Spare wheels

Hi Trevor

Any possibility of matching the tug and trailer wheels? We always change ours to match so we can take up to four spares all the same. Then again, more often than not tyre plugs will get you out of trouble.

I have not been far on the tracks you are planning, so cannot answer your question specifically, however during the past two year we have travelled over 30,000 kilometres, much of it on inland roads such as the Tanami and Great Central with remarkably few tyre problems. Eight wheels and one blow out pretty well covers it.

Motherhen

Motherhen

G'day Trevor, I agree with wise Motherhen. If you can match wheels you are up
to your third puncture before things get serious & you need to make repairs. You
would be a little unlucky if none are repairable with a plug kit at that point. You
will obviously need a compressor & would be advised to carry one anyway. If
space permits another spare would be extra insurance but not essential I feel.
Good tyres at correct pressure, & , more importantly...moderate speed, will mean
tyre problems are generally minimised. Enjoy the trip.......oldbaz.

a long while ago now we shredded two tires on the oodnadatta track, one on the road to dalhousie and one further down, having only one spare was the worst feeling ever when that second tire blew.

an increadably nice person leant us his spare to get us a couple of hundred kms further to where we picked up a spare but that was just the kindness of stragers and good luck.

lesson learnt that day and we never travelled without two spares again. having the tires matched to the trailer is a fantastic idea, maybe a cost to set up but the flexiblity of it is priceless.

I am not sure what tyres you have on the Subi and your van but in my humble opinion LT rated tyres fitted before going will reduce the likelyhood of punctures/blowouts. While I am in no way saying not to carry extra tyres I would much rather have suitable rubber before a trip than hoping you have enough spares out on the track.
Also as has been said lower pressures and reduced speed will give you a much better chance to avoid tyre damage.

Cheers
Pop

Hi Trev,

I destroyed 2 tyres on the oodnadatta track many years ago but that was due to my own stupidity.

Use good tyres, reduce pressures and lower speeds and ou should be alright.

Cheers Wilko

Take the advice of those above who have trashed a few tyres on these tracks. Not all gravel roads are equal - in SA the gravel is a lot coarser - the rocks are bigger and sharp from being broken by the graders.

So yes, with your setup, you need two spares for each, or maybe 3 between the two if they had the same tyres.

Problem with these tracks is that you'll either get a star fracture on the tread which will not seal easily with a simple plug - usually needs at least a mushroom plug or big patch from the inside. The other common occurrance is that you don't realise your trailer has a flat and you trash it before you get to stop.

When you do the trip, do as blue one suggests above - reduce your pressures and slow down. I've travelled these tracks in an old Subaru years ago with road tyres, low pressures and no punctures. I've also travelled them many years ago in a Corolla with high pressures and 3 punctures in a day. And since then have probably done 15 trips in big 4wds with low pressures no punctures.

Enjoy your trip - nice country.
Cheers
Phil

They are formed gravel roads. At reasonable speeds, with tyres in good condition and paying attention you can likely drive them with no issues. However,the track conditions do change and there are some very sharp bits of rock. I have pulled into the Pink Roadhouse with both rear tyres going down thanks to some road repairs containing some very sharp bits of quatz. Each tyre had a 4 - 5mm chip of quatz inside the tyre. Both could have been plugged if required. We carry two spares for the vehicle. I always feel a bit uneasy with one spare after the first puncture! I would get some plugs for emergencies though they won't help if you shred the tyre. There is a fair amout of traffic on those roads. So how many tyres is a risk issue. It depends on how risk adverse you are. Personally we have two spares and a carcase. They are splits I can change the tubes or repir them easily. We dont tow anything so can't really help you there, but using the same wheels sounds like a sensible idea.

Steve

Trevor,
Adam Plate's mudmaps (from the Oodnadatta Roadhouse) are a good read when you're travelling the Oodnadatta Track.
His tyre pressure one is Here.
All the rest are HERE.