25 Top Tips To Do Before Going Offroad (Part.2)

7.Pack a roll of toilet paper in a zip-top plastic bag and put it behind the sear right now. I promise you that someday you’ll thank yourself

8.Pack a fully charged cell phone and car adapter, if you have one. You’d be amazed where you may find a signal. You may have to climb a tree or hike to the top of the ridge, but that could mean the difference between spending the night in you own bed or your rig.

9.If you have a GPS, don’t forget it! If you don’t buy one. There are reasonably inexpensive, hand-held units that are easy to operate. This could be the best money you ever spend, should a real emergency arise. Bring spare batteries in a zip-top baggie and a car adapter, if so equipped.

10.If you can, get a pair of handheld family radio service (FRS) walkie-talkies. Just like the GPS, they are common today and are reasonably inexpensive. In case you need to temporarily split up the party: (in search of a cell signal, for instance) you do no want to be out of touch, even if you are out of sight. And don’t separate beyond the range.

11.Bring something to eat and drink. Even if it’s only a short trip, bring something. Sports drinks, bottled water, energy bars, and dried fruit are good ideas. Items that don’t need to be refrigerated are best. Avoid salty foods, unless you have lot’s to drink. If things go awry, it’s easier to think clearly if you have a little something in you stomach. And never travel without a cooler, even if space is at a premium.

12.Fill the gas tank on every trip. It’s amazing how many people forget to do this. Always remember the One-Third/Two-Third Rule: Only use one-third of a tank to get where you are going and save two-thirds for getting out, unless you know there’s fuel at your destination. If you fuel tank doesn’t have the capacity, carry extra fuel or re-think your route.

13.Always carry your extra fuel outside the vehicle. Fuel containers have vents, and not only are gasoline fumes explosive, they are toxic

14.Step up and buy good jumper cables with heavy-gauge wire and quality connectors.

15.Bring a tow strap.

25 Top Tips To Do Before Going Offroad (Part.1)

1.Check all your fluids -coolant/anit-freeze, oil, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, ATF, differentials, etc. Make sure there are no leaks, everything is at the proper level, and carry extra fluids just in case. Also, this should go without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: If you know of any mechanical or electrical problems with your rig, repair them first. There’s no excuse for off-roading with a worn U-joint or an intermittent short in the ignition. By the way, check you air filer, too.

2.Check your shock absorbers for signs of leakage or damage.

3.Check you tires for pressures and condition, including the spare. Make sure the tread is appropriate for the terrain you will be traveling.

4.Jack up the front of your rig and make a quick check of all ball joints, tie rods ends and wheel bearings. Grab the tire by the and at the top and bottom, and check for any excess movement by rocking the wheel in and out. Do the same by rocking the tire side to side. Any excessive free play should be checked out by a qualified mechanic. Do the same at the rear

5.Plan you trip! File a “flight plan.” Let someone know where you are, when you are leaving and when you’ll be back. Let then know when they should start to worry if they haven’t heard from you, and whom to contact. You should have a map of where you are going, and so should someone staying behind.

6.Check the weather forecast. Bring appropriate clothing and protective gear (hats, sunglasses, lip balm, sunscreen). Pack extra clothing in case you get wet or it gets a little colder than expected. If there’s room, throw in at lease one sleeping bag (preferable one for each member of your party), even if you don’t plan to spend the night.

Maxxis Tire - Choosing the Right Tire

Choosing the right tire for your specific application can be a tough process. To help with your selection, we've compiled a list of the most popular Maxxis ATV and motorcycle tires along with their intended application.

Maxxis ATV Tires

The Bighorn ATV Tire is one of the most popular Maxxis tires. This ATV tire features large widely spaced lugs allowing you to traverse rocky desert terrain with ease. This is a 6 ply Maxxis tire for maximum puncture resistance. Sidewall lugs also help to protect the sidewall and your wheels.

The Maxxis Mudzilla ATV Tire is (obviously) geared toward mud riding. This is also a 6 ply Maxxis ATV tire and features a unique rubber composition for longer wear. For more budget friendly mud Maxxis tires, check out the Mud Bug.

Lastly, the Maxxis Razr tire is well-suited for intermediate terrain. This is a favorite tire among racers. This tire features, smaller closer lugs for maximum traction in versatile dirt conditions. If you are looking for a high quality replacement for your OEM tires, this is it.

You can expect to spend in the neighborhood of $150 for a high quality ATV tire. Be sure to shop around for the best price as they vary quite a bit. Additionally, you can usually find good deals on Maxxis tires online.

Maxxis Motorcycle Tires

For dual sport applications, you'll want to look at the M series Maxxis tire. These have a unique compound to give you performance both on and off-road. For an off-road use Maxxis tire, you will be choosing from the following: IT, HT, ST, and CI series tires. Of this group, the IT is the strongest tire and is designed for the varied conditions. The HT is a hart terrain Maxxis tire and the ST series Maxxis tire is designed for soft sand and mud riding.

