Getting used to running on rags again........
Submitted: Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 10:32
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Willem
Fitted a set of MRF Super Traction 12ply crossply 750x16's yesterday for an upcoming bush trip. I am running splits.
It does takes some getting used to again after running on 265/75/16 x 8inch alloy rims.
The road noise factor is up by 50%. Even at 35psi the tyres ride hard (might drop them to 30). This morning we had a bit of ice around and it felt like I was driving on steel tractor wheels...lol.
I have removed the GQ flares and mudflaps as I tore them off on last years excursions in WA and then refitted them. This time they will stay off until the Coopers go back on again after all our trips.
It remains to be seen how we will fare in the dune country. But I take heart that Reg Sprigg and others drove the Simpson in the 1960's when there were no tracks. They were running on rags tyres.
Cheers
Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 10:50
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 10:50
Yes Willem they were...but I am not all that sure they told the WHOLE story when they got back, its amazing the BAD things that slowly slip ones mind.....
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Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 10:56
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 10:56
Bonz
WTFAYTA?
I must be tired....lol. If you are referring to the last few sentences of my post, please explain.
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 14:34
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 14:34
Thats it Willem. maybe the stories of adventure are watered down and they really carried the cars back with the rag tires
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Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 18:39
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 18:39
Bonz
Never read much about the stories. Reg Sprigg was a surveyor, like Len Beadell, who surveyed tracks for the exploration mobs out in the desert.
On our desert adventure of 1987 I was running BFG Muddies on a Zook at 15psi. No punctures during the excursion.
By why the negative comments, I ask?
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 21:42
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 21:42
Oh Willem I am not being negative at all, I hold people such as Len Beadell iin the highest of esteem, and you too old mate are up there, your adventures along with Len's and I am sure Reg's are amazing to me and I long to be part of them. I think I was born 40 years too late.
Alls I meant was that when we retell stiroes sometimes we forget the real hardships. i.e. just back from THE hottest time in Fiji and I can barely remember the heat but I can recall the other experiences vividly. Thats what I was meaning.
Definitely not being negatove at all mate and if it came across that way I sincerely apologise.
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Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 21:53
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 21:53
No worries Bonz
I always like to report back warts and all on trips done especially the silly things that happen out there.
I recall getting off a flight at Heathrow after a 15 hours from Cape Town and walking past some constabulary along the way. I was dead tired and jet lagged. The Bobby asked me " Where have you just come from, Sir ?...I ghave him a quizzical stare and while Judith was trying to explain that I was a trifle deaf...I replied "The plane".......
Don't remember much about the rest of the trip though.....LOL
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Reply By: Footloose - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 11:50
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 11:50
My problems with rags is that there's too much black stuff between here and the desert, and then on the way back again.
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Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 18:51
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 18:51
Now I ask you, Mr Footy, why drive onthe black stuff? Plenty of bush tracks between the east and the west coasts. You are not in hurry when you are retired, eh?....LOL
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 18:58
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 18:58
Willem, I take it easy to get there but after a while of talking to myself, I need to get
home and start yarning :))
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Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 12:06
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 12:06
Rags ?? Rags?? I will bring you a new pair of shoes over if yours are in rags.
P.S. I like to see you run anywhere. LOL. Bare foot or in rags.
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Follow Up By: Old Scalyback & denny - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 12:26
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 12:26
i was thinking along the same lines
john its a bugger to be a poor old pensioner and cant afford air for the tyres so you have to stuff em with rags
rotflmao
steve
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Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 18:45
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 18:45
I will remember all these snide remarks when you 'poor bugger me' fellas are stuck somewhere with you sooper dooper whizzbang contraptions....beggin for some help!!!!....LOL
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Reply By: kesh - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 17:08
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 17:08
Yes Willem, do take heart that Sprigg et al drove all over that country in the '60's on rag tyres.
But, please tell, what other 16" tyres were available in those days, and of course what were the vehicles rotating them? (hope no Landies!!)
For the last 10 yrs. I have been bush bashing in w. qld. on 7.60 x16 x 8ply radials, (work, prospecting across country) no more problems than the previous Trojans. Just need to keep the buggers pumped up, forget about the ride. But surely your not in such a rush anyway?
But , as you are now equiped with split rims (only way to go) a couple of spare cases and tubes should be no worries.
You are correct on the dune situation though, those skinny rags dig in like all getout and letting the pressure down dont help all that much. I would be taking a couple of rolls of 12" chook wire, should be plenty of room in the trailer. Just roll it out, peg at the top end and up you go.
good tripping kesh
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Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 18:42
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 18:42
Chicken wire, Kesh...LOL I like the idea.
Will let you all know how it went by mid May.
Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Sunday, Apr 09, 2006 at 01:23
Sunday, Apr 09, 2006 at 01:23
Yeah and I will post the photos.
