When most people think about buying a new ATV, tires are not high on the list of features to look at. Older ATV’s that have been used for a while are more than likely going to need some new rubber in the near future.
When finding yourself in need of new tires for your four wheeler, you should proceed in a thoughtful and decisive manner. Choosing the wrong type of ATV tire can leave you cursing your machine and may involve long walks out of the backcountry or riving from friends as they pass you by. Finding the best tires for the trail conditions you encounter isn’t rocket science, but it will require you to give a little thought to picking the right ATV tire.
The amount of money you have to spend on new or used ATV tires will affect the quality of tire you’re able to purchase. The old saying that you get what you pay for is as true for ATV tires as it is for anything else. Used ATV tires can be a real bargain, just be sure you check them out thoroughly so you’re not buying someone elses problem.
For many ATV owners, the set of tires that came with their ATV will perform well. It’s the hardcore off road rider that will see the most performance with high quality ATV rubber. Picking a cheap general purpose tire for your high speed desert riding will yield poor results as the tires fight to gain traction in loose sand. This is why it’s important to choose the right tire for your riding condition. Someone who goes off roading in Colorado mountains will have different needs than someone who spends their weekends in the Mojave desert!
Sand tires designed for ATVs do one thing and they do it well. They get a grip on loose sand. ATV sand tires are slick tires with rubber paddles on them. As the tire turns, these paddles grab and scoop the loose sand, giving the ATV super traction. However, these tires are poor choices for mud or general all terrain riding.
More than likely your used ATV came with general purpose tires. The manufacturers put these on new machines because they meet the needs of the average weekend warrior. Even though general use ATV tires get the job done in most cases, they’re not the best bet in places with deep soft sand or deep mud.
For those of you who don’t consider it a fun ride if you don’t come back covered with mud, the aggressive tread Mud ATV tire is right down your alley. These tires have aggressive treads designed to get a bite in deep mud. The treads are made in a way that it is easy for the tire to clean itself by slinging the mud out of the low spots in the tire so it can get a better bite on its way around.
Now we get to the Sport and High Performance ATV Tires. These tires are meant for fast riding on hard surfaces. You can tell these tires apart from other types because they generally have a lower profile and a smaller tread. The tread is generally small knobs in an X pattern.
Picking the right tire to go on your ATV isn’t hard but it does require some thought. For those that choose the right tires, they’ll have many happy seasons out on the trail as their tires perform well. For those who don’t choose wisely, they’ll be kicking their self for scrimping on cheap tires as their friends blow past them.