Best SxS Trail Tire (All Around Capabilities)

Ok, just thought I'd try a poll to see what most of us like in a trail tire out there. If I've forgotten a choice, I apologize. Maybe I can edit/change one if it makes sense but I've only got 10 choices. I tried to put what most of us running and what most of us are talking about. I don't think you can include everything, but if makes sense as an all around trail tire, I'll try to add it.

I purposely left out mud tires. There would be too many choices. If mud is your thing, maybe someone else can start another poll. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and broke too many parts.

Hopefully we'll end up with some useful information that all of us can use.

I like to no how Ricks new ITPs do myself.

Yeah, same here. Lots of new tires out so info may be slow coming in. I'm thinking this could potentially be a sticky topic to keep at the top of the board but who knows. I was hoping to create for a useful resource type post for referral.

I'll add some info after a week or two regarding the tires I've run. I've run 2 of the above. I don't want to skew the results (if we get any....lol). I may have too many options. Maybe we'll have to change it to "what tire are you running" to get a better data sampling.

i like my big horns but id like to go bigger and they are getting hard to get so ive been eye baling a set of polaris werc wheels wrapped in a pro comp extreme trax tire

I used to run big horns until i bought my gbc dirt commanders(kinda similar to a terra cross but 8 ply) and within two rides my big horns went on craigslist

I voted for the Pitbulls mostly because in you said "capabilities", and to me, that meant the most traction and strength in all situations.

I love my bighorns, and may have another set. But, I avoid deep thick mud, and I do like spinning the rearend around now and then. The Bighorn is a great tire for slick hardpack and rocks, and they are smooth at speed. I have noticed after 2200 miles, that I have been sliding side to side into every rut I try to stay out of. Lateral traction really sucks now compared to 600 miles ago.

I think there is only two reasons to not buy Pitbulls...1. they may be heavy and kill a little power. (I could live with that) 2. Unless you have a XP or 1000 Commander, I doubt you will be able to spin the rearend around in a turn if you want/need to.

I haven't seen the growlers in action much, but I will tell you that the Rockers get traction on absolutely everything.

I'm willing to give up a little fast fun for a little more traction, so my next tire may be the Rockers. If not, I will probably buy Bighorns again just because I know what they will do, and I'm more satisfied with them than any tire I've owned.

It all comes down to the trails you ride most of the time, and your driving style.

I have to vote for a tire that isnt listed. I got the Maxxis Ceros and absolutely love them. They were designed for a UTV's added weight. I have close to 1000 miles and they look as good as the day I bought them. They have excellent traction in snow and on the trail. Lateral traction is also very good. Nice deep lugs and do suprising well in mud. I wish I ha went with the 27's but I got the 26's because at the time thats all would fit on my 50" RZR. Very rarely do I put it in 4x4...

For similar tires you can vote for the one listed or just vote other and reply at the bottom.

I forgot about the Ceros, several folks have had good luck with them.

My gbc dirt tamers are just like bighorns
only about 50 miles on them but love them so far. Not sure if its the traction or just the added ground clearance

Stockers had great traction but no clearance

I like my Rip Saw's they wear great (just under 500 miles so far) they also work well in almost all conditions, they are a tad cheaper than the Big Horn....they don't feel perfectly balanced on the hard road.....but all around i have been pleased.......

i love my RIP SAWS i have almost 4000 miles on them and they have alot tread left and they go better than any other tire i have used !!!!and trust me i have tried them out in snow and mud and ice and rocks just about everything i can find to try them out !!!!

big horns all the way!!!!

when they wear out im going 26"x9 all the way around!!!

Bighorn!

simoniz wrote:

Bighorn!

I was wondering what your were running Mark, I couldn't remember. Curious what your likes and or dislikes about them are.

I'm on my second set of Bighorns (2 different vehicles) so obviously I like them, but I do think they have their drawbacks.....although they have a ton of upside.

REDRHINO64 wrote:

when they wear out im going 26"x9 all the way around!!!

Thats how i have mine set up. Amazing the extra clearance i get with 26x9 all the way around. I prefer the skinnier rear tire and like the "tallness" of them. Combined with the JBS shocks, can't go wrong.

Just thought I would add that if you do any snow riding, the Bighorns are the best I've ever seen. They won't dig down, or wheel hop, and they will go anywhere in the snow. The more aggressive tires seem to just set there and dig straight down.

Ok, I voted for the Bighorns, just because they are such a great all around tire and pretty doggone tough, not bullet proof, but awfully good. I'm on my second set of them. I bought a set for the Rhino which I swapped to them from ITP Terracross. I liked the Terracross a lot. They hooked up better than the Bighorns and didn't push in turns (on the Rhino) like the Bighorns do.

