Just wanted some recommendations on a good tire for big rocks. We go to Lake City Colorado every summer and the tires take a beating.
I'm leaning toward the Maxxis Bighorns or the Mudlites. Everybody seems to like the ITP Mudlites but, I'm worried how they will hold up in the rocks because the tread is spaced so fare apart. Thanks


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03 Prairie 650 Advantage camo
2500lb Warn Winch
DG Holeshot Module (on the way!!!)

 

I wish I could answer that one, the only thing I can say is 589's suck in the rocks! :-)
Went to the mountains this last wekeend and rode the rocks with 589's and it was an adventure! They are great mud, or even trail tires but rock tires they are not. My buddy was riding on 1/2 worn out stock Honda tires and they even kicked my butt!! Good luck and I cant wait to find the answer also!

 

Unfortunatley the best gripping tires will wear pretty fasy, but from my expirience with tires, the ITP ATR's, would be my 1st choice, then one of the turf style knobbies, would be my 2nd choice, then a tire like the Bear Claws, or Spider Tracks, would be my 3rd choice, then Probably the rest of the radial ATV tires including the radial Outlaws... a tire like the Goodyear radial MTR's, & radial Outlaw's, being taller will give you more ground clearance... the thicker the tire ( more plys ), the less the tire will conform to the shape of the rocks, & transfer traction... but also the thicker the tire, in general, the more pucture resistant it will be... the radial tire design, will conform more to the rocks, with a thicker tire, than the bias ply tires, so bearing that in mind, the radial MTR's & radial Outlaw's, may prove to be a better "rock tire", than most of the others, as they combine more tire hight, along with the conforming radial design...

Even though tires like the Big Horns are a very tough tire, the tread design is more "open", to allow it to be a better performing tire in muddy terrain, & this, IMO, leaves it lacking in bare rock climbing situations... & I wouldn't consider these to be rock crawling tires, but more of a rock pounding tire...

Skeletonized tread tires like the Mud Lites, have more biting edges, like the radial Outlaw's tread blocks, & will out perform similar solid tread block tires, however mud tires typically are stiff, to allow good support, & don't typically make good rock crawling tires ( as found out, with the 589's )

 

Thanks for all the great info!

650Pilot.


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03 Prairie 650 Advantage camo
2500lb Warn winch
DG Holeshot Module (on the way!!)

 

I'm looking at the Bighorn Bias tire myself. Iike the tread pattern for the rocks as well as the trails. As newbeatle said the radial will get better grip at a cost of strength in the side walls.
The thing that gets me is the mud light and the 589's have basicly the same design but the mud lights have more of a cupped shape to the treads and the center is more of a point. THEIY BOTH HAVE LARGE VOIDS, NOT GOOD FOR ROCKS!!
I have the stock Goodyear Rawhides on my polaris right now and I love them. they ride nice, they go through the mud great and they love the rocks.

jesbuilt [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

I'd get the Bighorns over the Mudlites for the rocks. Is there going to be a mixture of mud or anything else?