D4 Driving over Big red on 19' rims

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Originally Posted by Ian Abbott

Hi Celtoid, Good to read your comments re placard notations and tyre people input - could that suggest that the door placard not have relevance to what we should run AT and LT pressures, are the manufacturers rec. too soft? regards Ian A

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Over a period of time I had conversations with two of my local tyre guys that I trust and it's been noted here on this forum too, about recommended pressures.


The conversations were initiated because I was wearing the edges out on my tyres, both the Wranglers and Scorpion ATRs. In fact the Scorpions were worse. I had a similar experience with my wife's Merc sedan.


At first I assumed I had a wheel alignment problem but both tyre guys stated that my cars alignment was fine and it was more likely a pressure issue. They stated that manufacturers tend to recommend lower pressures to improve comfort. Both guys also stated that they tend to use 40psi all round for large 4WDs.


I agree there is a risk of adversely affecting comfort as running at those pressures tends to stiffen things up a bit but my tyre wear has been completely even since then.


I guess there will be variations due to the differences in types of tyres, so maybe a bit of experimentation is in order. For example, the Scorpions are a much stiffer tyre to start with so you have to take that into consideration.


I personally think the Wranglers are too wobbly at the placard pressures and much prefer them stiffer.

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Originally Posted by BobD

The ride suffers greatly if you use higher pressures. It loses some of its "floating on air" feeling. I reckon the placard pressures are good, even with my larger AT tyres.


As soon as I go back to the old 19 inch Wranglers in my shed I don't like the harsher ride compared with the 18 inch D697's. I want to wear them out but they only last a day and the 18 inch wheels go back on!!

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I guess it's just a personal thing Bob. I hate driving on the road with my 18" LTZs .... I just find them too bouncy and the steering is less direct.

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Originally Posted by Celtoid

I guess it's just a personal thing Bob. I hate driving on the road with my 18" LTZs .... I just find them too bouncy and the steering is less direct.

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That may be the case but the D4 is hardly a sports car so that doesn't matter to me. As you say, everyone has different preferences and priorities. I've never found them too bouncy, though.

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Originally Posted by matti4556

Mario - here's a photo of the track between The Western Edge of the Simpson and Dalhousie Springs. This was the section I felt was the worst and needed me to slow down more than usual. The rest were just "rocky roads" except for where the council has just spread some fresh hard sharp clay over the track. I ran Cooper Zeon LTR's in 19". Still dented 2 rims though - those things are like musk sticks.
https://goo.gl/photos/xoBmqGgrWrNRtTFM6
https://goo.gl/photos/5svUXUGWd3xNtGu97

And here's a link to the D3 going over Big Red on 19's - aired down to about 16PSI for this attempt. 20PSI only got me within 10 metres of the top. Very chopped up approach. Fully laden - http://vid1030.photobucket.com/album...pshwyrcr0i.mp4

and an album of the whole trip is here - https://goo.gl/photos/vMy7Tht8diX9AQGT6

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Matti - many thanks for sharing these pictures/video. The track into Dalhousie Springs looks better than I thought. I was expecting to drive through something like the median strip, but if I keep to the wheel tracks and take it slow, then should be OK. Might take me longer, but at least I can appreciate the surrounds more.

I don't like the look of that rim, but not sure whether ATs would make any difference over the wranglers.

Kind regards
Mario

I have done 18 trips out into the SA desert areas and have never had a tyre problem.

I also have never driven at 120-140kmh on any out back road.

I am amazed you only had one tyre problem.

Btw , as soon as I hit dirt I deflate to 25 psi and 15 for sand.

Driving at 140kmh you must miss so much. I drive at more like 80kmh, windows down if I can , no music on , smelling the breeze , stopping every hour or so for any reason.

My mate who I took with me last year took hundreds of photos of wildlife which you wouldn't see or be able to pull up and photograph.

anyway , regardless , I hope you really enjoyed your trip , Big Red is no deal is it? There are bigger ones but you need a guide to see them.

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Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

I have done 18 trips out into the SA desert areas and have never had a tyre problem.

I also have never driven at 120-140kmh on any out back road.

I am amazed you only had one tyre problem.

Btw , as soon as I hit dirt I deflate to 25 psi and 15 for sand.

Driving at 140kmh you must miss so much. I drive at more like 80kmh, windows down if I can , no music on , smelling the breeze , stopping every hour or so for any reason.

My mate who I took with me last year took hundreds of photos of wildlife which you wouldn't see or be able to pull up and photograph.

anyway , regardless , I hope you really enjoyed your trip , Big Red is no deal is it? There are bigger ones but you need a guide to see them.

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Was a bit surprised myself to hear of speeds of 120/140 on outback roads .

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Originally Posted by Fatso

Was a bit surprised myself to hear of speeds of 120/140 on outback roads .

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I understand, but really they are/were amazingly good. I've grown up in the country and wouldn't have done those speeds if it wasn't safe.

ramblingboy42 Thanks for your comments, What type of tyres do you run? that's an impressive record :) Are they 18 or 19? To be fair I only had one tyre go down a week after the trip. Could be a screw yet :) ( But I doubt it )

I sure brought home plenty of photos, but I also had a fixed window of time for the trip. I'll certainly be going back again. You cant tell me thou that in photos like the attached ones, you would see too much more at 80km than at 120km :)

I stopped almost every hour for some reason or another, an eagle, a fence, horses etc & yep I agree, windows down, radio off and feeling the blasting dry heat. Just awesome

Big red was a big enough deal for me :) Going for a full trip across the desert would require a whole other level of being prepared :)

Each to their own perception of what is safe or not as long as it doesn't put others at risk.

I do know one thing though, even on a completely flat outback dirt road at a 140 kph if you come across something substantial in your path that was not easily visible then chances are you won't be able to avoid it or stop in time.

Out there on your own with the front end of your vehicle damaged or worse still parked up side down would not be much fun.

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Originally Posted by TerryO

Each to their own perception of what is safe or not as long as it doesn't put others at risk.

I do know one thing though, even on a completely flat outback dirt road at a 140 kph if you come across something substantial in your path that was not easily visible then chances are you won't be able to avoid it or stop in time.

Out there on your own with the front end of your vehicle damaged or worse still parked up side down would not be much fun.

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Agreed, I will say that at one point I was overtaken by a flying landcruiser that must have been doing 160+ . The bugger showered me with rock too :(

Still I'd rather do 130km/h out there than 110km/h on the goldcoast hwy with only about 10m behind me to the next car, one each side of me, and as much stopping room as I can manage with out someone seeing it as a spot to merge into. :angry:

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Originally Posted by matti4556

And here's a link to the D3 going over Big Red on 19's - aired down to about 16PSI for this attempt. 20PSI only got me within 10 metres of the top. Very chopped up approach. Fully laden - http://vid1030.photobucket.com/album...pshwyrcr0i.mp4

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Is that going west to east or east to west? It really surprises me how much it changes.