Lastly, the CI series Maxxis tire is designed for intermediate terrain. This is the best all-around Maxxis motorcycle tire and a good OEM replacement tire.

There are 5 different types of street Maxxis motorcycle tires. The Supermaxx tires are designed for speed and performance. These are great sportbike tires. Classic and Promaxx are intermediate tires offering a good balance of wear and performance. Touring Maxxis tires are built with heavier bikes in mind. These are great for cruisers.

Although Maxxis tires are moderately priced, it is important to shop around before purchasing. You can usually find good deals on Maxxis tires online.

By Lyle Dove

Keeping Your ATV Tires in Good Condition

A flat ATV tire on the trial is probably something you'll run into whether you're a professional or novice rider. Although having a flat tire is not a scheduled event, you need to prepare yourself as to when it will hit you.

Flat tires are not an event unique to all terrain vehicles. Luckily, a flat tire is easy to fix, so there's no need for panicking. This problem can be handled without great difficulty.

One of the most common problems of flat ATV tires is air leaks. You can repair most types of flats on the trails. Nevertheless, there are some types of severe flats that a professional should deal with.

Fixing a flat usually means you can continue riding on it for the remainder of your ride. It is important, however, to properly fix it later on to completely get rid of the underlying problem. You will need a couple of items to fix you ATV tire. To be prepared for tire problems, you should store these equipments in a safe place where you can use it any time and anywhere.

Repair glue, a reamer, tire plugs, a plug insertion tool and a pump are the most important tools that you'll need. The air gauge is the most important tool you should always have on hand.

The task of finding the holes where there air is leaking is not always simple. The first thing you should do is put air in the tire. Look for object that stuck into the tire, such as nails, screws, glass, or other sharp objects.

If there are no sharp objects in the tire, then look for small cuts and listen for leaks. It is recommended to place some water or puddle in the tires to allow you to see possible damages. You should also check if your valve stem or seal is broken.

When you've located the leak, roughen the edges of the hole with the reamer so that the plug will grip more effectively. You should then thread the plug by applying a little amount of glue to the plug. Check to see if the plug would stay in place.

There are different kinds of plugs for different types of holes, and it takes some experience to pick the right one. Wait until the glue has completely dried and set before continuing with your ride. It's a simple process, and it allows you to finish your ride and then get the leak properly fixed when you're back home.

by Rusty Benoit.

Tire-Mounting Safety Guidelines

WARNING: MOUNTING OF TIRES ON WHEELS CAN BE DANGEROUS IF DONE IMPROPERLY. ONLY TRAINED PERSONNEL, USING THE PROPER TOOLS, SAFETY EQUIPMENT, AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, SHOULD ATTEMPT TO MOUNT TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLIES.

1. Use only a clip-on style air chuck with a long extension hose, remote filler, and inflation gauge.
2. Using a tire mounting lubricant, lube the tire and rim bead seat. Determine the tire's maximum recommended tire inflation pressure.
3. The tire and wheel must be located away from all personnel. Something solid, such as a block wall or a tire-mounting cage (see photo), must be between the tire/wheel assembly and the installer. THE TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY MUST BE OUT OF "LINE OF SIGHT" DURING THE INFLATION PROCESS.
4. Inflate the tire until you hear the beads seats snap, or until you reach the tire manufacturer's maximum recommended tire pressure. NEVER EXCEED THE TIRE MANUFACTURER'S MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE.
5. If the tire beads do not seat, stop! Release all air from the tire/wheel assembly, and call your tire manufacturer or ITP for advice (909-390-1905).
6. Once the tire bead is seated, disconnect the chuck, re-install the valve core, and inflate to proper operating pressure.

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT TIRES BE INSTALLED IN A SAFETY CAGE SIMILAR TO THE ONE SHOWN IN THE ACCOMPANYING PHOTO. FAILURE TO FOLLOW RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES MAY VOID YOUR WARRANTY

by:www.itptires.com

How To Dispose Of Your Old ATV Tires

When it comes time to replace your old and worn ATV tires, many riders are eager to purchase new tires, but many are unaware what to do with the old ones. Regardless where you live, throwing old tires in a body or water or natural environment is improper—and in many cases illegal—since the tires can corrupt nature. When disposing of your old ATV tires, be sure to do so in a proper and legal manner that will not negatively impact the environment for future generations.

More and more often, tires are being recycled and formed into all sorts of new products. From park benches to carpets, recycled rubber is a durable and economical product. When you are faced with the decision what to do with your old ATV tires, look to your local recycling company to see if rubber is accepted. Although you may not be able to place your tires to the curb if you community is involved with curbside recycling, the recycling plant may be able to take the tires off your hands. Look to the phonebook or internet to find a recycling facility near you and make a quick visit or telephone call to see if your tires are able to be recycled.

