A sign at Cameron Corner has me puzzled.

Classic case of telling part of the story no ? Sand (lowest) - gravel (median) - sealed (highest) seems the general idea on tyre pressures - coupled with 'taking it very easy when required', usually preserves tyre life.

Hullo BooBoo
Can you remember the actual wording?
It may mean drop your tyre pressures to (say) 18psi in sand and then remember to reinflate them to (say) 24 --> 28 psi on gravel.
Tyre pressure on gravel is always a point for discussion - function of weight, speed, tyre make/strength, rock size and grading, etc.
If I decide to drop pressures to 28 because of the surface conditions, including severe corrugations, I correspondingly drop my speed to <80.
Cheers
Andrew

Tire pressures ? Ask what the locals run , ask yourself why is it that mining company vehicles out Innaminka way have warning stickers on the dashboard warning of decreasing tire pressure unless in soft sand ,,,, the old tale of "easier to pierce a fully inflated balloon than a soft one" is a load of crock , the extra heat generated by running tires at low pressure softens the bulged sidewall making for easier staking and sharp rock damage.

One lowers the tyre pressure on sand to increase surface area and reduce the risk of becoming bogged in loose dry sand. Increase the pressure on gravel to reduce the risk of putting a rock through the soft walls...

Boo Boo..
It's all in the wording isn't it?? And then it's all in the comprehension of what the "author" was trying to convey! LOL...
We have recently returned from a 7 week trip out there. Saw the sign at Cameron Cnr that you speak of! I can understand how it can be interpreted in the way you have written.

My experience, FWIW, is this. Our trip included the Stzelecki Track, the Oodnaddatta Track, parts of the Birdsville Track, the Mereenie Loop, the Finke Rd, Simpson Desert, Birdsville > Windorah then home.

On sand in the desert, towing the Tvan, I ran with 16psi all round. Kept the speed REALLY low at this pressure, max about 50-60 k's. On the gravel roads, (the Tracks) I ran 26psi all round, max speed about 80 k's. I checked the tyres for heat many times, and never was there any cause for concern. Our travelling partners have an 80 series with 33" muds as we do, and he ran the same pressures at the same time that we did and we checked his tyres as well, with the same results!

We had one blown tyre, and the tyre guy was perplexed when he saw it. It was shredded! He deduced that the tyre was "sunburnt" from spending a couple of years on the rear wheel carrier without a cover. Not sure if I totally agree with him, but I have asked others since and have been told that it can and does happen.


I'm not trying to tell anyone that this is the ONLY pressures to use in these situations, merely that this is what works for me! If someone out there disagrees, don't bother replying. ;-))


Cheers

Brian