HI ALL:
I have a set of Kenda Bear Claws on order through my buddy...he hasn't placed the order yet, as he is waiting to get a bulk order ready...thus a discount price for me. The size I ordered are 26-9-12 for the front and 26-12-12 for the rear. However I found a set of Spider Tracs on clearance for a little less than the Kendas...only $10 or so for the set. The size of the Spiders are 25-9.5-12 for the front and 25-12.5-12 for the rear. I compared the height of the Spiders to the stock Dunlops and they are a shade taller which is fine with me...I am not very concerned with ground clearance. What I am wondering is how the Spider Tracs compare to the Kendas on hardpack, mud and snow. They are a little wider so floatation should be better. The Spiders are fairly heavy and I never lifted the BearClaws to compare. I can get the Spider Tracs today but I have to wait several weeks for the Kendas. I am getting impatient. What would you do?


ROB

 

Kawirob, the Bear Claws will do you a much better job in any kind of mud. Although they're not an all out mud tire, they are respectable and a good all round set of skins. The spiders do better on hardpack and turf. Honestly, the Bear Claws are my choice for best all round. Right now I'm running Claws for general purpose, Carlisle Swamp Pros for serious mud, and my third set of wheels are presently bare as I haven't decided on a street and turf tire I'm completely satisfied with.

Long story short, get the Claws![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

i would also go w/ the claws, they would be better for all-terrain, and more mud, plus, if im not mistaken, they are 6-ply

 

They are not nearly as heavy as the websites are saying. One guy got claws and weighed them (on a real scale) and they were quite a bit lighter than he thought they would be. Claws are good stuff.

 

What size are the rims because there was another forum topic of how a half an inch difference in size and they will not fit so you might have to rethink that.

 

kawirob...I can not say anything bad about the claws but I do prefer the spiders...The spiders are great for hardpack but the claws will out mud them, I have never had a problem with the spiders in mud.

I have the same size spiders that you are talking about and they will be much lighter than the 26inch claws. The taller, heavier claws will take a LITTLE bit of the sportiness away.

Both are good tires and you said you were getting impatient...save the $$$ and get the spiders tomorrow!

 

I have the 27" version of the BearClaws, and can't do anything but praise them.
The 6 ply tires have settled the bike like you would not believe.
Where the ***-end would want to roll & flip (with the Dunlops), it just swings around, stable as can be.
For a few extra $$$ and days, they're well worth it.

 

See my signature for a nice tire combo. These 26" tires work well in my area of operation. Sandy, loamy soil, red clay mud, the Appalachian Mtns of S.E. Ohio,and SW West Virginia.

 

i have a set of spider trac on my 650. they work great excellent traction about any where. l

 

Kawirob
Had a set of bearclaws on artic cat 300 4x4, used it for working in muskeg. Man what a difference for traction over stock titans. Could haul honda 300 with 300 lb porker out of loon crap at idle. Now that is a different quad, lack of power ,and low range was a crawl ,no spin at all. I have not seen anything since that compared but it was a totaly different machine. By the way the 26" bearclaws are actually 25", Yes i have measured them , with 2 lb and 4 lbs they measure 25", 6 lbs they measures ( if i can remimber about 25.2"). dont think they will work great mixed with odd sizes. check the tire size inflated. This selling tires with size print larger then actual tire size is a lot of crap, i believe they do it to make people think they make bigger tires then thay actualy can . This can create lots of problems. Oh by the way , dont expect to get a reply from them if you have problems. i have been waiting over 2 yrs.
raymond