Tyres and the Gibb

Opps. Didn't even notice that Cookie. Yep 4 Rib. Sorry.
The reason I questioned the bead breakers is because the guy at the tyre place reckons I would basically need to drive the Cruiser over the wheel to get the tyre off. His words, not mine.....

It would be a little harder given the smaller sidewall profile but you can get it off - I ran some 10 ply once and they were hard to remove.

I also use a bit of dishwashing liquid to get the bead reset once done

cheers

Hi MH

Good to hear from you again. I guess a lot of it is down to luck. We are only going along the Gibb, east to west. Planning on driving around some of El Questro and stuff and wherever our noses take us. I am pretty confident with the MT's but there's always that niggling doubt. I just know that if I take another, I'll not use it. If I don't, I'll need it. Ah the dilema's of the traveller!!! LOL

Hi Phill

If you have the room, go for the extra tyre and bead breaker; the good 'insurance' always works for us. If you can't accommodate one, I'm sure you will be fine where you are going.

Mh

Hearing you on matching up the tyres Bill. However can't match up our van and Cruiser. Have to say that the 18in on the Cruiser have been more trouble than their worth!!! Was headache sourcing the tyres originally, and..............here we go again. Can't get steel rim for love nor money in Perth!!!

Thanks Goerge. I'll have a squizzie.

Cheers Andrew.
I am thinking that at least if I have the tyre, I would be able to find assistance somewhere. We don't have a hi-lift jack. Only a trail mate.
I am going to look into pliers and bead breakers. Not sure at this point the difference. Have to go cook some tea, so my further investigations will have to wait until tomorrow.
All the best.

Depends significantly on the interpretation and definition of "gazetted road", does it not? Some insurances take that term to mean blacktop ONLY, and "off-road" to mean anything not a tarred surface.
Seems anything to avoid paying out!

I wonder if they would be real happy about coming out to the middle of the GRR, from either Derby or Kununurra at the other end, to repair a tyre.

It would be a nice long round trip of around 600 ~ 700 klms for them, and doubt whether you would be covered for that distance, without a very substantial Co-Payment.

It would be cheaper to buy another spare wheel, or take a spare casing, plenty of plugs, and get some R & R beadbreakers.

When I travelled up that way a couple of years ago, I had three spares, a casing and a set of beadbreakers.

Not needed at all on the Gibb, however in the Gammon ranges around Arkarooola, I was lucky enough to get 2 flats in the one day.

Nothing worse than "having" to stop somewhere awkward and "having to" repair atyre to keep moving.


Tony

Wozzie ,,,I wonder if they would be real happy about coming out to the middle of the GRR, from either Derby or Kununurra at the other end, to repair a tyre. ..The AA ,,Rac ect do not come out and repair tyres. They will put the spare on but NOT repair tyres anywhere.They do not have any equipment to repair tyres

I think it is free towing for 150km (from your vehicle to the point, they don't count their travel out). No they won't repair a tyre but they will tow you that distance should it be required as your vehicle is not driveable.
The GRR is a gazetted road. It has been so long ago since I did the GRR and my recollections are too hazy to be valid. But what I have found on extensive gravel road travel is that if you start with near new tyres, stay on a road and away from mulga stakes, the chance of getting more than one puncture is very, very low.
I've carted a 2nd new spare tyre without rim around in addition to my standard new spare before, I wouldn't bother again.

Comes down to "risk analysis", to me a high level of AA car club travel and good tyres to start with is "all" that should be required.

If you are doing true off road, different story.

Last year we broke the 80 series just off the Pentecost River on the Karunjie Track.
We fixed it enough to get through to Wyndham and then got towed into Kununnurra for repairs.

The towie was saying it's $10 per km towing on the dirt and $5 per km on bitumen.

If you have the top cover with NRMA, RACQ, or whatever you are covered up to $3000 of benefits per year. That would give you 300 km towing on the dirt.

For exercise it was $500 worth of towing, 2 nights accommodation and a hire car for a day and we still had over $2000 of NRMA cover for the rest of the trip.

Steve

Thanks for that Rangiephil. I am probably being a little excessive by saying they are down to last 25%. They still pretty good.
I have ordered another tyre so will go with that. Hopefully it'll not be needed but if it is......its there!!!
I like to think I am mindful of the conditions and will drive accordingly. I'll nurse the tyres as I would my whole vehicle. So regular monitoring and adjusting pressures will all come into play.
Thanks for the input. Appreciate your time.

Cheers

hi phil
tyres that only have 1/4 of their tread left in my experience when towing a heavy van/ c/tr are a risk
because the casings are weaker with age and are closer to the objects as the tyres passes over them
so more care is needed in this respect

i have taken 2 full spares on some desert trips and never used them
but on my last lower CSR / karajini
mt augustus etc trip I took one full spare and a casing with internal patches
plus plug kit and tyre pliers but still didn't get a puncture

but on all my trips I left home with 4 near new tyres
except for one trip with half worn set and got one puncture from a sharp shail stone piercing straight through the center of the tread on a rear tube type tyre on a well formed gravel rd west of alice springs
pulled it to pieces and put an internal patch in as back in 1987 there were no plug kits
fear of --is always a factor
but if you can change a tyre with confidence like i'm able to do owing to my farming back ground
its just par for the course
get someone to give you a lesson using tyre pliers or bead breaker and plugs and patches actually have a go just don't watch
haven't you ever watched it been done at the numerous 4wd shows over the past years??
it would be well worth it even if you have to pay
its really not rocket science
cheers

Hi Mazcan.

I think I may have been a bit overly critical by saying down to last 25%. They still look pretty solid. If I had any doubts that they weren't up to it, I'd be changing them.
I think its just all the blogs and TV, that says `take two spares', that makes me pause. Only an idiot doesn't listen to good advice. Especially from people that have been there, done that and got the T-shirt!!! LOL
Nobody would kick me harder, than myself, if I didn't cover all the bases I could. Mind you saying that, the other half would probably give me a good old whack!!
I've only ever seen them once change a tyre on the TV, and then they didn't really go into it. I have looked at a couple of vids on U Tube and it all looks pretty straight forward. It is just that the words of the tyre guy about not being able to get the thing off without driving over it, is ringing in my ears, and has now sown seeds of doubt.
C'est la vie............decision made and now I am going to roll with it!!!
Thanks for your time mate.

Cheers

the smartest thing written in this entire thread...tyre pressures..drop from 40 to 28

Thanks to both of you. Had already decided that I'd be running at 28 so great minds think alike!!! We did all round Mount Augustus and that area with some pretty bad tracks a while back, without incident.
i'machocoholic, thanks for the road reports.Well handy. I just want to get going. It is going to be a long two weeks till we are off.
Bring it on.............

Are you talking hot or cold pressure when you suggest 28psi on dirt ??

Hi Tommy, 28 is the cold pressure. It seems to work well for us at that. Hope this helps.

Love the post Gaz. Had a bit of a chuckle. It is a shame that we won't be able to accept your hospitality!!! We do have a bit in common to.....my granddad was from Greenock in Scotland, so hopefully by your rule of thumb, Mr Murphy should be passing us by too LOL.

Cheers Blown4by. Glad to hear that you had an incident free trip. Totally agree with your philosophy. TIme has now decided our preparations and spares.
I got the spare tyre without a rim. I am not gung ho when I go driving, especially not somewhere like GRR. It is all about preservation and conservation. We aren't in a race!!! LOL
Will be on our way Wednesday morning and can't wait to get up and running.
Thanks for your time mate.

All the best