All-terrain and mud-terrain tyres, lift kits and trip prep for Alice Springs and Central Australia, from people who actually drive the tracks.
Open Mon to Fri 7:30am to 5pm, Sat 8am to 12pm
Tell us what you drive, what you carry and where you're headed. We'll match the tyre, the load rating and the suspension to the trip.
All-terrains, muddies and highway terrains, in light truck construction for loaded touring.
Lift kits, shocks and load upgrades.
Set up for sand, gravel and highway.
A full check before the big trip, so the only surprise out there is the view.
Work out what your tyres are telling you, then send the numbers straight to Col. All figures are typical and approximate. Your vehicle placard and tyre maker have the final say.
What the numbers mean, and what going bigger does to your speedo.
How it's worked out: overall diameter = rim (inches × 25.4) + two sidewalls (width × aspect %). Worn tyres read a few mm smaller. Bigger tyres beyond about 15 mm over the largest size your manufacturer lists usually need a modification check under the national guide most states and territories follow (VSB 14). Check with NT Motor Vehicle Registry and your insurer before you fit them. About vehicle standards.
Starting pressures for every surface on your trip. Let them down, then pump back up for the highway.
| Surface | Start at | Keep under |
|---|
Starting points only, based on common 4WD practice with light truck (LT) tyres: roughly 85% of highway pressure on gravel, 75% on corrugations, 60% on firm sand and 45% in soft sand, with a floor of about 15 psi. Heavier loads need more air. Passenger-construction tyres shouldn't go as low. Check tyre temperature with your hand at every stop: warm is fine, too hot to touch means add air or slow down. Always pump back up before bitumen.
Is it legal, is it trip-ready, and is it simply too old?
Typical figures only. The legal minimum across Australia is 1.5 mm of tread. For wet roads and remote gravel, many tyre makers suggest replacing well before that, at around 3 mm. Many makers also recommend a yearly professional check once a tyre is 5 years old and replacement at 10 years old whatever the tread, including the spare. Check your tyre maker's advice.
Our quick checklist for remote trips. Tick off what you've sorted.
Tap a photo to see it bigger.
Your vehicle, your load and where you're going. A text with a photo of your sidewall is perfect.
Tyre type, load rating and, if you need it, the right lift for your tyres.
Tyres fitted and balanced. Lift kits and tyres can usually be done together.
We show you how to let down and air back up, with pressures for your rig.
Set us up for a desert crossing. Not a single puncture in 1,200 km of sand and gibber.Shane O. · Alice Springs
They showed me how to let the tyres down and back up properly. Great service, fair prices.Jen K. · Araluen
Lift kit and tyres fitted in a day. The truck rides better loaded than it did empty.Luke M. · Gillen
Col talked me out of the tyres I came in for and into ones that actually suit the station roads. Glad he did.Dave R. · Braitling
Matched a second spare to my rims before the Plenty Highway. Didn't need it, slept better anyway.Mia T. · Larapinta
Sample reviews
Outback Rubber was started by Col after twenty years of station work. If he wouldn't run a tyre out bush, he won't sell it.
Tell us where you're headed and we'll set you up for it.
Col, owner
For most Central Australian touring, a good light truck all-terrain is the sweet spot: quieter on the highway, tough on gibber and fine in sand. Mud-terrains suit rocky tracks, wet-season mud and people who spend most of their time off the bitumen. Tell us how you split your driving and we'll recommend one.
LT means light truck construction: stronger sidewalls and a higher load capacity. If you tour loaded, tow, or drive long gravel roads, LT tyres are usually the right choice. You can check your sizes with the tyre decoder above.
Often a small size step is fine. Going much bigger can rub, change your speedo and gearing, and may need a modification check. Put your current and planned sizes into the decoder, then send them to us and we'll tell you what fits your vehicle.
It depends on your tyres, load and vehicle. The pressure planner above gives typical starting points. Drop in small steps, keep your speed down and pump back up before you hit the bitumen. Come in and we'll give you numbers for your rig.
On the long remote tracks, one spare isn't enough. A second spare matched to your rims is cheap insurance when help could be days away. We can match your rims.
A lift kit and a set of tyres are often fitted in a day. Give us a call and we'll book a time that suits.
Rubber hardens and cracks with age, especially in the Centre's heat. Use the tread and age check above to read the date code, then bring it in and we'll take a look, spare included.
Booking is best so we have your tyres in stock. For a puncture or a quick pressure check, drop in during opening hours: Mon to Fri 7:30am to 5pm, Sat 8am to 12pm.
Tell us your vehicle and your trip and we'll come back with the setup and a price.