Originally Posted by
Jantar
South Island roads are a lot more agressive on tyres than North Island roads. If you think you may need a new tyre in Christchurch on the way back, then plane on changing it in Wellington on the way down. This is particularly important if you are going down the west coast. It is 500 km between tyre suppliers, if they even have one in stock.
As an example, this time last year before leaving Hamilton to head home I looked at my tyres and decided that I would get home with ease. Checked again at Wellington and the rear was squaring off, but still looked fine. Checked again at Christchurch, and decided it would be close, but I should make it OK, and being a sunday I couldn't get a new one that day anyway. At Geraldine it was "Bloody Hell" there was sign of the rubber in the middle of the tread breaking away. By Omarama it was steel belting showing through around 2/3 of the circumference. I rode over the Lindis pass at 50 kmh or less, just waiting for it to give out. Well I made it to Alexandra, with air escaping through what was left of the casing, and about 10 psi pressure. That was through the center with plenty of places to stop if things went pear shaped. Down the west coast you don't have that luxury.
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