I was looking at a new sportsman 700 while at the dealer and was pretty impressed with the stock tires on it - goodyear rawhides. How do they perform on hardpack and in mud? I'm mainly looking for a good all-around trail tire. Also, how do they compare to mudrunners? Thanks

 

Friend of mine has the Rawhides. Good on grassy trails & hardpack, and very puncture resistant. Too new to know about mud yet.

 

dont wast your money on the 700 .go and buy a 500 h.o. and you will be a lot happier. i think it is a much better and reliable machine . but that is just my 2 cents.

 

Thanks for the input Farmr123.

jmrpage, I'm not considering buying a 700 nor a 500HO, nor any quad. I'm perfectly happy with my P650. However, the tires on it stink and I need to replace them.

 

I HIGHLY recommend them. I have Rawhides on my 2002 Sportsman and they are twice the tire as the old Tracer Ps. They are better than the aftermarket Bearclaws I purchased for my old 1993 Trailboss. They are an EXCELLENT TIRE.

 

absolutely love the rawhides. They outdo any other stock tire in the mud by far, and are probably not far behind the regular mud tires. The best thing about them is how tough they are. After pounding them on the sharp granite rocks of powerline trails for a couple hundred miles, I have yet to slice or gouge one. I really have developed a feeling of confidence in these tires that I never had with other tires. Too bad they don't make them in 28s. I'm changing to Titan 589s, mostly for the height. If Rawhides came in a 27 or a 28, I'd buy them in a second.

 

I looked at the Tracker P's and they looked ok too. Thanks for the comparison weedy.

Northstar2, you say you want a bigger size tire. Just curious why you aren't considering 27" mudrunners as well? (BTW, I have 27" 589's and they are great tires for mud riding. Just too rough for hardpack for my tastes though).

Definately leaning towards getting the rawhides now.

 

92lt

It was my understanding that mudrunners only came in a 26. I wouldn't spend the money for one inch, which only translates to a half inch of ground clearance. I do like the look of the mudrunners, though, and I've heard that people like them. I don't want to go to something extreme like the Outlaw, which is great in mud and sucks everwhere else. I really like the look of the 589s, and they have the size I want. I ask everybody I see with them how they like them and the only negative thing I've heard is that the don't feel as stable at high speed. I don't ride at high speed much, and I wonder if they aren't taking into account that the larger tires are making their speedometer off...
What kind of 589 do you have, the Titan or the ITP? I haven't heard they were rough on hardpack. As long as they don't feel like they're square, I probably wouldn't mind.

Again, as far as I'm concerned, if you want a 25 inch tire the Rawhide is the absolute best.

 

My buddy put 27" ITP 589's on his SP 500 and the thing actually steers easier and handles better than the stock tracker P's, I am going to put a set on mine after trying his machine,

 

I love mine and I would buy them again for a replacemnt! A great all around tire. I plow snow, ride roads and find the deepest mud holes and no problems. You will not be dissapointed.