Thread: Split rims

the ease of changing tyres i would imagine...

Originally Posted by incisor

the ease of changing tyres i would imagine...

But at the same time wouldn't having a 2 piece wheel let sand, mud and other crap enter? Plus wouldn't you have to run tubes?

not sure what his real aims are but a lot of really remote work is done on conventional tyres with tubes and split rims

The reason for split rims is because all steel radials in 750x16x6 14 Ply
can only be fitted to split rims. Yes, you have to run tubes.
I have never had a problem with dirt entering.

The reason to use the all steel radials is because the steel belts go right over, from bead to bead.
This means they have stronger side walls that are less prone to damage from mulga stakes, hidden stumps and sharp rocks.
They have a less agressive tread and no big lugs overlapping onto the sidewall, which means they are less likely to jag a stake and direct it thru the tyre. They are also able to be repaired in a lot of cases.
They handle the outback tracks and dunes quite ok, once you know how to use these tyres. They dont handle wet conditions very well tho, I used to carry a set of chains for the back wheels but I only had to use them a couple of times, fortunately, because they cut up the tracks.
We are only talking here about travelling across country, bush bashing,
where there are no tracks, for days at a time. For instance, a trip from
the Tanami or Gunbarrel to Lake Mackay, etc. These are my kind trips.

The conventional steel belted radials, like Cooper and my BFG's only
have the steel belts under the tread and no real side wall strength.
Believe me, they are virtually useless, in real prolonged off road conditions
and are very quickly destroyed by stakes and a plug repair kit wont help.
If I was going to just stick to the tracks, like the Gunbarrel, Oodnadatta
or Simpson, etc, I would quite happily stick with my BFG's, as I have been doing.
I hope this answers a few questions.
Cheers.

PS: I used to carry spare tubes, punture repair kit and a few large patches for the inside of the tyres. The duration of the trip and location,
determines how much spares you take.

Thanks for that, it's what I always assumed, but never had confirmed.

And time for me to use my favourite tyre link again.

Beadell Tours - Tyre Information

Simon

I used to be rabbiting, for a couple of years, in the dunes west of the corner and in the scrub east of the Flinders and there is no way that
I would use the conventional Cooper or BFG type tyre over there.
Apart from two trips across the simpson in 62 and 77, without seeing a track and a trip to the cape in 64, all of my bush bashing was done in the 80's and 90's in my 73 Nissan Patrol. I kept it untill 1997 and sold it after my wife had serious heart operations. It had split rims and I used 12 ply
Goodyear's. They were pretty good and were on full time but I only got
around 45k out of them. Tyre bloke told me to try the 14 ply ?

With the Disco I have only been travelling around outback Queensland but I want to take it over to the western deserts.
Can you imagine a trip down along the WA-NT border line between the Tanami and the Gunbarrel ? We would need two or three vehicles tho,
one tray top dedicated to carrying extra spare fuel, besides our own
load.

Simon, those Beadel people would be the ones to ask about petrol
supplies around Woomera and Giles, wouldn't they.
I would love to go and pay my respects to Lennie at his memorial.
Cheers.

If you find someone to modify rims, can you please post details? I don't think that set-up is the best for highway and track use, but it is the best for what you want to use it for and and I'd love a set.

Davo I will start ringing wheel men around the country next week and will
let you knowl

I still wonder if 110 or 130 split rims will fit an early Disco.
Nobody has said they wont and unfortunately I dont know anyone up
here that has either vehicle that I could use too check. For all I know, toyota split rims might fit ?

Interesting thing about the area in the dunes and scrub east of Arkaroola
and Lake Frome, out to the dog fence.
There are quite a number of old abandoned mines around. They didn't dry
up but were abandoned in the nineteenth century because it was too dry
and they couldn't get enough water in.
There are a lot of dry creek beds and water courses in that area and I reckon gold could be found, in some quantity.
When I was out there rabbiting, if I was camped near a water course,
I would sometimes do a bit of digging on the bends, in my spare time,
looking for soakes and would often find traces of the mineral.
I often thought that I would like to come back and have a good look.
Times just about arrived. I dont have gold fever and finding it is not
important but it would be a good area to spend a month or so away from
the towns and people.