Information about tyre (tires in the USA) to use in
Outback Australia

OK, so the spelling isn't the only bone of contention when it comes to which tyres (tire) you should be running in the Outback. The tyre companies have plenty of spin (pardon the pun) and after running vehicles professionally for over 20 years, we have tried them all. We have also purchased one brand, only to find when we replaced them the compound had changed and the tyre was rubbish. We have been running Iron Man or Terra Trac 10 ply tubeless radial tyres for the past five years and are very happy with them. We also opt for tubeless tyres, they are easier to repair and the convenience of being able to plug a puncture on the spot is handy indeed. We look with a wry smile at the outrageous claims made by tyre manufacturers in the 4X4 magazines.
Your selection of tyre should come down to what percentage of time you will be using them on the bitumen, and what kind of off road driving you intend to do. Aggressive tyre patterns look macho and are great in mud, but noisy on the highway. The High Country in Victoria is entirely different to the Western Deserts. In the High Country your main issue is traction in mud and steep rocky terrain. In the Western Deserts your issues are traction in sand and sidewall stakes. If you head out west you will stake sidewalls.
Another issue is when you are off road do you intend to travel on track or go where no track exists at all.If you intend to do plenty of highway travel and lots of off road, you are best choosing a steel belted radial tyre. It will be a good all rounder. If you intend to spend lots of time off track in the Western Deserts, you are probably best looking at bias ply tyres, which are extremely resistant to staking and easy to repair.
Once you have solved the issue of which tyre you are taking outback, the next and most important is tyre pressure. What tyre pressure you run will directly influence the wear, traction, fuel economy AND the deterioration of the track you are travelling on as well as travelling comfort and safety. In wet conditions on bitumen or mud you need high pressure, but on gravel, dirt and sand you need low pressure. Chet Cline from AIRCTI exports central tyre inflation systems around the world as is an acknowledged expert on tyre inflation, supplying systems to all sections of the transport industry including land management authorities, fire fighting agencies, the timber industry and the recreational four wheel drive market. His recommendation is – lower your pressure. It is easier on the more expensive running gear on your vehicle, gives you a better ride, and improves economy and safety, and research shows that running low pressure does not damage your tyre. It also makes you less susceptible to staking. We run aircti systems and the ability to monitor and change your tyre pressure from within the vehicle while travelling is brilliant. It also teaches you a lot about what tyre pressure you should be running.

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Adam Plate at the Pink Roadhouse suggests
Don't take our word for it, read all about what Oodnadatta oracle Adam says about pressure (.pdf 267k)

Best time to travel
Information on the best time to travel, which season is best to get the most out of your Outback adventure

Vehicle and preparation
What you should consider and what preparation you should undertake to get your truck ship shape

Toolkit
What you should have in your toolkit, with handy tips from experts in Outback travel.

Roofracks
How good are roofracks, how should you set them up and what should you put on them

Tyres
What tyres you should run, what pressure you should put in them and how to repair them on the road

Trailers
Important information on what kind of trailer you should take and how to modify it for the outback

Maps
Information and links to both paper and digital maps, what you need and where to get it

Communications
Modern communications are essential in remote areas. Find out the what, why, where and when

First Aid
In the outback you could be several days from medical help. The RFDS can't get everywhere. Details of first aid kit contents and medical training. Essential!

A spare is not enough. Ensure you have repair gear and know how to repair tyres. Carry a bead breaker, tyre levers, patches, tubes, a spare casing, tyre plugs, spare valves and MOST important a peice of flat timber or steel to suport a jack in sand. Carry a 12 volt air pump with you.These range from cheap $10 ones up to very flash units. These are indispensable and essential.