Looking for Actual Experience: Tires on the Dempster Highway

[kenoravsky]

Tuktoyaktuk is calling, and we must go.

I would like to hear from people who drove the Dempster and what they learned about tires. Everyone says carry 2 spares, but I would rather prevent flats.

For those who did the trip:

What worked and what failed (if anything)? I'm interested in tires, brands, models and sizes, ply ratings, tire pressures, tire age, etc. If you had a failure, how did it fail and was it repairable with a kit, or was it destroyed?

Please limit responses to "those that have been there." I have plenty of experience, driving just about everything just about everywhere (including a few places I shouldn't have gone. The Dempster is unique. Thanks.
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1983 Westy (air cooled)
1984 Westy

[MartinJS]

Haven't driven Dempster but have driven in a group (5 vehicles) the well prepared gravel hwy to Southend on Reindeer lake in Canada three times on which semis use armoured tires due to the sharp rock/slate road bed.

Have had a few flats in the group. A friend's could not be repaired but I'm not sure that was more to do with the tire's condition as it was older. All the others could be repaired.

All were in SUVs or light trucks (sorry, didn't own Vanagon then) with all seasons tires. I strongly suspect 'offroad' style tires with heavy treads would have fewer flats but no experience with them. It's what locals up there tend to use though.

Our first trip as rookies we had the most problems, learned from locals to let about 4-6 psi out of the tires and our rate of problems dropped.

All flats happened travelling faster than 60-80 kp (35-50 mph roughly) but travelling slowly really adds hours onto trips on those long northern roads. We settled on 80-90 kph (about 55 mph) as the best speed compromise between too slow and more problems.

[harvgwen]

We went as far as Tombstone in August, which was only about 100km up the Dempster. We took it fairly slow but I think that section of the road is the best maintained section. One of the biggest reasons we didn’t go farther was that I was worried about my tires. I think a good set of All Terrains with one good spare would suffice, but two spares would give more piece of mind. There’s not a lot of services up there and any vehicle problems you’d be on your own.
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1986 Westfalia Vanagon, 2.2 Subaru
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

[E1]

In general, I cannot recommend D-rated BFG KO2s enough.

Their extra two belts must have helped… but in over 11 years and about 130,000 miles of constant, full-time travel use, and over a thousand miles a year on roads notorious for flats, we’ve yet to have a single flat that didn’t involve a nail or screw on the road.
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If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s

AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
The caveman’s first question to the headhunter: “Hey, you got any coffee?”

[DanHoug]

specify the size rims you will be using because if you are going up with stock 14" rims, you'll have a very narrow tire selection and endless discussion of makes that aren't available in 14" is moot.
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd

Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com

[E1]

Thought about the same thing… then realized there may be hundreds of other readers beyond just the one.
_________________
If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s

AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
The caveman’s first question to the headhunter: “Hey, you got any coffee?”

[Older, not wiser]

I drove the Dempster in August 2016. I have a syncro Vanagon and I carried just 1 spare. We drove slowly and carefully and had no flat. The only problem we encountered was the ferry crossing at the Mackenzie River had washed out. So we had to detour though Dawson City to Chicken, Alaska and continue north on the Dalton Highway to the Arctic Circle.
I believe the Mackenzie river crossing may be closed now until the river freezes over solidly, but you might check that before leaving.
Good luck and have a great adventure!

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'87 Syncro Westfalia

[kenoravsky]

Thanks for the thoughts!

Some additional info:
1) We aren't going north until summer. I see that it is snowing on the northern Desmpster already.
2) Current setup is 2WD, 15" rims with Nokian Hakkapelitta 215/65R15C 104/102R weight range with about 10,000 miles on them
3) We carry one newer 14" spare (fits in the stock carrier), an ARB tire repair kit, a ViAir compressor, and a big bicycle tire hand pump (actually faster and more reliable than the compressor).
4) Yes, we carry other supplies, parts, communications, etc , but I really want to keep the discussion focused on tires. Thanks!
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1983 Westy (air cooled)
1984 Westy

[kenoravsky]

Martin--In regard to running 4-6 psi lower than normal, what were your tire pressures? I usually run 42 front and 48 rear most of the time, except for sand, mud, or snow. You probably ran a bit lower than that?
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1983 Westy (air cooled)
1984 Westy

[MartinJS]

[MarkWard]

[Xevin]

[kenoravsky]

E1: Funny: I just now realized that your reference to BFG KO2s meant BF Goodrich All-Terrain A/Ts! I have run these on my Toyota trucks for years, and the extra sidewall belts were the main reason. I never thought of putting them on the Vanagon. Is noise an issue on pavement? Also, is there a noticeable fuel economy cost?
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1983 Westy (air cooled)
1984 Westy

[E1]

Haha, sorry to not be clearer!

They’re a little noisy, but so is a Vanagon in general. Non-issue, don’t even notice it. They’ll indeed audibly let you know if there’s a balance or alignment issue, so maybe the extra noise is good.

With the D rating, they can take 65 lbs. of air. On pavement we run close to that, and would guess that extra air saves whatever gas that might be lost by deep lugs. The extra two belts add even more stiffness to the extra air, and they’re sure safer if indeed you get a flat — which is significantly less likely with their construction.

We had a cracked alloy two years ago, and the air loss was barely noticeable when looking at the tires — though the tire had 9 lbs. (!)

Tell you one thing, after living with such a better handling over 11 years now, I will never ever try anything else. The C-rated versions are fine overall I guess, and softer on dirt — but handle like your tires are going flat by comparison.

Over 12 years I’ve yet to see a single poster here trying the Ds. At some point I’ll stop talking about it, because old habits die hard and many people simply don’t listen. Driving is believing.
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If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s

AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
The caveman’s first question to the headhunter: “Hey, you got any coffee?”

[Microbusdeluxe]

Been there done that summer of 2024. Our 1989 syncro rides on BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A LT 225-70-16 load range C shoes. We carry a single spare. They were fairly new when we drove up there. No flats & as I remember we aired down from 40 to about 30 lbs.

All in all I think the danger of flats up there is overrated. A much more common problem is the dust, assuming you have dry weather on your voyage (and if it's raining be very careful driving). We saw Sprinter and Dodge vans as well as trailers sweeping out their interiors and shaking bedding with CLOUDS of dust rising from them. Many people resort to sealing their doors with blue painters' tape in an attempt to keep the dust out. I'm proud to report the Westy had only a bit of dirt in the back where the hatch seal has a 1/2" gap.

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'69 Squareback RIP
'65 21 window deluxe sold before the price spike, damn it.
'70 rhd bay now a taxi in South Sudan
'81 Westy sold
'89 hightop Westy Joker syncro 16" now with Bostig!

[termuehlen]

[AndyBees]

[Nitramrebrab72]

A friend pulls farm equipment with many small wheels behind a tractor over sharp rock infested fields, having to repair at least one tyre at the end of the day. That was until he started using that green slime stuff, he has never had to repair one since.

[jlrftype7]

[E1]

Me, neither…

My luck would have us break down across from a VW chop shop with everyone open carrying.
_________________
If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s

AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
The caveman’s first question to the headhunter: “Hey, you got any coffee?”