Master
About 2 months ago I posted that I was concerned at lowering the tyre pressures on my D4 (255/55/19) to 18psi while driving around Fraser Isl. In the front I was running 2 Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs and in the rear 2 Hankook Dynapros. The Hankooks were on their way out, but I decided to use them on this trip and replace them when we returned with Duratracs - well that didn't exactly go to plan now did it!
There is quite a tricky section on Fraser Isl called Ngkala Rocks and when we got to within 500 metres, we could see a long line of vehicles waiting to go through the rock/sand pass. The reason that there was such a long line was because every second or third vehicle was getting bogged after going up a jump-up as the sand was really soft and you couldn't get a run up to gain momentum. Once up the jump-up, you just had to plant your foot and go like the clappers!
Well - we eventually made it after I pressed the correct buttons and kept them set (that's a whole other story) and we flew along the soft sand that lots got bogged in - a bit scary for a while as there was a camber going to the right and then a drop off over rocks and then the ocean!
However - there was a big cost of doing that. Unfortunately the Hankooks do not like being let down too far and the side walls are not that strong it seems. Should have just lowered the Hankooks to around 25psi I think. The Duratracs did well and stood up to the lower pressure - but they were in the front.
Anyway as I am writing this post, I received a call from the tyre dealer here in Port Macquarie and 2 new Duratracs have been delivered and will be fitted in about 30 minutes time
Master
I don’t profess to being an expert, but judging by the tread on that tyre, it was all but rooted, and you just finished it off.
I personally would replace my tyres before that amount of wear, particularly if planning on going off road.
All said, you got your money’s worth out of them. Can’t really complain.
Ron
2013 D4 SDV6 SE
Master
I would think a 55 series tyre is less than ideal for the situation.
ChatterBox
Judging by the photo I think you got a fair run out of them. They were buggered before you left for the trip!
Master
SupporterIf you’d left them at 25psi and it was a soft sand day on the island I can all but guarantee you would have been bogged with the others
Master
SupporterJust to add, I’d guess that regardless of the condition of your tyres if you run low profile tyres with the air down they won’t enjoy driving on a steep camber
Sounds like a case of damned if you do, damned if you don’t
TopicToaster
SubscriberI’ve done two sidewalls on rocks now in my 19’s. In one case speed and blindness was a factor. In the second blindness was (I couldn’t see the submerged rock under the water). I felt the thud in both cases and just knew.
2010 TDV6 3.0L Discovery 4 HSE
2007 Audi RS4 (B7)
Wizard
SupporterAgree with others, those tyres should never have left the city.
Half the reason i run two sets is I won't go on an arduous trip such as Fraser without a min of approx 50% tread, so when my expensive D697s neared 50%, i decided to shelve them until i needed them on the next said trip.
I'd put it down to lesson learnt, and don't think you'd be any better off with ANY other type or size of tyre.
50% is within reason of course, but sand driving and corrugations would be at the top of my caution list.
Swaggie
SubscriberThis is a stitch up right??
Cheers Baz.
2011 Discovery 4 SE 2.7L
1990 Perentie FFR EX Aust Army
1967 Series IIa 109 (Farm Truck)
2007 BMW R1200GS
1979 BMW R80/7
1983 BMW R100TIC Ex ACT Police
1994 Yamaha XT225 Serow
Master
The tread on the tyre that de-laminated looks a lot worse on that side than on the other, but as I said I knew that they had about 25% - 30% left in them before
i left on the trip, not knowing that they were going to have to do some extreme work to get through Ngkala Rocks on Fraser.
However the point is, regardless of the amount of tread (I remember being told that on sand the less tread the better actually!), the side walls cracked up. Also I am pretty sure that the de-lamination also occurred because the side structure of the tyre was not supporting the shoulder.
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