OK, so here's my question:
I pretty much bought my Kodiak 450 for getting me around in some of the elk country I hunt in. The area is known for eating tires, and tearing up the suspension on your truck. Just getting TO some of the better areas, requires about 2 hours of travelling over sharp rock. BIG sharp rock.
The stock Maxxis tires on the Kodiak are only 2 ply. 2 Ply tires + sharp rocks= Aw Sh*t...... There's also a lot of hideous clay mud, and some years, deep snow.
So..... I'm thinking about switching tires to one of the following:
Kenda Bearclaws, 489's, maybe even 589's, or Mudlights. I'll Probably stay with stock size, but I'm also considering moving up to 26's, and going an inch wider all around.
Any insight or opinions? I know the Mudlights are good tires, as are the bearclaws and 489/589's. Anybody have problems with sharp rock with the above tires? The last thing I want is to be 2 or 3 hours out of camp, and lose a tire. I'd rather be hunting than fixing tires.
I think I'm leaning towards either the Bearclaws, or mudlights. Both should do well in mud obviously, and also snow. How do they hold up to sharp rock though?
Any real-world experience with unforgiving rock would be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

I have 589's on my Kodiak, I hunt and ride in some rocky terrain, The 6 ply tires hold up great. I have ripped open some maxxi sur tracs before on rocks, they were only two ply...So I know what you want to avoid. I am completley satisified with my choice of tires now...These tires are strong and will bite into snow and mud...

 

Camo man;
Do your 589's ride ok on smooth hardpacked surfaces, or do they hop real bad at low speed from the lugs?
I take the kids out on it now and then at low speed, and spend some time basically idling along on smoother surfaces, and it looks like those wide spaced lugs might bounce a bit and drive me nuts. Just curious.
So sharp rock hasn't been a problem for the 589's? They look like they'd bite like a mother, but look kind of open between the lugs where a rock or something could create a problem for you.

 

No I have not expierenced the wheel hop..I cruise a lot a slower speeds and have not noticed it. They will slide on hard packed dirt,, you know the kind the gets real slick if it is a little bit wet. But every tire will do that on hard packed...Soft dirt mud and snow, these things will dig. I was a little nervous about some of the rocky hills I was going up at first now I just blast up them. I run about 4-4.5 lbs in them.