Thread: Tyre pressures...

i always thought that low pressures were better on those types of roads, 40psi seems high. I would have gone for 25-30 which is what i use on extended long dirt road driving, but i've never done the Gibb River road or anything like that so cant comment on tyres pressures out there.

I have just come back from the Birdsville track, Innaminka track and was advised by the roadhouse owner at Marree to keep the pressure as normal and slow down to the road conditions. This advice I followed and suffered no damage what so ever to my BFG tyres. Most of the time I was driving at or less than 80 klm per hour but I was amazed that I could not see any damage even though the tyres were a " road" pattern.
Any time from now on I'm going on these sort of roads I will simply slow down. Saves a lot of mucking around I recon.

On the road to Mitchell falls the corragations were that bad speeds were down to around 20ks, I met a gut in a Landcruiser 200 who had blown 2 tyres at that speed and was running 45psi.I didnt see what brand they were but he was unhappy chappy thats for sure.
Anyway im home now so was just wondering peoples thoughts.

Cheers Ean

Originally Posted by Ean Austral

Gday All, Just come back from the Gibb river road and the tyre damage I seen was nothing short of amazing.The interesting thing was the different views on tyre pressures.I spoke to the mechanics at el questro they said 45psi.. The guys at Home valley station 35-40psi and Drysdale river said 30-35psi.

I had a new set of Goodyear Wranglers A/T's at 28psi and survived with I slow leak.
Was wondering what pressures others think/run on badly corragated dirt roads?

Cheers Ean

In 2007 we travelled in our fully loaded Defender from Blinman SA to Innamincka (via the Strzlecki), and we found that 30 psi rear and 25 psi front gave a better ride. MOST IMPORTANT! Keep speed 80-85 kph max!

We had NO tyre problems. (Seeing all the shredded tyres beside the road keeps you honest!

Cheers,

Lionel

Last trip across Simpson,back through Innaminka,etc,tyres at 35psi
Cape trip,tyres at 32 psi.

Both trips,no tyre problems at all,D2,BFG A/T's

Did travel pretty light,two people & camping gear etc.

On blacktop,always run 40 psi,all round.

Done 76k on these tyres & never had a puncture

They are pretty badly chipped though,& some lugs on the edges missing.

Always rotated every 10k

Does it depend though on your tire size?? Say a tire at 245/70/16's running between 25-30 psi compared to a tire like size of a 31 and above???

There are two schools of thought on this with the first generally being run low pressures 25-30psi and travel at no more than 80kmph and the second being 40-42psi.
I personally think the 25-30psi thought is the right one, but there are many convinced that higher pressures are better. I have generally blown tyres when running higher pressure. But of course run lower pressures and then run long distance at high speed and they will overheat and blow as well.
The size of the tyre is generally irrelevant.
Even between tyre companies there are discrepencies in reccommended pressures.

I am with Craig on this one .

I had a bad time with the BFG A/T
Had my best time with Goodyear MTR at the same pressures