I have a group of us setting up for a 200+ mile ride through the harsh desert. I assume a 6 ply tire is a NEED. Also have a question on to tube or not to tube.....that is the question.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

Also what 6 ply tire would you reccomend front and back?

We ride DS's and there is a Z400 going also.

We are getting racks and bringing fuel, spare wheels and tires.....tire plugs and air.

 

I have had very good luck with ITP Holeshot XCT, riding alot in southeast Olklahoma very rocky trials, where we stoped a many times to fix flats but I have never had a flat in two years...

 

Go with razor, or razor ll, they are 6 ply and make sure you get the 22''.

 

what about bandits? they're a very tough tire if you get the XC, for fronts get the XCR, that it was i have on the front, if i remember right it even held air wen the rim was bent after the back tire of the truck ran over it

 

Holeshot xct's are a great tire. Had a problem with bandits. They sent me 4 tires 22's and none of them were the same size so I sent them back and got the holeshots. They perform much better. Not sure on the razors. I have heard they are a good tire as well.

 

What ever you do, be sure to take the stock Ohtsu radials off. Those things are tissue paper thin, and I got three flats in the first day I took them riding in the Arizona desert. I couldn't get more than five miles from the truck without getting a flat, it was pathetic.

I'm going to recommend something a little different here. I have used both Holeshot XCTs and Bandit XC/XCRs on DS650s, and your 200 mile ride in the desert sounds like what we do every other weekend. Both brands of tires are equally tough, and I have not had a flat with either brand, with probably about 4000 total miles worth of use so far. However, the front Bandits XCRs work better than the front Holeshots XCTs, with better lateral traction, and crisper more precise handling. And the rear Holeshot XCTs work better than the rear Bandit XCs, with less side slippage. The rear Bandits get good forward bite, but they slip sideways a bit too much.

So I am going to recommend rear Holeshot XCTs and front Bandit XCRs. That is what I am going to run when my current set of tires wears out.

 

Well this is looking pretty good. Now how about putting tubes in them?

Is that going too far?

We will be traveling from Parump NV to Lake Havasu City AZ....through the unknown.

We had a small trip around the Havasu Mountains (complete circle) an you can see why I worry about tires.
Havasu Trip

 

Don't use tubes! They won't keep you from getting flats, but they will keep you from using a tire plug and being able to reinflate the tire if you do get a flat.

OL

 

outerlimit is right. if you put in tubes. you wont need plugs to repair. you will need a tire machine.

 

I have the 6 ply razers and I beat the heck out of them on jagged rocky trails and no flats. I think you'll be fine.