One reason I bought my 2012 XP RZR vs a left over 2011 was the fact that it already had Bighorns on it and I know how durable they are. You really hardly even feel the push in the RZR since it has a lower center of gravity. I learned how much more durable they are on the Rhino since they never really even showed any wear on my Rhino and you could just about notice on every ride or two that the Terracross's had worn a little more.

Now as far as the best new tire, I really don't know since a lot of them are pretty new. I must say, the Pit Bull offerings are jumping out at me as several members are having good luck with them. Expensive, yes, but seem pretty capable.

I should have included some of the GBC offerings in the survey as they have at least 3 quality looking SxS tires - Sparticus jumps out the most to me as does the Grim Reaper, and Dirt Commander. The only problem, for me at least, is that to get a 27" tire, you have to have a 14" rim. I've already got nice 12" bead locks, so I'm not going there...same thing on the new Maxxis Vipr.

As far as what's first on my list right now.....probably the Kenda Bearclaw HTR radial in 27". This appears to me to be a very good all around tire. I need to research it a little more, but I like the look, size, and the fact that it is 8 ply. The runner up would be the Pit Bulls right now, mostly because I hear reports of them being heavy. I'd rather not tax the drive train anymore than I have to, nor do I want to scavenge power if I don't have to.

Anyway, that's how I see it right now. Subject to change of course!

This seems like a reasonably constructed and logical video by Dirt Trax:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zma5RddU7n0&feature=related

Bighorns get my vote but one of my friends has GBCs (don't know exaclty which type) and swears by them too.

we have mud lite on our atv and they are good

gbcdirt tamers are on the teryx and i love em they go great had em in the creek yesterday and they flexxed great on the rocks

I bought a set of Rip Saws after the Bighorn 2.0s flopped. I am happy with the Rip saws everywhere but high speeds! They are heavy and don't balance well. But they are tuff! I haven't even had to add air to any of them in 700 miles!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVnQDrUmIzo

http://www.atvtorture.com/product-reviews/tires-and-wheels/pit-bull-tires-growler-x-o-r-review/

CanMan wrote:

http://www.atvtorture.com/product-reviews/tires-and-wheels/pit-bull-tires-growler-x-o-r-review/

Good video and review! I would want 26.5's at least and maybe 27.5's on my XP. I'd have to look at the specs to see how much they weighed, but I suspect they'd be fairly heavy vs the bighorns I have since the 25's in the review are slightly heavier than 26" Bighorns. Probably 26.5's would be all the clearance I'd want though. I need to look up specs on weight of those.

http://www.pitbulltires.com/downloads/PBSPEC2.pdf

Scroll Down To ATV/UTV Section of this URL/PDF File Location for specs

CanMan wrote:

http://www.pitbulltires.com/downloads/PBSPEC2.pdf

Scroll Down To ATV/UTV Section of this URL/PDF File Location for specs

Ok, great link, thanks for sharing it. Good pictures on it too. First time I really noticed the difference in the tread pattern between the Rocker and the Growler. Growler is directional while the Rocker is more of a non-directional, although I believe they state it is somewhat directional. 26.5's are 27.2 in height and 30 to 38 lbs front to back in weight respectively (for 12" wheel).

Tiger Rag wrote:

CanMan wrote:

http://www.pitbulltires.com/downloads/PBSPEC2.pdf

Scroll Down To ATV/UTV Section of this URL/PDF File Location for specs

Ok, great link, thanks for sharing it. Good pictures on it too. First time I really noticed the difference in the tread pattern between the Rocker and the Growler. Growler is directional while the Rocker is more of a non-directional, although I believe they state it is somewhat directional. 26.5's are 27.2 in height and 30 to 38 lbs front to back in weight respectively (for 12" wheel).

Some tires that have non-directional (symmetrical) tread patterns will still have an arrow on the sidewall indicating the direction of rotation. The manufacturer indicates the rotation direction based on the orientation of the overlapping belts in the tire and the orientation of the tread splice. When a tire is manufactured the tread portion of the tire starts out as a long flat strip. This strip is wrapped around the tire and the two ends are cut on an angle so one end overlaps the other rather than having square cut ends.

This overlapping point or splice offers a bigger surface area to bond together, rather than the small surface area provided by square cut ends. (Imagine gluing your fingertips together, as opposed to gluing along the entire length of your fingers laid on top of each other. Like an angled splice, the overlapping fingers result in a much stronger bond).

To further ensure the strength of this bond along the tread splice the directional arrow will show you which way to mount the tire so that when you are “on the gas”, the acceleration force on the rear tire is pressing the splice together, rather than peeling it back.

What about the GBC Grim Reapers? They seem like they would have a lot to offer, 8 ply, good looking tread, and should have a good contact area for smooth ride.
Thanks
Scott