Number of Spare Tyres

The two extra tyres, acouple of tubes and patching gear sounds like the way to go then.

Have fun

I'd be taking the two spare tyres as if you happen to damage a rim there would probably be other vehicle damage that would stop you anyway.
As long as you drive to the conditions, slow down to avoid tyre damage and watch the road surface for rocks etc rather than like zooming down the expressway at 110 kph then you should be ok.
As you said sourcing tyres in remote areas is the biggest headache so carrying your own should negate that problem.

Hi Peter

A couple of questions:

. Are the AT22s the original tyres? If so you may find that their performance is biased toward the highway, rather than the type of tracks you plan to travel (HT rather than LT or MT).

. What tyres do you have on the KK? Are they a different size?

If your AT22s are highway tyres, as I suspect they are, then you are taking a bit of a risk on those tracks towing a trailer. A fair percentage of members on this site would use LT, or even MT construction tyres on these types of tracks

You can mitigate this risk by taking two spare cases as you've suggested; have the ability to change them on the track; and drive to the conditions via lower tyre pressures and lower speeds.

But first of all I talk to your friendly tyre guy who wants to sell you two spare cases.

Enjoy the trip!!

George_M

Murphy says the chances of two tyres blowing out is in indirect proportion to the number of spares. :-)

I'd advise you to carry two spare tyres and one rim- that is what many of us do including most people who travel with me. Most do not have two spare rims.

If you wish, an advanced 4wd course or bush mechanics course will show you how to remove a flat tyre from a rim and replace with a spare tyre, Otherwise just use take it easy until the next town/community and get the spare fitted there. You may be lucky and come across someone who knows how to do the change and has the gear. I've done quite a few for unlucky travelers- I accept payment in beer too!

:-)

Hullo Peter

There is another option. You could buy a Toyota 17" steel rim to suit the 200 Series Cruiser. They cost about $125. Don't forget the wheel nuts too!!

Fit the Dunlop AT22 285/65 R 17 tyre to the steel rim. You now have the same diameter tyre/rim combination as the 18" at a much lower cost. It will always be available as a "spare spare".

I have done the reverse!! I have a GXL 200 TTD fitted with 17" Alloys. I have the 17" steel rim as a "spare spare", BUT I picked up a Cruiser 18" Alloy rim for all of $76.51 (i got lucky on eBay) for a "spare spare spare".

I have a caravan with the same 200 Series 17" Alloys etc, so there are 10 wheels before I start with the extra spares for remote travel.

Last trip to the Kimberely I took the spare tyre (no rim), and had no problems, but feel more comfortable with the rim/tyre combination.

I trust this gives you some other ideas.

Thanks for all the advice.

The tyres are the originals so they are more designed for road than offroad. Have done about 35k kms.

I have tried to fit a 17" rim from a Toyota 200 series but it doesnt fit over the brakes of the Lexus. I think this is why they use 18" as standard on the Lexus.

The Kimberley Karavan has 17" offroad tyres with a spare. I would have liked to have gone all the same but it was a bit silly buying 3 18" alloy lexus wheels for that so went with the standard 17" ones.

I think it might be best to just take 2 extra tyres, without the second spare rim, and fix things as they arise if they do. At least I can use the spare tyres when I have to change them next.

Peter,

Lots of wisdom and experience condensed into the above replies.

A smart idea I saw out on the track - carry a spare tyre (or 2) and a tube/s to fit them. To keep the tyres clean inside, insert the tubes in the tyres and inflate them. This way, without the weight and cost of extra rims you have spare tyres, and tubes which can be inserted to deal with irrepairable leaks (such as those due to rim damage).

Of course, you'll need to carry tyre levers and a bead breaker etc if you are going to mount a tyre on the rim by the side of the track.

Cheers

John

I'd spend the $1500 and buy a 6th rim. And buy 4 new AT tyres.

Your current tyres are likely to cause you a lot of grief on the trip you have planned. Not uncommon for people to puncture 3 in a day when they are the OE tyres and over half worn.

Secondly, I would not rely on a fitting a casing in your case.Too easy to trash the Lexus mags with the levers, unless you are very good at changing tyres.

Thirdly, a plug kit is a great way to deal with punctures without touching the rim - I find sidewall staking is easily fixed with plugs, but tread punctures from sharp stones are not.