of the rack, the tire showed little bulge.
I've gone through 4 + sets of Sadona Rip-Shaw tires with as low as 2 1/2 # of air with no problems. The nice thing about those tires they ware like steel on the paved roads.
I took the ATV out the other evening on rocky trails with the new Rip-Saws those are some gnarly tires for this area. I like em!
Running them with 5ish #
The "correct" tire pressure depends on a lot of things... The particular tire and its construction, the terrain, your riding style, load and also personal preference. I generally run my Pitbulls at around 5-6 psi depending on the load and conditions. I sometimes run less but you risk cutting a sidewall in sharp rock and the machine will wallow around more on the faster stuff.
I find just the opposite with sharp rock and other cutting objects. Something has to give. With high pressure, the tire will not give and thus the puncture. With low pressure, the tire will be the one that gives inward and will collapse.
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