19” Tyres in Out a k

[rhinosm]

We’ve just driven Anne Beadell Hwy West from Coober Pedy to Vokes Hill and then south to Cook and Nullabbor on Goodyear Duratrax 255/55/19. Don’t do it.
I’ve used these tyres on 2 other occasions to cross Simpson Desert in both direction, Oodandatta Track and Birdsville etc successfully as I couldn’t justify the cost of 18” wheels and tyres.
At the start of this trip I planned to move over to 18” for next trip.
We had already spend a couple of weeks traveling on this trip thru Flinders Ranges, APY lands and west Mac ranges.
I pinched a wall on one tyre in flinders which bulged.
All going well on our last leg out of desert to Cook when I cut the side of a tyre. A quick change to last good spare.
Within a km one rock cut 2 more, front & back.
So the bulge tyre goes on and with path the other.
So we send a vehicle ahead with my 2 cut tyres and and I crawl 180 kms out of desert at no more than 20ks stopping a number of times to redo repair until we get past Cook and we up it to 40ks. We stop 2 more times for repairs and the last one hangs in there for 67km to Nullabbor Roadhouse.
I have limbed into Ceduna at 80 on professionally repaired tyres and have had my original Hwy tyres went on freight from Melb to drive home.
So whilst we wait in Ceduna we have started planning. Next years trip, Tanimi and CSR.
Tiffants and BFGs for me.
All good. Part of adventure.

[ATH]

Good report thnx. I've just had 5 Maxxis 980s 19" tyres fitted prior to our next trip as the original road tyres weren't up to much. I'll see how they go before committing to new wheels like Tuffants.
But this time I'll try to wear them out first before scrapping them, not like the originals which I just dumped as no market even for them in good condition.
AlanH.

[discomatt69]

Well that confirms my choice in spending the extra coin on 18s , tuffants with BFG KO2 . Gibb River Rd ,Michel Falls, Kakadu, Lytchfield, Lorrela Springs Macdonnel Rangers all without so much as a side wall scratch or chip

[wombathole]

What pressures were you running in the 19’s?

On my last trip I was running 25 psi and on the track to Ruby Gap east of Alice I cut both side walls on one rock.

The guys in Alice told me to go max pressure for low profile tyres so the side walls have least exposure to the rocks. If you get a puncture, it will typically be through the belts so it’s then repairable. You need low pressure to increase footprint in mud or sand. For sharp rocks you don’t have a grip problem, you have a side wall exposure, so high pressure.

I followed their guidance (only dropping pressure for soft sand) and didn’t get another flat. Ride is much rougher so you need to slow down, but tyres didn’t fail.


I’m tempted by the tuffants, but between now and when I can afford them, I’ll run high pressures on the low profiles at all times except when I need large footprint grip.

Ps: I’ve noticed the tyres haven’t got chewed out as much running high pressures as well.

2 cents.

[DunnToImpress]

Thanks for this post, it confirms what i have been thinking, last Christmas we went through the Great central Road from Perth to Uluru then on down to the Oodnadatta Track. Trying to do the right thing i dropped tyre pressures to 30psi and had a side wall cut about 60klms into the Oodnadatta track. Being on 20 inch rims we were stuffed until the new year (5 days at Port Augusta!!) when we could get a spare from Adelaide. i am now planning a trip from Sydney, out to Mungo National Park then up to Cameron Corner and Birdsville, contemplating buying 2 x 20" rims as spares or getting the Tuffants x 6. I am now really strongly considering the Tuffants but was wondering, whats the general protocol when you get a flat??? Do you travel on with only one spare and get it replaced at the next roadhouse or do you just complete the holiday with 1 x spare??? Also whats the preferred size for out in the bush, i am thinking 265x18x 60 series.
Look forward to hearing the groups thoughts. (apologies i am a L320 RRS owner posting here as nothing happens on the RRS pages!!!)

[PerthDisco]

Thanks for this post, it confirms what i have been thinking, last Christmas we went through the Great central Road from Perth to Uluru then on down to the Oodnadatta Track. Trying to do the right thing i dropped tyre pressures to 30psi and had a side wall cut about 60klms into the Oodnadatta track. Being on 20 inch rims we were stuffed until the new year (5 days at Port Augusta!!) when we could get a spare from Adelaide. i am now planning a trip from Sydney, out to Mungo National Park then up to Cameron Corner and Birdsville, contemplating buying 2 x 20" rims as spares or getting the Tuffants x 6. I am now really strongly considering the Tuffants but was wondering, whats the general protocol when you get a flat??? Do you travel on with only one spare and get it replaced at the next roadhouse or do you just complete the holiday with 1 x spare??? Also whats the preferred size for out in the bush, i am thinking 265x18x 60 series.
Look forward to hearing the groups thoughts. (apologies i am a L320 RRS owner posting here as nothing happens on the RRS pages!!!)

Pretty sure you will find the Tuffants only fit D3/D4 as mate tried to get for latest RRS.

Baring a catastrophic blow out which seems less likely with LT 18” style can use plugs to keep 2 spare in stock.

[Graeme]

A TDV6 L320 has the same brakes as an equivalent D3/D4 - 2.7 small brakes, 3.0 larger as per 3.0 D4.

[DunnToImpress]

Pretty sure you will find the Tuffants only fit D3/D4 as mate tried to get for latest RRS.

Baring a catastrophic blow out which seems less likely with LT 18” style can use plugs to keep 2 spare in stock.

I am pretty sure they will fit OK, I have the 2012 RRS not the new shape, just need to validate the $2500 spend for Rims and Tyres. The more i think about it the availability of the 18's in the bush will be worth it, compared to waiting days for a 20" tyre to be freighted in.

[rar110]

Have a look at the load ratings for tyres in 265/60/18. There’s only a few that have a decent rating.