Thread: gibb river with 18's

I would do it

The Gib can be a bit rough on rubber by way of sharp rocks going through the tread as much as side wall issues. I did it on the standard 16' Pirellis in 2002 when the car was almost new and had said trouble. I was towing about 1.3 t and I suspect that made it worse. Just keep your pressures down to a safe level for your cargo and your speed likewise easy and you should not have a problem. Those sudden dips in the road where you bottom out the suspension when going too fast seem to be the cause of most tyre problems. Take an extra spare and a compressor and rubber strings for additional repair will get you home.

If your tyres are in good condition you should be ok. It is probably luck of the draw but when I did the Kimberley and did the length of the Gibb River road the only tyre problems where coming in on the Gibb River Wynhdham Road into about the Pentecost River, road is covered in sharp loose rocks. The Kalumburu to Derby length was not as bad with a lot of dirt highway. I was on 750x16 and did not have a problem the discos on 235x70 or what ever they use ruined a tyre or two.

The lower the tyres (that's profile and pressure) the slower you should travel on dirt and gravel roads.
In other words, adapt and drive to the conditions and 18's should be fine.

cheers guys, pretty much what I was hoping for. I've only been on this site for a few months and already think i will put my hard earned into a subscribe.
To think I've gone through a rangie and now disco 2 before joining.

What took me soooo long

You don't say how many spares you are going to take.I would take two & a tyre only if you have room.

Also one of those tyre repair kits with plugs.

Good luck

I guess you can always be lucky or unlucky.

When I did the Gibb in the Series III LWB with crossply retread 750x16s, I had no trouble at all.

My brother was carrying a full new set of whatever radials and rims that were fitted to his Patrol, but had decided to try to get the last few thousand kilometres out of the tyres he already had on.

I think he made it about a kilometre before he destroyed a tyre, so he fitted his new ones and had no further trouble.

I think the message is that tyres that are on their last legs are more likely to fail.