After many years of desert driving I have only heard of one case of airloss thro the rim at low pressure.Unfortunately,it was me but the experience is easily avoided.I was at 12psi and put the car into a 90degree turn from a standing start in dunes.Lost both front tyres but compressor fixed the problem.The problem has never presented itself otherwise even in the most frantic split seconds of dune driving.
In my experience gravel/rock tracks and thorns in vegetated areas are far more problematic and just as damaging to all types of tyre.
My second notewothy experience with tubeless was trying to get a punctured tyre off a rim;ultimately even a friendly costruction camps press had trouble!
Tubeless or tubed,Inever go to remote places without two spare WHEELS and tyres and a compressor.The insurance is worth the space penalty as I have discovered on many occassions when tyres have been damaged beyond repair.
Secondly,I have recently changed from a V8 3.5l manual Discovery to an automatic Nissan Patrol because I yearned for the extra power.Now that I've got it I find I can't use it without a fuss because the pickup of power is too slow from the autobox for the requirements of heavy dune country.The manual Disco was far more agile and provided I drove it properly would go absolutely anywhere where the bigger beasts went.Come back Landy,all is forgiven!!

We also found that an auto 80 TLC was slow to pick up in v tight dues of the northern Grand Erg where a manual was more controllable.
But in all other DD situations I feel an auto is better - and in the above case more economical.

Chris S

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