Most tire stores that provide you with new tires for your ATV will be able to take your old ones. Before you make the change, be sure to ask the tire center what they do with old tires if you are concerned about the environmental impact unused rubber causes. Also, there may be a slight fee involved with properly disposing of your old tires, so know this amount upfront in order to prevent any surprises at the cash register. The state in which you live may have certain regulations or fees involving tire disposal, and this is often incorporated into your bill and is listed separately from the cost of the new tires or the labor to install the tires on your ATV.

If your old tires still have life in them, consider giving them to a friend or family member with an ATV. Keep in mind that old tires should only be used if they still have ample tread and are able to ensure the vehicle can be driven safely. Also, consider selling your old ATV tires so that you can use the profits to buy a new set. Look to your local newspaper and list a classified advertisement or turn to the internet with sites like Ebay or Craigslist to sell your tires. These are great resources and you may even find a new set of ATV tires listed at a more economical price than offered at your local tire store.

by: Bill Carmel

How to Find Discount ATV Tires

It's not difficult to find discount ATV tires online as long as you know where to look. And if you don't, well then you first need to know what kinds of prices are normal for ATV tires. There is a great ATV tire comparison shopping section at the NexTag website found at http://www.nextag.com/atv-tires/search-html .

They've got over 157 different listings for ATV tires from various vendors. The thing about using a reputable shopping guide such as this is that only very reputable dealers will even show up I the listings. Youcan find some pretty fair deals on discount ATV tires at this site.

There is also La Ramp, which can be found at http://www.laramp.net/ . They offer all sizes and types of discount ATV tires and offer free shipping on sets of four tires. You can also find all kinds of other ATV parts and accessories here.

There are also some good sellers on eBay that deal in ATV tires and other ATV accessories. The one that I like the most for discount ATV tires is a seller called ATV Tires Plus. Depending on the given day, I can sometimes find better deals on Discount ATV tires at this eBay store than at the site mentioned above.

For other ATV parts and accessories, I like the eBay seller ATV Racers Corner, which can be found at http://stores.ebay.com/ATV-RACERS-CORNER . This seller carries all kinds of ATV parts, from cams and twist kits to grab bars, shock covers, ATV computers and more. I've had nothing but the best shopping experiences dealing with ATV Racers Corner. They have great communication and very fast shipping.

If you want to strike out on your own and try to find an even better deal on ATV tires you'll certainly be using a search engine to find the sites that you need. If you take the time to refine your search, you'll certainly be able to find some awesome deals on ATV tires.

If, on the other hand, you simply type in "discount ATV tires", you'll just be looking at all the same stores that have paid to be listed I the first search results that you see. There's nothing wrong with buying ATV tires from these places, but you certainly won't be getting them at discount prices. Who do you think pays for their top search engine ranking? Hint: you.

So, if you really want to find some good discount ATV tires, you're going to have to be a little bit smarter about the search terms that you use. If nothing else , at least enclose your phrase "discount ATV tires" in quotation marks just as I have done. This tells search engines that you only want to see search engine results that contain that exact phrase.

Have patience, and refine as many times as you need to. Take the time to refine and revise your search terms with any information that you think is relevant and you're sure to find jus the deal on ATV tires that you originally set out to find.

by: Donovan Keithly

Why must Checking Tire Pressure (Part 2)

This same comment about lawyers is what the tire industry is fearing. The tire pressure issue was over turned by the NHTSA but expect it to come back stronger next time as consumer groups and politicians judging the wind flow see the political advantage of caving into such demands, which indeed will open the tire industry to more class action lawsuits. The RMA Rubber Manufacturers Association wants to fight PSI level definitions, because it is not a one size fits all.

Many things go into deciding proper inflation and PSI levels depending on such things: snow handling, wet & dry braking, braking & traction requirements, stopping distances, rolling resistance, fuel economy, noise, vibration, harmonics, comfort of ride, uniformity of tread ware, balance, cornering capabilities, rotation interval specs, endurance ratings, tread ware tests, high speed performance, residual alignment torque, ease of mounting on production equipment, etc. You can see the issues manufacturers have with this. Many times customers will ask you can you check the tires, some shops are saying “no” while this is the best policy for not getting sued it is not good to keep telling customers “No” when: A.) You can charge them for it and; B.) They are willing to pay you for it and; C.) You can make a good profit doing it.

After all with the increased news articles on tire ware and the significance of the firestone media frenzy, tires are on people’s mind more than the ever increasing oil change intervals propaganda from Auto Manufacturers to sell more cars and their particular brand of in house oil. The problem concerning tires has much to do with: ice, snow, rain, mud, highway speed, dirt roads, gravel, canyon driving, off road driving, speed bumps, gas mileage, traction, etc. The manufacturers are at odds with a government regulatory body dictating their specifications on a tire, which may perform many different duties on the same car within its life time.