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Reply By: V8Diesel - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 18:34
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 18:34
This week funnily enough I swapped the 105 over to splits and 10 plys myself Willem.
I can't relax running tubeless as they are a bugger to fix with anything more than a nail
puncture. Having experienced no less than 10 flats in a day driving in the WA Goldfields, it's splits or nothing for me when it comes to genuine 'off-track' work.
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Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 18:49
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 18:49
That was my concern too. At $330 a tyre my Cooper STT's are good value on rough tracks and beachwork but when getting into real mulga or turpentine country, they wont last 5 minutes. At least on rags or skinny radials one can stick a gater on the inside of the case to cover a hole.
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Follow Up By: V8Diesel - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 19:01
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 19:01
Davoe's new MTR's lasted 10 minutes from memory. He's back to rags too.
I carry a stack of those 'tyre patches' as
well as tube patches. They're about the size of my hand and with some aggressive roughing up will glue on
well enough to stop a split sidewall 'hernia'.
I've also limped
home on splits filled with rope, towells, clothing, sand and spinifex. Obviously far - very far from ideal but beats the heck out of walking. Does tend to
cook the power steering fluid though.
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Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 19:09
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 19:09
Well I cant admit to ever having done such damage to tyres that needed spinifex, but I know of the method. I am very careful where I put the wheels but one can cut a sideall very easily. Cross country stuff is always fraught wqith hazards, not to mention things that go into your radiator, brake lines or fuel lines.
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Reply By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 19:24
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 19:24
What did they end up costing? did you
check out the 16 ply super lug?
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Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 19:42
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 19:42
Not even a G'day,huh?
G'day Davoe
Me mate put them on for me and I am not sure what they cost. I believe it is around $160 each. I have only borrowed the tyres and rims for 6 months whilst I have given my Eldorados on 7inch Speedie's to him for his runs to the Big Smoke and back.
No didn't
check out the 16 ply but guess they would be very hard for long distance travelling.
Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Sunday, Apr 09, 2006 at 07:43
Sunday, Apr 09, 2006 at 07:43
Gday:)
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Reply By: Peter - Sunday, Apr 09, 2006 at 00:22
Sunday, Apr 09, 2006 at 00:22
i have been finding the on going discussions about rags or radials for off track treks very interesting. i have done no where near the research others have but did come across this bit of advice on another site.
"For a tough and effective expedition tyre, the best is the Michelin XZL as used by the British Army the world over. The only tyre I would choose over the XZL is the XZY, another tyre from Michelin but this is a 12 ply road tyre rather than a 10 ply off road one."
unfortunately i havent been able to find much information on this tyre, even if it is sold here in aus or at what sizes. has anyone had any experience with this tyre or have any information on it?
peter
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Monday, Apr 10, 2006 at 14:14
Monday, Apr 10, 2006 at 14:14
the xzy AKA Michelin Regroovable is a popular tyre on minesites. It has a 1 ply sidewall and a 4 ply tread giving it a 14ply rating. I havnt used them for a while. Our vehicle was trialled years ogo with them but they didnt continue with them on that site. Most of the ones down the tyre tip here are worn out suggesting they do a pretty good job (as opposed to being chucked coz they are stuffed)
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Reply By: Member - Omaroo (NSW) - Monday, Apr 10, 2006 at 14:27
Monday, Apr 10, 2006 at 14:27
Willem - Goeie dag
I'm looking for these to put on the Defender in 7.6x16 12-ply. Are they a dedicated tube tyre? How are they on wet roads... acceptable or bloody dangerous?
Secondly, can I ask where they can be bought from over here? They look like a SuperGripper - but are apparently far stronger. I'm very interested in seeing what you think of them - especially at $160 a corner!
Cheers
Chris
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Follow Up By: Member - Omaroo (NSW) - Monday, Apr 10, 2006 at 14:44
Monday, Apr 10, 2006 at 14:44
...given, of course, that they are a bias-ply and are generally not road-registerable..... but would be great once you've left the bitumen.
Actually... while we're at it - what ARE the legalities?
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Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Apr 10, 2006 at 15:59
Monday, Apr 10, 2006 at 15:59
Goeie Dag Chris
Yes they are dedicated tube tyres and are cross plies.
Those are the ones that are fitted to the G60 rims. See my post 32744 about my troubles on this fair Monday...lol
These tyres are road and track tyres. My mate reckons he gets about 30,000 out of a set. He drives in some horrific stone country. Has never had a puncture with them. That is why I was keen to have them this year but it is not going to be. I will have to take my chances with the Coopers when doing cross country stuff.
My mate buys his tyres from the local garage bloke in Copley near
Leigh Creek.You must be able to Google it. MRF tyres are also used on rally cars
Cheers
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