Tyres suitable for the Flinders Ranges

[mattadelaide1975]

Hi Everyone,

Just a general question for anyone that has travelled through the Flinders Ranges and what tyres they recommend.

Reason for the question.... I am due to go up to the Flinders in 2 weeks time for the weekend, but only have HT's on my Discovery 2.

Depending on who I talk to, some will say that HT's are fine and will get you up and down most of the hills, where as others say that you need AT's or you wont get far.

Been looking at AT's and the budget, and the 2 dont seem to want to meld together.

So has anyone run up and down the flinders on HT's?

Cheers

Matt

[2stroke]

Sorry, don't know about the Flinders specifically but I do know that nothing ruins a holiday like tyre problems (except maybe cooling problems). LT construction would be more important to me than tread type.

[d@rk51d3]

Unless you're planning on paying to go on some of the station tours, alot of the roads are pretty much sealed now. Loose gravel is as gnarly as it gets.

Although, I haven't been north of Arkaroola on the back tracks. It might be a bit more rugged up that way.

[vnx205]

Last time i was in the Flinders I had ATs and had no problems, including doing the Arden Hills Track . However, I don't believe it would have been any different on HTs.
The thing most likely to create difficulties is the loose stony surface. I don't think anything provides grip on that. :)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/07/460.jpg

[Homestar]

Been through Danggali on 20" HT on the L322 without issue. I think the terrain is similar in places, but never been into the Flinders so not 100% sure.

[Marty110]

as said - really depends on the roads you are going to travel. Also will depend on the speed you travel, the load you have on board and how good your eye is for 'the right line'. I have done the Flinders in a subaru outback with HT tyres and did all the gravel roads and a couple of rockier tracks with no issues. If you do some of the pay for station tracks you really need LT construction and let your pressues down to suit. Same goes for any of the public access routes, although they vary in quaility - you could do the Mt Hack track on HT's with a little pressue out but if you do Mt Samuel track you might risk damage, especially to the side walls. Personally, I would have LT construction AT's at the least or a compromise tyre like the Desert Dueller 661, an excellent 10 ply tyre with not quite an AT tread pattern and a good price and used by many of the station owners - not sure if it's still available though. I have done thousands of km in the Flinders on the roughest station tracks on these. However, I now run BFG's for their milage.....

[mattadelaide1975]

Thanks guys,

So if I understand correctly, if I go up with HT's as long as they are good quality, and I lower tyre pressure to around 20psi (or lower) then I should be able to get over most obstacles, and get up and down most tracks without to many problems.

That makes the minister of finance/war a lot happier as HT's in 255/55/18 are a lot cheaper than AT's in 18", which I will be able to afford.

Cheers

Matt

[Tombie]

You'll be fine unless it gets muddy

[Marty110]

if the HT's are not LT construction just be very careful of your sidewalls on tracks and watch out for wheel spin, as in try not to!! The shale up there will cut your tyres to bits with wheel spin.

[loanrangie]

Last trip i made to the Flinders i was on HT's and never had any issues on the loose stony gravel or the slippery red mud we encountered on the goat track we took on the way back just out of Hawker .

[crash]

Last trip i made to the Flinders i was on HT's and never had any issues on the loose stony gravel or the slippery red mud we encountered on the goat track we took on the way back just out of Hawker .
X2 but did not have the mud. This was about 10years ago though. We did not go on any of the "pay" station tracks though.