I have a '05 Honda Rancher and took it on a moose and caribou hunt in northern Alaska. We were sucessful, but every ATV out there was at least a 400 4X4 with after market tires. I was going to go with the bear claw because of $80 dollars less for the kit. In the 26 inch tire. Can anyone give feed back on which tire I should buy? I found that the Rancher was almost 200 lbs lighter than the 600 cc and 700 cc bikes which made it very good for traveling over very wet and soggy tundra. Plus the Rancher was not as wide as other bikes which made it more manuverable in the woods. Actually my father and I went over 1 mile cross country through thick blcak spruce and pushed over many of the trees which were burnt.

 

I've had both tires in 25" size. Both are good tires. The 589 is more of an all out mud tire and I believe heavier, while the bear claw is more of an all around tire with good mud capability. If you get into a lot of mudd the 589 will clean out a little easier and have deeper lugs. What kind of tires did you hunting companions have? Did you have any problems with your stock tires? Either choice would be less puncture resistant than the stockers. I haven't had a flat with either one.

 

I basically have two types of terrain: Deep wet mud and wet soggy tundra with grass. I thought that the Bear claw would have better traction on the tundra with more water and a wider stance. The 589 I felt would dig too much but would be an excellent choice for the all out mud holes. Does this make sense? I have Bear claws on a 2 wheel drive 185cc and the work great in the snow. Any information you have would be great. Other people had 589 and swore by them. I just thought they might dig too much when on the tundra where there isn't a bottom.

 

i do sware by my 589s they go farther, quicker, and have the traction to pull anyone out of any situation, dont go flat( can be ridden flat) and ride ok, i wouldnt give them for anything, thats why i am on the second set (first set was 25")

v581

 

For mostly soggy, wet riding, you cant beat the 589's. They will grab and pull u through most anything.

 

You can ride them with a flat tire? I have never heard of that. Do you know if the Bear claws do that too?

 

Thumbs up on the 589's

 

well i rode one on a flat tire, problem is i couldnt tell it was flat(never inflated) the tires are the same exact shape hard or deflated. you can ride em flat as heck, thats why i use em.

v581

 

AKTundrabuster,

I ran the Bear Claws on my King Quad and found them to be a great tundra tire that did not try to burry the quad as long as you kept the speed down. They are were very reliable and I never had any flats so I can not say if if you could run them flat. I personaly would not want to run one flat if I knew, rather I would simply plug the tire and re-inflate it.

For tundra riding you do not want a tire that will dig and since anybody who has ridden tundra knows that there is no bottom to get traction. So the best thing to do is float over it and wider is better for this situation.

Where did you go hunting?(Fairbanks area). Nice Bull by the way. I got a little fork an horn this year.

I do not think you will be disapointed over the Bear Claws if you go that route and anything is better then stock tires.

AlaskaBoy.