What is Polaris thinking? The Rawhides are incredible tires with nice deep lugs. The new Carlile radials look like the crappy Dunlops the Jap manufacturers use. They are NOT very aggressive and they will need to be changed for serious off roaders. The Rawhides rock and there is no need to change tires until they wear out. Polaris must have found a cheaper tire.

 

I agree they are incredible tires,I have some on my 2x4 ranger.That thing goes about anywhere.

 

They must be lighter. If I'm not mistaking, it looks like the Sportsman 500, 600, and 700 all lost 20lbs this year.

 

hello

yes they are like 25 lbs lighter and i think the manufactures are being pushed towards the the tread lightly issue .

 

The change was made half way through the production of the 2004 models. They also included an electronic fuel gauge on the models with the new tires. I was told that the reason for the new tires was so that the top speed would be alot better. This makes the sportsman perform much better in the various shootouts that many magazines and internet sites publish. They call this new model with the new tires and fuel guage the 2004.5 model sportsman. I had a decision because at the dealer they had both models. I chose the original model because of the nice rawhide tires. I could do without the fuel guage. Looking down the gas tank reveals the fuel level clear enough for me.

 

what are they going to for tires instead of the rawhides? I think my g.y. are great tires in all around conditions. I would think if 60 mph isn't fast enough on stock tires, they need a scram. or a pred.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

 

I don't have to worry about a fuel gauge on my 700, I already know it is always empty. I did like the Rawhides, they just weren't big enough.