I got hella stuck last friday and i bet if i had better tires then the stock maxxis it would not have happened....i decided it is time to get some tires before spring so i can do some serious wheeling. I need some help, i am wondering which size i should get for my 2004 kodiak 450....and the 589 or the mudlites?? any help would be greatly appreciated, i ride in all conditions but i do a lot of snow riding due to living in minnesota...which translates into mud in the spring. Also are the 589's a good trail hardpack riding tire or are the mudlites better???

 

My buddy put a set of 25" 589s on his P360 and they made a helluva diff. Now hes trading it in on a P700 and tonight we are switching the 589s for the original rubber. I looked at the Mud lites and they don't have as much rubber on em as the 589s with about a 1000 miles on em. If you don't do any riding on paved trails then the 589s would prolly be you best answer, but if you are looking for a smooth ride on hard surfaces then get the MLs. Remember that no matter what kind of tire you have when you sink to your skidplates, your stuck.

I think that machine with 589s would really be a beast.

 

Sorry, I just noticed the other half of your post.

27" only gets you 1" extra of clearance but robs you of tons of power, power you need to get out of a really big mess.

 

jfuhrman, I have the 26 MudLites on my Kodiak450 and realy like them, they are a good all around tire and seem to be a better then average tire for slippery rocks and logs over the 589's(unless studded) and of course they did well in the mud. The 589's in my opinion are a excellent mud tire but I found them to be rough trail tire, rode roughand the aggressive side lugs liked to grab dry ruts and wrench the handlebars around which in down hill situations was alittle to stimulating for my taste.

Since you do alot of winter riding the 589's can be studded and do realy good on the icy conditions where I was told not to stud the MudLites as they are a softer compound and there is just not many places to effectively put ice screws that would do any good. As for size I have 26x10x12's up front and 26x12x12's in the rear and would not suggest going bigger because you would rob more power and in the deep mud one more inch of tire to turn just might not happen.

Either one will be a huge increase over stock and the price is around the same for them.AlaskaBoy.

 

I went with the stock size mudlites on mine. Now I wish I had went with the 26". Reason being is the 26" lugs are 1 1/8 where as the 25s are only 7/8". The 589s from what I hear are a great tire but IMO they are just too heavy.

Brad

 

The ML 26"ers look like the tire if you dont mind a lil power loss The tire itself is the same size but to make it a 26" they deepened the tread. The 589s are rougher and prolly wont be as good on slippery anything.

Is the Kodiac modifiable to get a lil more power at the git go? If so, then I would get the MLs. I've never seen one person say they regretted the Mud lites! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] That says a lot!

 

get the 589's you will love them, you don't want to be behind them in the snow, you will get wet!!! and they take studs well...

 

ps, stay with the stock size 25" and go to alum rims, 6 ply tires are heavy, need t make up the diff in the rim...

 

Go with the 26in 589's ,You will not be disappointed,,this is the tire you are looking for..

 

so how much power loss will i experience if i go with the 26 inch over the 25 inch 589's? Some say go with 25's and some say 26's what is everyones opinion on size??? i am itching to get these ordered!!!LOL