Any suggestions on a good set of sand tires for a raptor? Should I get front and rear or just rear wheels? What kind of rims?
Thanks.

 

I am running 9 paddle haulers and trackers in the front on douglas .160's IF I had it to do over again I prob would have got 8 paddle haulers over the 9's. Also if you get the front tires get the larger dia 22" i think, the stock size ones push worse then the larger ones, but still work better than the stock tires (when the tires are touching the ground that is )

 

I am running Sand Sharks 20x10x10 and 22x8x10 Dune Trackers and they work really well. When you order your wheels, think about your offsets because the Raptor is wider in the front than rear. I got the wider than stock 3+6 rear and the stock offset in the front to put them even. The wider fronts looked a little goofy and the front brake was more exposed.

I also ran the Sand Skate IIs and could tell no difference in the performance compared to the Sharks, so the Skates went back on the Banshee.

The 12" Haulers and Mohawk setup would look trick on the Raptor, but I didn't want to spend the extra bucks.

 

Sand Skate II: Best looking paddle tire and very long wearing tire

Skat Trak Edge: Best Traction V-shaped paddle for sand

Skat Trak Hauler: 6 paddle: good for all ATVs, except heavily modified/high
horsepower ATVs

Skat Trak Hauler 8 paddle: Good for Banshees, Raptors, Suzuki 500s, 250rs
with pipes, DS650s

Skat Trak Hauler 10 paddle: modified banshees, modified DS650s, modified Suzuki 500s and modified Raptors

Skat Trak Taller Hauler 8-12 paddle: Only for heavily modified ATVs

Go with the Skat Trak Edge and get the best of both worlds, get great traction and the ability to turn while staying on the gas.

Front Tires everyone seems to have a different opinion of.

Smooth Buff - drag only

GBC Dune Tracker - Good for drag racing and offers good turning at high speed

Sand Tires Umlimited Razor Back - Probably the best of the bunch, but $$. Great sand flotation, extra wide great for drag racing and turning.

Skat Trak Mohawk - I have also hear this tire is very good, good for drag racing and has a single row of tread down the middle for added traction.

Blake
2001 Yamaha Sand Raptor 660R

Please visit www.glamisonline.org for everything you want to know about Glamis.

 

I guess you missed the mag article about the sand tire shoot out. I really thought it was well done. In order to compare the tires, they an a radar gun on a hill and also listed some impressions I thought were spot on. Highest top speed was the new 12 inch set from ITP. The tires look like 22" rear 8 paddle haulers and 23" front smooth buffs. Just behind these were the Sand Skate II's. There was little difference and frankly, the II's will take more abuse since they are molded and not shaved+vulcanized. The cheap tires in the test (Kenda, Cheng Shin) ate up hp and had lower speeds. You get what you pay for. I'm very happy with my Sand Skate II's after shredding some haulers a few years ago. Fronts are your choice. I like the Skat Trak Razors for light weight and the row of ***** for added turning.

 

Dont get me wrong here, I loved my Sand Skate IIs but they definitely dont do as well as Skat Trak Edge do in Hill Climbs/Drags.

Both me and my brother bought 2 brand new Banshees in 1993. The first thing we both did was buy some paddle tires for them. I bought the Sand Skate IIs and he bought Skat Trak Edge. Naturally we would compete against each other in hill climbs, with both bikes being *bone stock* other than paddles, he consistently beat me. The only time I would win is if he got a bad start or mis-shifted. I about had it, so we traded bikes and guess what, I WAS WINNING! I love STU Sand Skate IIs for regular duning, but I am too competitive and I dont like losing. The Sand Skate II is an awesome looking, super-long wearing all around great tire and if you dont mind losing in hill climbs/drags you wont be sorry.

Now I do agree with the philosophy you stated from the article that says the Sand Skate IIs were able to carry a higher speed. That is because the paddles dont have alot of bite. But why would someone with a modified bike that like to drag race/hillclimb want to run Sand Skate IIs? A better choice is 7 paddle haulers, the only drawback is that the tires dont wear as well as the Skates do, but the performance is all there and you dont have the traction robbing you of HP or Speed.

>>I like the Skat Trak Razors for light weight and the row of ***** for added turning.<<

Skat Trak makes the Mohawk front sand tire and Sand Tires Unlimited makes the Razorback.

Blake
2001 Yamaha Sand Raptor 660R

Please visit www.glamisonline.org for everything you want to know about Glamis.

 

Hi fellow Raptorians-
I spent 3 days at Coos Bay Oregon with my raptor and had a new set of 20x10x10 8 paddle haulers.The traction was great as always (I run haulers on my 250R's and love them). I have never rode cali. dunes but at Oregon we have lots of "berm" or "snake" trails,it is fun to ride high and break the tires loose at the top. The raptor would not slide with haulers. If I had it to do over I would like to try skates(or sand sharks) skat traks are too much paddle for a stock raptor.California sand may be differant though.They are also goood for hills or drags.Definately to much paddle to break loose easily in the Oregon sand.As for fronts My recomendation is save the $150.00 and run the stockers they work fine on a stock raptor. How do yo like your raptor in the sand? I was a little disapointed when comparing it to a 250R or banshee(just didn't have the thrill factor of a 2-stroke).

 

What's the hot set-up for the sand as far as tires and gearing ???