Punctures on AT's or Muddies ??

[LostDingo2 Find all posts View Profile Close LostDingo2]

So Lostdingo if you were climbing big red which would you prefer ?? Reason I ask is we intend doing a trip next year (hopefully if $$ work out) and want to put the correct tyres on. Obviously this will be a one off trip for us for a while the rest would be spent playing PP members on day trips out. Weather like we have now is leading me to muddies, but how much mud, sand will I face on a long trip ?? Hard to say I suppose, how long is a piece of string ?? Been looking at heaps of forums and books and seems a bit of a 50/50 way to go..........Cheers Steve

Do you plan going up the Birdsville track, Birdsville then do Big Red and back around? Many people do Big Red (or attempt) and then leave.

ATs will do definitely, keep the air pressure appropriate etc.

If you do South Australia around the Flinders/Gammon ranges go the muddies on the shale etc.

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

I have only used BFG ATs for the last 16 or so years and just bought 2 more last week. No problems on the CSR, I will let you know about the Simpson in 6 weeks. Tyre pressures-<20 psi in sand,>30 psi on the rest of the dirt are critical. The Flinders Ranges roads will chip the tyres something fierce but you will have NO trouble getting anywhere. If it rains it may be a different question but then a lot of the roads are closed anyway until they dry out. Unless you are planning to do lots of mud plugging and especially knarly stuff, ATs are fine and MUCH less of a compromise on the road-better road holding, especially in the wet, better [shorter] braking distances and less noise. Neil PS the only puncture in over 200,000 km on these was a tek screw! Touch wood!

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Our trip across Madigans was the toughest trip on tyres I have ever been on. Although it is only a small sample it was clear that the muddies were more suceptable to punctures (from stakes) than the AT tyres. I had been contemplating a switch to muddies for my next set but think that I will stay with the AT's. BFG again or Mickey T 4 ribs is the only question for me now.

Cheers Andrew

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

Hey Steve,

Punctures: Based purely on my experience I can't really confirm or deny the AT > MT theory. I've owned 1x set of AT's and 2x sets of MT's. The only punctures I've ever had were on the AT's, on the tread surface, twice - but they were on road; a nail, and a razor, which is not really relevant.

Grip on rocks. The arguement is that the increased surface area of AT tyres provides more traction. This makes sense, but based on my experience MT's are DEFINITELY better on rocks. I am 110% comfortable in claiming this! Why? I can't be sure, but perhaps the larger gaps allow a more shovelling action between each knob (whilst the AT's will spin easier). Also consider that each knob will bend and flex more than the tight AT tread will ever allow. But I don't really care why... I've seen the difference enough... and it's clear as mud (tee hee).

Sand: not my forte but AT's should be more "reliable", only because MT's can dig you down very quickly if you're not careful... but hey... be careful!! I've had on-sand issues with AT's but never the MT's.