I met a gut the other day, who told me he was useing car tire on the front of his 400EX. He said he'll never go back, that they give far better control. What do you all think?

Bruce L. Hall
400 Sport

 

All the racers use them on their 250rs. They turn better on hardpack. A lot of places in the magazines sell them.

 

I actually use these tires that you speak of and they have both advantages and disadvantages. First, they are primarily used for MX racing because they can be grooved in numerous different patterns to aid traction. Second, they are about 19" tall which is about 2" lower than most front tires so you keep the bike lower to the ground for better cornering. They don't really work as well unless you have low profile tires in the back though(18" holeshots, turf tamers etc.) They are not cheap though, at $70 a piece and they are very short lived. Professionals only get 1-2 races out them before they are junk. They are made for smooth pavement not rough dirt. I wouldn't recommend these tires unless you plan on replacing them often. They are not very trail riding friendly as they are not very puncture resistant. If you just ride recreationnally you are better off with ATV specific tires.

 

I have to disagree with the last post. My rikens Have lasted for like ever.

 

I would have top agree. They are a {CAR} tire a car weights more than an ATV and the tires are ment to go for thousands of miles. As for the uribility I would think they should be fairly resistant due to the Steelbelts and such. I am not sure of the height but I would like to know if they are only 19 inches? Just my 2 cents!

 

Yeah, car tires are meant to last on pavement in a non skidding environment. Trust me, car tires on ATV's go through a lot more punishment in the rocky soil than they do on smooth pavement. You may have had your tires for a long time but that doesn't mean they are still good. Compare some new ones to your used Rikens and you will see how worn down they get. It also depends on how hard you ride as well. A more experienced(faster rider) is obviously going to use up tires quicker.

 

I only ride on MX tracks with those tires so that may be why they last.