It’s no wonder in a nation of car lovers and beach lovers, that Australians over the years have found ways to combine these passions, with some of the world’s best beach 4WD destinations to be found all over the country.
From the misleadingly named Five Beach Track (it has seven beaches) in far north Queensland, to the famous Cable Beach in WA, whether it’s 75 Mile Beach on Fraser Island, or the Robe to Beachport trip in SA, there are beaches all over this beautiful country that provide plenty of wonder and challenge to the committed Four Wheel Driver.
Driving on sand is a challenging prospect at the best of times, but depending on which beach you’re tackling, and when, your needs may well vary. Here are a few things to keep in mind when thinking about the correct tyre setup for your next beach holiday run:
Feel the Pressure – getting purchase on the sand, especially when you’re in the dry part of the dunes, requires you to increase the surface area of your tyres in contact with the sand. This means reducing your tyre pressure so that the tread can sink and spread across the sand, allowing the lugs to bite into the sand and provide traction. Don’t forget that reducing your tyre pressure also means you need to operate at a lower speed, most beaches have a speed limit of 80km/h for this reason. Even more importantly, don’t forget to reinflate your tyres to the correct pressure when it’s time to get back on the road!
Tyre Profile – while it might be the perfect look for the street, you don’t want to be rolling on pristine 22 inch rims with low profile tyres when you hit the sand. Low profile tyres won’t allow for enough variation in the footprint discussed above when you go to change your pressures and will leave you spinning your wheels in frustration.
Tread Pattern – When you’re relying on your tyres to find purchase in the loose stuff you want them to have a moderately aggressive tread pattern, but you want to avoid the chunky and blocky patterns of a dedicated Mud Terrain tyre as you want to glide over the surface of the sand, not dig into it.
Always Be Smooth – Sand is a very different surface to roads, but even most other off-road experiences. The way your vehicle accelerates, brakes, and turns will all be different to what you may be used to. It’s important to keep your adjustments smooth and gentle in response to the environment you’re in.
Be Prepared – It never hurts to have the tools you need just in case you do find yourself bogged. A shovel, a snatch strap could be the tools that save the day.
Not sure which tyres you need for your perfect beach getaway? We’ll help you find the best sandblasters for your needs! Just give our friendly experts a call on 1300 575 701 now!