I'm sure this question has been posted before, but I'm looking for any insight I can get before I buy new rubber.
The stock tires on my 05 Kodiak 450 seem ok in the traction department, and ride well. Problem is, I'm not real happy with the way they "roll under" during tight turns in trails, especially when on a steep downhill section. Even when I upped the air pressure, they don't have the stability I'm looking for.
So I'm looking into tires for mainly trails, mud (Not deep mudbog stuff, just slippery clay type surface mud), snow and lots of sharp rock. Both the Bearclaws and Mudlites are 6 ply I believe, which should give me the sidewall stiffness I'm looking for.
My question is, has anybody had both of these tires, and how do they compare to each other? I'm leaning towards the Bearclaws, since the tread design looks like they'd have better lateral traction on steeper sidehill and off-camber stuff, and look like a better all-around type tread design.
Any opinions?

 

I think a good reasonibly cheap good tire is the Gator. I freind of mine has them on a big bear and are freakin awesome. Out of the 2 your looking at the bear claws would probably be better, but I think that the mud lites have a deeper tread. So the claws would be a better all round tire, and the mudlites for the goowey stuff.

 

i had a 2002 yamaha wolveine and i put mudlights on it and i was very pleased they rode very well and they were pretty light and thay allowed me to go into the mud but still spin through so i wasnt bogging i thought they did good on the trails and in the mud . Now a have a 2004 raptor and i have bearclaws on the back and im looking for a diffrent tire i dont think they perform as well in the mud as i had hopped

 

Camshaft;
What kind of mud are we talking about here? Are you talking deep mudholes, or just surface slop? I hunt in a area that when it rains, it turns to snot. It's either rocky as hell, covered in snot, or buried under snow. That's why I'm looking for a tire that's going to suit my all around needs.
So the Bearclaws aren't so hot in "regular" mud?? They look like they'd do fine.
I was leaning towards the Bearclaws, but if the Mudlites are better tires for all around riding and conditions, I'll definitely go with them instead. I know a lot of people swear by them. Just looking for some personal experience.
Thanks for the input.

 

ive had bearclaws on every atv i own and dont want to ever not use them again they work extremely well for everything......i have them on sport quads but they will grip on anything......very good tire wouldnt want a different tire. Mudlights are prob lighter but the tred pattern isnt deeper than the bearclaws... i seen a 500 polaris i thnk with them on up in a local riding area and wasnt not impressed with them although they did ride very smooth on hard roads.

 

I have Mud Lites on a SPortsman and a riding buddy has bear claws. If lateral stability is a factor don't get the Gators, they are good tires but they tend to slide sideways on off camber trails. I had a set and sold them just because of this reason. The mud lites are good, soft give good traction on the slime nad hard trails but mine are wearing a little fast. Traction is good, they grip the surface a good trade off for the soft rubber wearing a little quicker. Lateral traction is very good with bothe the Mud Lites and the Bear Claws. I think the Bear Claws would hold up a little better in the rocks if you can get the 6 ply tires.

 

I've got an '03 450 Kodiak, similar to you. I live not far from you, so we prolly ride the same stuff. I got the Bear Claws and i'm very disappointed. I'm yet to find a situation where I've noticed these tires to make a difference. I get just as stuck in the mud as I always have, and my stock Maxxis seemed just as good as these. The first time i got them i was all excited i was gonna show up my cousin on his 450 Foreman... NOT.. he got thru a mudhloe i didn't, on his stock tires. He may have taken a slightly different line and i may have ended up high-centered (hard to tell what you're spinning on when you're stuck ion thick goo!!). I find they spin out and dig in when i'm on soft, loose stuff or sand. I can't honestly say there's any difference. Funny tho, many avid rider friends from the north rave about these tires..I just don't see it. Next time, i'd really like to see how the mudlites perform. I have a set of mudlites on my stock rims (fronts) and 489XTs on the stock rear rims. never put them on, since i have the Bear Claws on fancy alum rims. But I'd like to see if there's a noticeable difference with these.

 

Confusedbuyer;
So try the Mudlites and 489's. What have you got to lose??
Another question for you. On your page, are those 25's or 26 inchers on your Kodiak? I'm thinking about going up to 26", for the extra tread depth but I'm afraid of robbing some of the power from my machine.
Just going by the "looks" of the tread design, I think the Bearclaws would better suit my needs, but that's why I was asking for experienced views from riders who have tried both tires. I just wanted to see which they preferred after trying both, and why.
Thanks for the input. I appreciate it. I have a few months before hunting season, so I'm doing as much research as I can on it. I like to do it right the first time whenever possible.
Thanks again.

JJ

 

Dude I would go with the Bear Claws. I'm running them right now I love them, My buddy has the mud lites, and the biggest complaint he has is the ride down the road. Mine are perfect. There hasn't been anything that he's gone though that I haven't.

 

Vaquero;
Thanks. That's pretty much what I was looking for. A lot of the stuff we have to go through to get into the lower hunting areas, have some serious off-camber sections, and really nasty ruts. If it rains on that clay based crap, God help you getting out of there in a pickup. Better have some really good chains.
There's lots of elk to be had down there, but if the weather is bad, good luck getting down to them. On the quads, it should be a piece of cake. I've taken several nice elk out of the lower areas, but only when the weather cooperates.
There's a few long stretches of "road" that lean so badly to the downhill side, that if you're not careful, you'll set up camp in the bottom, whether you like the idea or not. There's still an old Chevy down there as a reminder to be careful.
Quads are a bit more forgiving though, and with the right tires, I shouldn't have any problem at all. Traction wise, even my stick Maxxis tires aren't bad, but the "roll" they are showing when I send it into a corner has got to go. They just don't have enough sidewall strength. If I up the air pressure to the point they stop rolling under the rim, it rides like crap.
I've heard enough good things about Bearclaws, and they look about like what I'm needing that I think I'll give them a try. I'll probably add them this summer before I start gearing up for hunting season.
Now I'm just trying to decide between staying with stock 25" tires, or going up to 26's.
Decisions, decisions......
Thanks again.

JJ