Replace tyres before a trip to the Alice?

[Morwong Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Morwong]

I have been reading posts here on how many k's other guys are getting out of their tyres and, given that I am on the eve of a trip to Alice Springs, it made me think about whether I should replace my tyres before I go, or get a few more k's out of them, at the risk of tyre problems along the way. I always travel bush with two spares.
They are the original equipment rubber, with 48,000k on them and just looking at them, there is probably another 10 to 15,000k left in them. They have not had a hard life! Am I being a total tightwad?

[mkh Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mkh]

G'day. If you are not heading off the blacktop and your tyres are in good condition (no chunks missing, or deep cuts) then get as much as you can out of them I reckon. If you are planning on some off roading then maybe replace. A few years back I was in the same boat with my tyres. Decided to do a big touring trip, ended up taking a detour or about 200 kays of VERY rough dirt road. By the end of that, the Grandtreks were cactus. Didn't let me down though.

Basically what I'm getting at is it all depends on what kind of driving you'll be doing on your trip to Alice.

Cheers.

[Keeper Member Find all posts View Profile Close Keeper]

Morwong

Which roads are you planning on driving? Most are pretty good and your tyres should be fine. There are plenty of tyre shops here (with good stock) with good prices should you need a replacement set when you arrive.

Keeper

[Morwong Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Morwong]

We will be on the bitumen to Broken Hill, turn at Yunta to the Flinders, Maree, Oodnadatta Track, Dalhousie Springs, Kulgera, Uluru, then through the West McDonnell ranges area to Alice. It is all well trodden ground as we are going with friends who are not regular 4x4'ers.

[Keeper Member Find all posts View Profile Close Keeper]

Yeah should be fine, just make sure you drop pressure around Dalhousie, rocks on some of the roads are tyre killers; be good to take a compressor.

[Keeper Member Find all posts View Profile Close Keeper]

I am away for the next 4 weeks, but if you come up after that and need anything send me a message and I will do my best to help you out. Try and get to Boggy Hole too - a good drive through the Ellery Creek and Finke River (breathtaking scenery) - heads down to a permanent waterhole. Best entering from Hermannsburg end (not Ernerst Giles). Have fun, have a look at Kings Canyon as well - definitely worth a visit.

[Morwong Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Morwong]

Keeper,
Thank you for your assistance. It's good to hear from a local! We will be leaving Sydney on 13th August and plan on being away for a month. That will put us up your way around the early part of September

[Keeper Member Find all posts View Profile Close Keeper]

I am only but one of a very good bunch, more than willing to assist - have a great time, be safe- if you need anything near Alice let me know.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

As mentioned above the roads out there are fine [ I am just back] BUT as soon as you hit the dirt drop your pressures [around 25psi COLD] and keep speed down to around 80 especially if it is rocky [slow further]. Keep an eye out for the 'pyramids of death to tyres' ie. sharp pointy rockks that appear at random ready to punch through your tread- hence the lower speed and pressures. Neil

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

If it was me I'd replace the grand crap with new rubber

[Guest Close Guest]

I always travel bush with two spares.

What are the spares and how much tread depth left to the indicators?

They are the original equipment rubber, with 48,000k on them and just looking at them, there is probably another 10 to 15,000k left in them.

How much tread depth left to the indicators?

[Morwong Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Morwong]

D4D,
I took your advice and went out and changed all four this morning. When I thought about it, it made abundant sense to start with something solid under me.