Manufacturers of tires are concerned with all these things and those listed above and also have to worry customers which modify vehicles, over load tires, drive monster mudders on freeways causing vibrations, harmonics, warped rotors, bent tie rods, bent steering rods, severe wear to breaking systems, cracked rims which in turn cause excessive ware including scalloped tires, radial separation, increased tire rotation intervals-some 4 X 4’s as little as 3000 miles when usually 6000 is recommended. Not to mention human kidney issues.

Stiffer tires gave better over all handling performance, great stopping and good grip, but were noisy. GM has been offering sensor based tire pressure monitors and ABS for models has a safety bulletin for installation of a tire pressure monitor dashboard indicator. When customers were asked in a survey by the TIA – Tire Industry Association; 31% said they check their air pressure regularly, 20% admitted to ignorance when it came to anything to do with tires and 40% said their tries are totally safe. But we know that 54% had under inflated tires when they were checked and 14% had either poor tread left or both.

In fact when the survey was checked against actual behavior in tire monitoring by the customer only 1 in 7 actually checks the tire pressure regularly. So it maybe something to think about when servicing your customer’s car while doing the oil changes.

By: Lance Winslow

Why must checks tire pressure? (part. 1)

How far along has tire pressure monitoring come recently? Well it is making significant strides in the transportation industries for a variety of reasons; reducing fuel costs, safety and insurance savings.

The DOT has looked into these issues for passenger cars and the Tire Industry has had mixed emotions for a reason, often stating that the best thing to do is to educate consumers about tire pressure. A recent survey during Car Care Aware Week showed that 54% of all cars had one or more tires, which were low on air, thus causing excessive wear, stability issues and poor fuel efficiencies. This was an interesting case in fact.

During this same study it was found that only 14% of the cars had one or more tires that needed tread and were worn out. It would behoove those in the car care industry to check tires as a courtesy for customers. Jiffy Lube and other companies do this already as part of a multi-point check list.

Recently we discussed the issues with Large Passenger van rollovers and the NTSB did a huge study showing these vans to be unsafe, yet many of the problems stemmed from low air pressures and poor loading in rear or on top.

Once again issues of tires were the biggest. Under rated tires for the load or under inflated tires during the trip which contained the accident were a factor in the event itself. Some shop owners have asked me why should I get involved with tire pressures because I might be sued if I put air in and someone has an accident and they determine that on a dirt road the car had too much air in the tires for that condition, when I put the additional air in because the dad said he was taking his family on a road trip to Colorado or Kansas for four days?

I understand this comment and fear from lawsuits and admit that there are too many attorneys in the world and most should be eliminated forth with. But as a Car Care Professional you can prevent accidents and help people.

Solving the ATV Tire Mystery

Getting on an ATV for the first time is an overwhelmingly exhilarating feeling. On an ATV, you can let reality go for a little while and just transport your mind into a world of speed and excitement. But with that said, precaution and safety is extremely important because of the very same reason. It’s very easy to lose track of things and forget that safety is tops whenever you’re on an ATV.

Slipping is common therefore, ATV owners are encouraged to check and change their ATV tires as often as they can. It’s not worth the risk. If your ATV tires are not in good conditions, the risk of accidents is very high. For new ATV owners, you may not be too familiar with the types of ATV tires there are out there in the market. The kind of ATV tire you should use depends on the vehicle itself and the purpose of the ATV. The quality, type, size and cost of each ATV tire vary quite a bit too.

Although the brand name or manufacturer of the ATV tire is not a primary concern, it should still be taken into consideration because it needs to said that the more experienced and well-established they are, the quality of the ATV tire is usually higher. The higher the quality of the ATV tire, the longer they will last. However, each brand or make of ATV tire have their own strengths and weaknesses. There is not BEST ATV tire or worst ATV tire. Their good qualities are often balanced out with their bad qualities – some brands of ATV tires are slightly more imbalanced than others, we have to say.

As we’ve mentioned earlier, the type of ATV tire you have to purchase depends on what you intend to use the ATV tires for…for instance, there are mud tires, sand tires, paddle tires and a whole long list of different makes and types of ATV tires. We know it can get confusing for beginners, so, your best bet would be to solve this ‘mystery’ by doing a little bit of research. Research can be done, easily, via the Internet as there are many websites offering reliable and professional free advice.
In fact, if you still feel unsure, what you can do is to visit a local nearby ATV shop and ask around. Many shop assistants would be more than happy to explain the difference between all the ATV tires for you.

by: Marsha Maung is an ATV enthusiast enthusiastically promoting ATV riding as a sport and family activity! She runs and is one of the staff for one of the hottest and fastest-growing ATV sites right http://www.atv4kids.com