Author Topic: ATV tires (Read 2307 times)

Dave in WV · « **on:** August 27, 2012, 06:02:04 AM »

I'm going to get tires for my Grizzly 660. It still has the stock Dunflops on it. Im looking at ITP Terracross and Maxxis Bighorn tires. I don't mud. I do some trail riding, use it for hunting, work it dragging small logs and brush, and plow the streets in my subdivision. Lateral traction is a big plus for my riding. I'm staying with stock size (25-8-12 front & 25-10-12 rear) Any input on these two tires is greatly appreciated.

Old Syko · « **Reply #1 on:** August 27, 2012, 07:44:51 AM »

Dave for me the Bighorns caused my Prairie to handle very loose. On a Grizzly they did fairly well. No personal or even second hand experience with the Terracross but I think I would have to give them a try. May well be the next tire I buy. If you go this way let us know what you think. Either one is a big change from the originals.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #2 on:** August 27, 2012, 08:14:05 AM »

What reading I"ve done in a comparison of both tires it seems the Terracross is rated a bit better in tight turn handling.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2012, 04:55:31 AM »

I ordered the Terracross tires today. I'll let you know how they do. I wanted to get used to them before hunting season because like you said, they're are big change from the Dunlops.

Old Syko · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2012, 11:06:37 AM »

I buy all tires from a local tire shop. Can't beat them for service or price and they have everything from lawnmower tires to heavy equipment stuff. Saw the owner this afternoon and ask what he thought of the Terracross and if he had been selling any. He said he had sold quite a few of them but absolutely nobody had returned with a report. He tried to send me home with a set but I'm not due yet. Good Luck and keep me posted.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #5 on:** August 28, 2012, 12:26:43 PM »

I can highly recomend the Maxxis Bighorns!

Great trail tire, can hold there own in lite slippery brown stuff.

Its the tire so many others are compaired to...

I see you chose already... The single bad thing I can say about your choice is it cost... The Terra Cross is a copy of the big horn and its a very good tire. I think you will be more then satisfied.

CW

Dave in WV · « **Reply #6 on:** August 28, 2012, 12:53:41 PM »

cw, the cost was $1 more per tire. That's the Bighorn not the bighorn 2.0 which are less about $5 less per tire. I've always heard the Bighorns are a good tire.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #7 on:** August 28, 2012, 01:33:54 PM »

Quote from: Dave in WV on August 28, 2012, 12:53:41 PM

cw, the cost was $1 more per tire. That's the Bighorn not the bighorn 2.0 which are less about $5 less per tire. I've always heard the Bighorns are a good tire.

You did good then, $1 is nothing to speak of! LOL When I bought these I paid $500 for all four WITH the rims, brand new. (Take offs of a RZR)
IIRC, Terra Crosses where $160 ea tire front and $175-80 for the rears each. That was a couple years back when they where first offered.

Yea, I looked at the 2.0 tires... supposed to be lighter... not the case for all sizes. I went with the origional Big Horns, yes!

One of the mags I get just did a tire comparison. They ran about six different tires and try as they might, they simply could not find a negative about the Big Horns.

I have had them in shale, sand, mud, dry dirt and never had me wanting for anything. Being a radial they ride very nice. Personally I would not even buy a reg tire!

CW

CW

Dave in WV · « **Reply #8 on:** August 28, 2012, 02:36:38 PM »

Motosport has the tires for $109.99 (25-8-12 front & $119.99 25-10-12 rear) and free 3 day shipping. If you or anyone finds a cheaper price please post it. Motosport has a 30 money back guarantee on price.

Old Syko · « **Reply #9 on:** August 28, 2012, 05:11:26 PM »

Dave ya done good on price. My local supplier is unbeatable on price and you got the same prices he quoted plus I have to pay sales tax. Only thing is he would mount them at that price also.

CW ya really think the Terracross is a knockoff of the Bighorn? Different tread pattern and depth. Different construction and compound also. If they're supposed to be a copy they kinda missed the mark. All manufacturers have similar looking tires but that is where the similarities end in most cases.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #10 on:** August 29, 2012, 03:21:19 AM »

Old Syko, your dealer's got the better deal. I've got to pay $12.50 + 6% tax per tire for mounting. No complaints and I am pleased with the price. I just did a tracking request and the tires are scheduled for delivery tomorrow, one day faster than quoted when I ordered. Oregon to West Virginia in 3 days is very good service.

Old Syko · « **Reply #11 on:** August 29, 2012, 04:56:40 AM »

You might want to invest in a manual tire changer. I have a CH22 from TSI in Phoenix but even Harbor Freight offer some and Northern Tool has the CH22. I have the changer and stand with bead breaker. Mine is the same thing the local dealers use because they like them better than the air operated expensive jobs. I've used successfully on everything from lawnmower tires to truck tires. The bead breaker is the best part of it because it takes care of the worst stuck beads with ease with less change of damaging a wheel. Didn't think I would use one enough to make it worth while. MAN was I wrong.

grdad45 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 29, 2012, 12:56:11 PM »

Bought my tires here. Great folks to deal with.
http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/t/50/81/165/1084/Maxxis-ATV-Tires

markc · « **Reply #13 on:** August 29, 2012, 01:54:16 PM »

Cw, have you had those Bighorns on rocks? Wondering how they hold up??? Might need to replace my tires before long on the Rhino, and considered the Bighorns before buying Goodyear mud tires...

