Thread: best tyres for kimberly trip

Gday Bob,

265 is about a 32" I think and for a Kimberly trip your current size tyre would be fine, is it working for you so far? Just get a good quality tyre and consider taking two spares. Can't help you with which tyre as I am trying to work that one out myself
Enjoy the trip.

265 thingy is width in mm.
So, a 265/16/75 is 265mm wide, 16 inch actual wheels size and 75 is a % called aspect ratio of the side wall height. 75% of 265 mm is the height of the rubber.
If you want to go to more ride height especially for outback trips, may I humbly suspect a good ATR tyre of 245/75 or 245/85.
They are quite common in the outback should you suffer severe punctures or failures.
I have seen on some of my club runs folks with rare or oversize tyres get flats and not able to get spares.

Pirelli or Coopers or Goodrich make great tyres, I run Coopers ATR 245/75/16 and had no problems at all.

Tyre pressures are one to watch to get best out of them and when off road, I always air down and drive carefully and had no issues.

Originally Posted by bob10

I know, this has been done to death, but first of all, I have been told the D2 will take 265 thingy tyres without any mods to the suspension. what does " 265" mean in old fart talk? 33" , 31" or? Would that size tyre put undue stress on the drivetrain? I have 245 thingy tyres on at the moment, is there any need to go bigger? I am thinking Pirellis or Mickey thompsons, am I reading too many 4wd mags.? No need to get too technical, I wouldn't understand, but would appreciate some old fashioned advice, cheers Bob.

When I drive from Nhulunbuy to Katherine I have 600kms of dirt road that very much resembles the Gibb River Road.

I have 245 thingys on mine (Goodyear Silent Armor 245/75R16 = 30.47 inches) and I am more than happy with that size for the sort of work I do with them and that I suspect you will do in the Kimberley's as well.

We'll be northern Kimberleys late June and early July for 2 weeks too.

Mr Ploppy, [ I wont ask] , Big guy, and Stuuuu, thanks, I have Maxxis, 245/75/16, good road tyres, but have heard not so good on corrugated dirt.Pirellis are looking good at the moment. We intend to travel to Kimberly's in about 2 yrs. time, which fits in with my wifes retirement. I was happily retired, until I bought the Disco., and now am taking on some part time work to upgrade the drivetrain, suspension, and tyres. Will stick to 245 thingys, I think. Thanks, fellers, Bob.

Originally Posted by Stuuu

When I drive from Nhulunbuy to Katherine I have 600kms of dirt road that very much resembles the Gibb River Road.

I have 245 thingys on mine (Goodyear Silent Armor 245/75R16 = 30.47 inches) and I am more than happy with that size for the sort of work I do with them and that I suspect you will do in the Kimberley's as well.

We'll be northern Kimberleys late June and early July for 2 weeks too.

Stuu, when I was on Patrol Boats in Darwin in the 80's, we pulled into Gove often. I have fond memories of the Hotel, the Bowls club, and the smallarms shoots at the pistol club .The return trip thru the Gugari Rip [hole in the wall] was a highlight as well Bob

Originally Posted by bob10

Mr Ploppy, [ I wont ask] , Big guy, and Stuuuu, thanks, I have Maxxis, 245/75/16, good road tyres, but have heard not so good on corrugated dirt.Pirellis are looking good at the moment. We intend to travel to Kimberly's in about 2 yrs. time, which fits in with my wifes retirement. I was happily retired, until I bought the Disco., and now am taking on some part time work to upgrade the drivetrain, suspension, and tyres. Will stick to 245 thingys, I think. Thanks, fellers, Bob.

As big guy says a good AT tyre (I have the Goodyears) in 245 will do you will.

Originally Posted by bob10

Stuu, when I was on Patrol Boats in Darwin in the 80's, we pulled into Gove often. I have fond memories of the Hotel, the Bowls club, and the smallarms shoots at the pistol club .The return trip thru the Gugari Rip [hole in the wall] was a highlight as well Bob

Haven't gone through the hole but have flown over it numerous times.

Bob,

I live here (Derby). not that it matters but the 245/235 etc etc refers to tire width in mm's. 33 31 etc refers to tire diameter in inches so two different things.The tyre & 4wd mags tend to focus on mud and rock driving with a bit of sand ..almost completely irrelevant . Most of the driving you'll do getting here and once here will be tarmac , dirt and gravel, bit of sand and just a bit of rock or mud depending on when you come. There's no point getting expensive mud tyres for the 500 meters you'll do in the mud because you couldn't avoid it. I'd i) stick pretty close to original sizes,ii) make sure the size/make is easy to replace/common up here ( ring a few local stockists, stocks can be very limited and you can wait days-weeks to get a sexy size) iii) if you can use the same tyre/wheel combo and sizes on any trailer you're hauling. Big mud tyres will cost more, howl like the devil on the 5000 km's here, handle badly on all that tar, be hard to replace and use more fuel. You don't need a particularly wide tyre but a compressor is invaluable for when you do find mud or sand (did you know highway tyres are actually better on sand than Mud Terrains !!). I'd go for a A/T or H/T tyre , in LT construction if you can (All Terrain, Highway Terrain and Light Truck). The dirt and sand can be punishing and you will get a flat so make sure the jack etc are all in working order. I always travel with two spares and wheels and check tyre pressures when I do fuel.

Good luck

Thanks TPKTC, I believe the L/T tyres have thicker sidewalls, more resistance to stakes, etc. , and can carry more weight than AT tyres.I have thought for some time that the push for bigger, wider etc , is a marketing ploy, good to hear from people actually driving in the areas and get their opinions.My memory of Derby is when we attended the Boab festival back in the 80's, we had to anchor out in a hole about 1 km out, use the smally boat to get to the wharf.I will never forget the mud crab we saw caught at the wharf, biggest Ive ever seen.[ we had a reception on the boat for local dignataries, the Mayor, a woman, drank everyone under the table!] Bob