Follow Alison and Peter as they navigate six separate tyre disasters across the Outback, proving that even with preparation, the unexpected happens and flexibility is the ultimate spare part.
Overview – Why This Matters
In this epic yarn, Alison Huth spares a thought for the rubber that perished during their “almost lap” trip – starting from Lorella Springs all the way to Innamincka. While preparations included new tyres on the car and van, they quickly learned that tyres have a lifespan and can be very different on the inside even if they look good on the outside.
Discover the reality of travelling with low-profile tyres in remote areas, accessing spares on the road and the vital importance of tyre monitoring systems.
Words Alison Huth Photos Alison and Peter Huth
Outback Hazards: Rocks vs Low Profile Tyres
We were at Lorella Springs, NT, and the road in had been atrocious. Water crossings, sand, potholes, corrugations, and washouts meant the list of hazards felt endless. The second last episode was on a really bad sandy road so you couldn’t see what was hiding in the sand when we heard the car hit something. And just as Peter said: “I hope I haven’t got a flat tyre,” we looked at the Safety Dave tyre monitoring system and watched a tyre go to nothing!
Everyone out of the car, empty the back, loosen the wheel nuts, jack up the car and watch out because the first time it was jacked up it slipped off. We found rocks to act as chocks to keep the car in place.
“you couldn’t see what was hiding in the sand when we heard the car hit somethinG”
Supply Chain Issues: Finding 20 Inch Tyres Remote
Tyre Tragedy #1 was on a Saturday, and the Monday was a public holiday in NT so Peter waited until Tuesday to order a tyre to collect in Katherine – hopefully. Not possible. The order was placed for Darwin in two weeks.
The short version of the story is that the tyre wasn’t in Darwin when we arrived. Sharon, from Tyrepower Darwin, had been phoning through to chase the tyre, with no luck, although she knew that five of the tyres were on a load coming from Sydney – theoretically. We arrived there at 9.30am, Sharon made another call and I suspect it may have been the tone in her voice that motivated Manager Greg to spring into action.
Within 15 minutes we had been given a 20″ tyre rim and a reasonable second-hand 20″ tyre that still had some tread and hopefully a long life left in it.
Tyre Repair Timelines, Waiting Weeks vs Minutes
Tyre Tragedy #2: Driving from Derby to Broome, the Safety Dave tyre monitoring system beeped that one van tyre was down 5psi from normal. Peter checked the tyre and found the nail. Next morning he jacked the van up, and took the tyre to the dealer.
Tyre Repairer #1 agreed there was a nail and said they could book it in for somewhere between two and four weeks to fix it. Yes weeks, not impressed. Tyre Repairer #2 was better, as it was Friday he could book it in for Monday. Eh, no! Tyre Repairer #3 said he could get it done sometime that day. We went with #3!
Spare Compatibility: Mixing 20 and 18 Inch Rim
Tyre Tragedy #3: In Murchison WA on our way to Melangata Station, we had another slow leak and decided to change the 20″ tyre to our spare, which was an 18″ tyre, only to find there was a nail in it. We had a plug kit but no-one had ever used it.
Luck stayed with us and we met Helene and Parker around the campfire. Parker knew how to use the kit and did it the next day. We changed our mind, leaving the 20″ tyre on and used a can of instant tyre repair on it.
No joy with ordering a new tyre from Tyre Tragedy #1, so Peter called the tyre dealer in Geraldton and arranged for two replacement tyres in a week.
Tyre Tragedy #4: The Melangata Trip was fun. Every 15-20 minutes we had to stop and pump the 20″ tyre up again. We put the 18″ spare on when we set up at Melangata Station. We never did find the reason for this tyre constantly going down.
Arrived in Geraldton and had two new tyres fitted to the back wheels, one old one on the spare rim and the old, old 18″ back in the spare tyre spot in the boot. Tyre Tragedy #1 sorted!
Speed and Impact: The End of a New Tyre
Tyre Tragedy #5: Heading home to Qld on the Strzelecki Track looked like a good idea. The first 75km from Leigh Creek SA are sealed. We changed drivers on the dirt and let all the tyres down. Peter was doing the dirt and set off. 10km in he took a deep sharp dip too fast and phweet – one tyre gone. It was a new Geraldton tyre, too! We pulled over and saw a big split in the side wall that made the Lorella Springs one look small.
“10km in he took a deep sharp dip too fast and phweet”
Quick Fixes: The Value of Tyre Plug Kits
Tyre Tragedy #6: We were pulling out from our overnight camp in Innamincka when Safety Dave gave us the good news. A van tyre was not happy, it didn’t take to the roofing nail at all. It had enough pressure to get to the servo, and Peter set about jacking the van to change the tyre. Another van pulled in next to us with the same problem. The driver offered to help and was great. He was an ex-mechanic and plugged the tyre, which went straight back on.
Peter says he is trying to clean up Australia, one screw at a time!
Key Takeaways
Highlights:
✅ Safety Dave tyre monitoring systems provide critical early warnings
✅ 20-inch tyres can be difficult to source in remote Outback locations
✅ Learning to use a tyre plug kit is an essential skill for remote travel
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FAQ
Q: Is it difficult to find 20” tyres in the Outback?
A: As Alison found in Darwin and Katherine, stock for 20” low-profile tyres may be limited or require shipping from major cities like Sydney, causing delays of weeks.
Q: Can you mix 20-inch and 18-inch rims on a towing vehicle?
A: It is possible to use different sized rims as spares (e.g., an 18″ spare for 20″ wheels) in emergency situations provided the rolling diameter is compatible, as Peter attempted in Murchison.
Q: How effective are tyre monitoring systems?
A: They are highly effective; the Safety Dave system alerts the travellers to pressure drops immediately in multiple instances, allowing them to stop before complete failure.
