Driving in the Australian Outback
Australia is big, very big and the Western Australian outback extends beyond what a lot of people think. Maps can be very deceiving and the sheer vastness of WA’s outback can take even the experienced traveller by surprise.
Both north and south of Perth can lead you off into the vast unknown. From Exmouth, Esperance, Broome and Margaret River on the coasts to the inland and isolated towns of Newman, Kalgoorlie and Lake Grace there is a Tyrepower store not too far away.
Preparation is key and somewhat vital to survival in the Australian outback. You could go days without seeing another soul and the distance between some towns could feel like a lifetime. Not only is it important to have the essentials like water and food but you’’ also need to have tyres that are up for the challenge.
What to prepare when hitting the Australian Outback
- Sufficient tyre tread (Good reason for new tyres)
- Tyre pressure
- Food and water for at least 2 days
- Spare tyre and tools for basic repairs
- Extra fuel is a good option
- Rest stops
Beyond these there are a number of added accessories that make traveling through the outback much safer including an air compressor, winch, driving lights, radio, EPERB, medicine, maps, compass and fire lighting accessories.
Plan Your Trip
Always tell someone where you are going. It's always a good idea to have your trip planned out with destinations and times of arrival and departure for those checking in. Alerts can be raised if you do not reach a waypoint and the right authorities can be notified.
Planning your trip will give you the required amount of fuel to carry plus identifying any vital stops along the way. With today's digital maps like Hema, it's simple to plan your trip, creating stops and rest points along the way.
Tyres
It’s pretty simple, don’t attempt any long distance driving through the West Aus’ outback on damaged or worn tyres. Most of WA’s outback roads are not sealed and sub-average tyres will not last the distance.
A basic walk around inspection of your tyre’s is a good starting point. Simply walk around your vehicle and inspect each tyre for obvious signs of wear and tear, damage and other notable issues. A tread depth gauge is a quick and easy way to determine tyre tread depth; however most modern tyres come equipped with tread wear bars or tread wear indicators in the grooves for a quick and easy diagnosis.
Travelling through the outback, you’ll come across many different road surfaces. Most of them will be fine to tackle without the need to make any vehicle changes but you’ll be required to deflate your tyres if you come across any beach, dune or sandy tracks. Deflating your tyres creates a bagout effect and allows for more tread to come in contact with the sandy surface.
As always, if you are unsure of the condition of your tyres or even the age of your tyres, Tyrepower has over 50 stores around West Aus. Simply use our store locator here.
The spare tyre is often overlooked because let's face it, it’s very rarely seen. A classic case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’. Well, it’s best to pull the spare out and make sure that it is not only in date but is inflated and in good condition. Replace if not.
Tyre choice is vital. Are you driving an SUV or 4WD? If so, then maybe you’d be better off with a set of All-Terrain tyres. If you are planning on staying on the roads but your tyres are not up for a bit of gravel then there are plenty of options to choose from for most makes and model passenger vehicles.
Our Tyrepower stores across Western Australia have a huge variety of tyres from the leading brands including Maxxis, Toyo, Mickey Thompson, Cooper, BFGoodrich and Pirelli. If it’s brand power you need, Tyrepower has what you are looking for.
For more information on how to best equip your vehicle with the right tyre for any trip, call your local Tyrepower store.
Some useful links to prepare you for your next adventure
Safe Tyres
https://www.tyrepower.com.au/news/what-are-safe-tyres
Spare Tyre Info
https://www.tyrepower.com.au/news/spare-tyre-maintenance
Long Distance Driving
https://www.tyrepower.com.au/news/tips-for-long-haul-driving
Looking for more information on the tyres and services that Tyrepower offers in Western Australia? Simply give us a call on (08) 9247 1166 and speak with one of our friendly and experienced staff members today!