Tyre Choice for Simpson Desert

T.C.

I have used BFG A/Ts in that area for years with no dramas, just lucky I guess. Coopers & MTs are popular brands also, though I would choose tyre pressure and speed over all of them.

Cheers

Steve

G'day,

Either will be fine, i'd go for the ones with the most tread. Sounds like plenty of fuel too. I crossed a few years ago in company with a 100 series 6 cylinder petrol and he used about 140 litres via the rig road. The Simpson is not really that difficult, but let your tyres down. I run about 18-20psi unless it gets a bit soft and then go lower from there - you will get over most dunes at walking pace.

Have fun.
Dave

We ran MTZ at 14 PSI last year with the camper in tow. No drama with that....

Both would handle the sand for the Simpson crossing fine. The MTZ's would be better for the little bit of mud around Eyre creek but probably not worth wearing the lugs off on the trip up & back particually as you have lockers. The ATR's in my experience are particually vunerable to sidewall damage so if you choose to take them be careful on the access roads leading up to & from the desert. Fuel usage as you've noted will be up compared to previous years due to the soft sand & the additional distance for the Eyre Creek bypass. 255L should be sufficient depending if you are towing. Avoid using your lockers in the sand as contry to common belief sand gives plenty of traction, in fact Cruisers are know to blow CV's when turning with lockers engaged in sand.
Have a great trip, cheers Craig............

Traincrash

Cannot offer any advise on the tyres.

Your planned quantity of fuel might be a bit on the low side given the rather long detours that are in place at the moment.

Flynnie.

Hi TC,

I did a double crossing of the Simpson in April/early May 2008. AT that time, I had a 100 series V8 auto. From Mungerannie, around the Rig road to Mt. Dare we had full tanks plus 5 (20 litre) jerries. Didn't use all 5, and at that time we were the first across the rig road, so probably used a bit more than when the tracks had had some traffic on them. Sand was really soft in places.
Coming back from Mt. Dare to Birdsville (mainly via the French line) we only carried 4 jerries, and had plenty.
You can check my fuel usage in the Trek Notes / Fuel usage section for the Simpson.
FYI, my fuel usage was between 18 and 26 litres/100 km (with the higher figure in the soft stuff in the Simpson).
Have a great trip.
Cheers, Mark.

PS: FWIW, I believe that an AT pattern tyre works a bit better in sand than a MT pattern. I won't recommend any particular brand though - that's fraught with danger :)