Not that you have any control over it but it does make quite a difference if the sand is dry or wet. Wet sand the stock tires would probably do quite well aired down, dry sand it would be considerably different. Just my two cents worth.

 

Hey fourlix,

When are you going to be at Pismo? I'm headed there for the 4th through the 8th of July and would like to hook up.

 

Sorry Quicksand, We're booked for the 17th thru 22nd of July. We're staying at the Pacific Plaza Resort/condo in Oceano. It is supposed to be just a block from where the vehicle access to the beach is. Check it out for us and post here. This is a family vacation with my wife's parents, roughing it was not in the equation. So camping on the beach was not an option. We used to have a nice little camping trailer, but couldn't figure out how to take it and the quads anywhere. And we don't have, and don't want, a big enough truck to pull a toy hauler full of quads and gear. So our version of camping has been officially designated as "Motel Room". [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]
I found a pair of worn-out paddles for the raptor on E-bay for $85, but I think it is basically not worth it. We'll have fun anyway, and I would think that Pismo sand is going to have a moisture content that is significantly higher than the desert dunes.

 

Fourlix,
I was just as Pismo last weekend and it was a blast. There isn't much water in the sand unless you are right on the shore where there is a 15 mph speed limit. You'll be high centered long before you hit any kind of wet sand if you are more than 50 or so feet from the water. The taller tires should help - I was out there with 20hx12wx9r Kenda Trakkers (angled paddles) and I felt like I was digging more holes than I was riding. Those tires have an amazingly low profile, whatever I get next is going to be a lot taller. If I had brought my XCTs with me, I think I would have put them on to see how well they'ed work. I've used the XCTs in the sand at Ocotillo Wells and they seemed to be less problematic than those Trakkers were at Pismo. Keep an eye out for dropoffs and you should have fun, no matter what tires you use.