Dave in WV · « **Reply #14 on:** August 29, 2012, 02:36:56 PM »

I'm no expert but my research on ATV tires would lead me to consider 8 ply rated tires for a UTV.

Bugflipper · « **Reply #15 on:** August 29, 2012, 08:21:22 PM »

The outlaw mst is the best rock tire I have seen. They are 8 ply. If you knock it off the bead you can still drive home on it. It looks like and I guess it really is a very aggressive mud tire. The siping in the lugs is what makes it so good on the rocks. The lugs meet in the center so you don't get the bouncy mud tire ride, or the ruined bearings that go along with them. They run like a trail tire on hard pack. I use them for pulling logs. Plenty of traction. They make it a lot safer when you get into slick moss covered rocks or algae covered downed tree going up a hill at an angle. I used to run vampire tires by interco, their traction was almost as good, but the lateral traction would get you in trouble very quickly when you had obstacles on a hill. http://www.highlifter.com/c-637-mst.aspx

cwlongshot · « **Reply #16 on:** August 29, 2012, 11:42:33 PM »

Quote from: markc on August 29, 2012, 01:54:16 PM

Cw, have you had those Bighorns on rocks? Wondering how they hold up??? Might need to replace my tires before long on the Rhino, and considered the Bighorns before buying Goodyear mud tires...

Yes, they stick well to slick rock, wet slick rock. we have alot of sand rock here and they stick to that too. (No big deal a smooth tire would stick to that!) The BH has long been a favorite tire of the guys travercing Utah's Rubicon trail, you don't get much rocker than that!

I also agree with Dave, the BH is a 6 ply OK but UTVs can be alot heavier and a 8ply will offer more protection.

CW

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #17 on:** August 30, 2012, 01:14:20 AM »

another vote for bighorns. I had them on my rzr and they impressed me. they wore pretty well too.

Old Syko · « **Reply #18 on:** August 30, 2012, 06:16:30 AM »

Like Bugflipper said, the outlaw mst is an excellent all round offroad tire. Very aggressive design that will really dig and still give a surprisingly smooth ride. Just don't get them on the asphalt or concrete roads. This isn't an issue for most unless like here where we can ride on the roads legally. I burnt up a set in 500 miles.

Everybody has tires they like so I'll just throw this out there. One you don't want is the Carlisle Swamp Pro. Terrible in all respects.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #19 on:** August 30, 2012, 03:48:22 PM »

Santa arrived today in his big brown truck just before I had to leave for a dentist & doctor appointments. I'm going to get the tires mounted tomorrow. The one thing very obvious is the weight difference between the ITP tires and the OEM Dunlops. The new tires are heavier then the Dunops mounted and then some.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #20 on:** August 30, 2012, 11:50:16 PM »

Thats the radial and extra plies in the tires... Yours where likely only two ply...

Good luck with them, they are a good tire!

CW

Dave in WV · « **Reply #21 on:** August 31, 2012, 10:44:57 AM »

New tire first impressions are the new tires are worth every penny. That said my only experience is with the OEM tires and the Terracross. No wonder folks replace the OEM tires before they worn out. The new tires ride smooth and have less road noise on blacktop than the OEM tires. The cornering is great. Our ride today was on trails, logging roads, gravel roads, and blacktop. I had it up to 30mph on blacktop and the handling was positive and predictable. We're in a drought here so no mud. The hard pack had 1"-2" of loose powder in places. I adjusted the suspension to max stiffness on the rear and mid position on the front. I have 6psi all around.When I turned around on the trails of made slow sharp turns I didn't have the front end sliding I used to get with my wife riding with me and she's not heavy. While I had the tires off I drained and refilled the gear oil in both differentials with synthetic oil. In one place on steep hard pack I put it in low range and let the drive train hold me back and it didn't slide.

She's a bit dusty after today's ride.

Old Syko · « **Reply #22 on:** August 31, 2012, 03:32:22 PM »

Glad you like the new shoes but at 6# air pressure you'll burn the centers out of them pretty quick. I never run over 4# in anything unless I'm pulling a heavy trailer and I air them back down asap. At somewhere between 2 and 4# you'll get your best traction, ride and handling. ITP is known for using soft compounds which makes running the right pressures all that much more important. I've had a few sets of tires I mounted, aired them up super tight to seal the bead, then take out the core to let them equalize, replace the core and run them. The Outlaws mentioned earlier work well this way.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #23 on:** August 31, 2012, 05:12:12 PM »

I realize the new tires with 6 ply rating are a different breed than the OEM 2 ply tires but I ran the suggested tire pressure in the manual and wore the outer edges of the rear tires. I plan to drop the pressure to 5psi and watch the tread wear. The tires have 7psi on the sidewall. ITP used to say 7psi for the Terracross but now say use the manufacturer's suggested pressure. For my machine that's 5psi front and 4.7psi rear. The front wore even with that pressure.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #24 on:** November 11, 2012, 04:02:38 AM »

Terracross tire update.
I went for a ride Friday and hit a few trails that were steep and covered with dry leaves. I was a bit aprehensive going down a couple of places because I thought my ATV would start sliding but I had no problems. The OEM Dunlops would have been a disaster.