ok ive been looking around for a while now and heres what ive come up with. I am replacing my tires on my 2003 400 4x4 come spring and this is what i narrowed it down to. Ive decided to go with 26 inch tires mounted on the stock rims, all prices are for the most aggressive tread pattern of each model i.e. the XT for the dirt devils and XL for the mud lites:

== Mud Lites:
=Rocky Mountain ATV:
26x10x12=70.95
26x12x12=78.95
=Highlifter
26x9x12=69.95
26x12x12=78.95

==GBC Dirt Devils:
=Rocky Mountain ATV:
26x10x12=53.99
26x12x12=58.99
=Highlifter
26x10x12=72.35
26x12x12=78.89

First question is... Hands down which is a better trail and medium duty mud tire(i dont really do any serious mud pits)
second, are the mud lites radials? im guessing they are.
and if i do go with the mud lites should i get the nine inch wide front tire from highlifter and the rears from rocky mountain, or stay with a 10 inch front?

 

i going back to the gators i havent seen a tire that cand outlast them.
i have mud lites on my honda and i got a sidewall leak just the other day and i cant get it fixed so i have to put a tube in it now.
POS tires.
my gators took 3 times the beating the mud lites have and hardly wore down one bit.
my lites have more ware on them and have half the miles then the gators did when i sold it.
if you ride through alot of rough stuff you might not want the mud lites.
but other then being a thin tire they work great.
mud or snow there worth the money.
but not made for trails that could give you a sidewall leak or punkture.
out of 5 people i know im the 3rd person to have a flat and the first to have a sidewall leak.

 

I ran the HECK out of a set of dirt devils on my AC 400. They wear like the gators. I thought they were a tremendous tire. GO for it!

 

ITP 589 if not them go for the Gators

 

i would go with the dirt devils i have them now when these wear out i'm going to get the 26-10-12 the whole way around

 

Try this guy, he was cheaper and man, fast shipping than any of these listed here. His website doesnt list all his combo's but they showed up in less than a week during the holidays. Call him, very nice guy and good luck.
Go Here

 

thanks for the replies, but still a few questions. I know the dirt devils are a good all around tire, but will they be when i do hit the occasional mud hole up past the tops of the tires? Even though they are 6 ply rated, the mud lites still a little thin? so thats how they are so much lighter. if anyone else has opinions on how good the the devils are in some rough terrain that would help out.

 

I too am ready to order some new tires and wheels. I've do a lot of reading and asking around. I decide to go with 26" Dirt Devils. I hear no one can beat Mathews price. Here's his web-site. http://www.atvoutfitters.net/home.htm

 

I really like my lites, they steer easier than the stockers and keep pulling forward in the mud. I have had them loose some air for no reason. I got mine for ~$50 to $55 from Stan at handapartsworld in KY, great service and great prices, also ask what other tires they have in stock. The 9 wide lites center tread "arrow" is closer together than the 10's, since you ride trails I'd get the 9's. The mud lites are a soft tire so they scuff up right away on rocks, but seem to wear ok. I ride 70 percent trails and 30 mud and have had no problems. Mudblaster rides on some freshly logged land and needs solid skidder tires, or a tuff(heavey) tire like the gators or 589's. You could also look at bearclaws, they're a good heavy duty tire.

I figure for the price I got them at I don't care if the wear out 1/3 faster than gators. To me a lite tire(easier to turn) is worth something and there handling and traction capabilities have been excelent.

 

The Dirt Devils will clean like crazy in the mud if you're spinning them. They have no problem there. They ride smoother than a 589 due to a denser overlapping lug pattern. They have a very stiff side wall as well, so it'll make your off camber performance a lot better as the side wall wont flex as much a the stocker. You'll love em and it'll make your bike look like a mean SOB. On my 400 I put 27x10x12 all the way around becuase I didn't want the rear 12" tire robbing me of power. I'd probably do the same with your 400 if it were me. If you had the 500 or the 650 I might do the 12" width but with the 400 I try to preserve as much power as possible. I went with the 27's but I wish I'd gone with the 26's. Looks like you're on the right road with the 26's.

EtherNut