[Ranger Ed]

Anyone had experience with better tires on Snow. I know chains work but new tires for snow, and hard pack are needed

 

[nomore67]

Ranger Ed-

I'm on the verge of a new wheel and tire set up for my 2015 XP 900 Hunter. The 26" PXT's aren't horrible, they plowed our intitial wet heavy snow this year just fine, but for a few reasons I'm looking at changing them out. *Mainly because with only 9hrs on the Ranger the rears are already showing wear (more than I like, I expect they'll be really worn next Summer). And I would like a little taller tire for a little more ground clearance.

I've been looking at light truck tire set ups, and I have zeroed in on 27x8.5x14 Maxxis Buckshot Mudders. If not these I may go for the Interco Reptile tires in 27". Both will be a little taller than stock, I think the Maxxis tires will last forever, but the Reptiles will be a little better off road.

Anyone have opinions to share, or better yet experience with either of these? On a stock machine with no lift and stock A-arms?

 

[carnivore]

The stock tires are actually pretty bad in the snow. Bighorns are a great choice, they do quite a bit better.

 

[nomore67]

27x8.5 R14 tires added today, haven't 'tested' them yet though... I measured the height in four places with the stock 26" PXT tires, and the new tires, and the width. Basically they added 1" of width, and 1" of ground clearance.

 

[FUSE]

Tough to beat the Bighorns...

On past machines I've had bearclaws, zilla's, vampires, and the stock tires and out off all of them the bearclaws did the best in the snow.

 

[bishab]

27x8.5 R14 tires added today, haven't 'tested' them yet though... I measured the height in four places with the stock 26" PXT tires, and the new tires, and the width. Basically they added 1" of width, and 1" of ground clearance.
View attachment 8011 View attachment 8012 View attachment 8013

Could you post some pics of it from the rear with the new tires? I was looking at 8.5 wide but some say it is to narrow. Yours looks good.

 

[nomore67]

The rear tires are a little narrower than the original 11" rears, but not much. With the new wheels the stance is actually 1" wider. Wider rears would be cool, but I was drawn into the idea of 4 tires the same size, so I can rotate them once/if

the rears show wear.

 

[bishab]

Good idea. Thanks

 

[POS POLARIS]

Tough to find a good snow tire when talking about ATV tires.

I've run alot of tires and found some to be better than others.

Bighorns/dirt tamers are pretty decent in snow when going in a strait line. but are rather poor when driving on a sidehill because the direction of the lugs gives very poor side to side traction. if your thing is doing doughnuts in the snow, you won't be dissapointed.

The Grim Reapers were pretty good snow tires as well. rode rough, and dry rotted fast, but a good traction tire for snow/mud/whatever.

Any of the tractor type lug mud tires IMO do poorly in snow.

The best snow tires I've found to date are the sedona rip saws and the EFX motoclaws I'm currently running.

I have studded my atv tires before and it helps alot on ice but voids tire warranties and I go through tires so often I find it's easier to just suffer though the winter than it is to deal with studding them. If I had to do it again, or if the winter was really bad, I'd most likely to go ice screws first.

IMO, the bighorns are overpriced for what you get. many tires out there to choose from for less money.

 

[RJ]

Another vote for Bearclaws. Wear like iron too.

 

[CabinDweller]

I agree with some of the others here and vote for BigHorns. I found the stock tires to be worthless in the snow. I've had many different tires on various vehicles and have found the BigHorns to be by far the best all around tire that I've used. I've had them on three different vehicles, two of them currently in my stable.

 

[Natethedog]

Anyone have experience with Kanati Mongrels in the snow?:glee::encouragement:

 

[nomore67]

Right before making my tire decision (while at the tire store), I took a hard look at the Maxxis Buckshot Mudders, Interco Reptiles, and Big Horns. All are great tires (I think), with slight advantages going to each of them in different areas. The Big Horns seems softer, which led me to think they'd wear faster on hard pack, and possibly be more susceptible to a puncture. The Buckshots weighted about 2lbs per tire less than the Reptiles (both 27" for 14" wheels), that along with being a light truck tire moved me in that direction.
I'm ANXIOUS for some snow now, so I can give the new set up a good testing! *The PXT's that came on my machine actually handled snow pretty well I thought (in straight lines), but anything on a side hill or off camber and they'd slide.

 

[CabinDweller]

Congrats. We're going to need to see pics!

 

[nomore67]

With a little new snow on the gravel roads I cruised around to test the new tires today... First off I'll say that I wish I could shut off the EBS, on snowy roads it's annoying how it over brakes! The tires tracked well, and had good traction while accelerating. The tire shop had them at 18 psi (seemed too hard, and a bit rough), I've since lowered them to 14 and may go lower after more trying them out.

On the plus side, on a tar road I had the speedo up to 62 (probably some error on that)and they ran along super smooth!

 

[Dark Helmet]

Try the EFX Motoclaws next time. They ride real smooth on hard pack.

 

[Ranger Ed]

Thanks guys I been looking at most of the tires you've mentioned. I expect to run the stock till next fall then go with bitter and better. Bear claws were the ones I've leaned towards.

 

[nomore67]

Hi Ed, If you ever make it over towards Rockford, MN I'd suggest stopping into tirewiz (you can find them on the mlps craigslist too). They have a huge selection of tires and wheels in stock to look at, measure, and weigh.

Good luck-

 

[FUSE]

Want to bring this thread back from the dead. Anyone have any experience with the Maxxis Snow Beast?

Snow Beast | Maxxis Tires USA