Tire Choices for Colorado riding

4184 Views 27 Replies 9 Participants Last post by VenomLightning, Apr 14, 2015

VenomLightning

Discussion Starter · Apr 12, 2015 (Edited)

I've read probably a million threads about this but since I'm new to Can Am's I had a few questions about tires/sizing. Being in the Army I just moved to Co. so now I've limited my selection down to my terrain here, appreciate any input/experience you guys have on this. I mainly run trails/rock stuff, no mud, I know these Can am's are beasts but I don't want a extremely heavy tire & lose acceleration/down low torque. Looking for some additional GC as well, with the Outty being heavier than my Grizzly wasn't sure if certain tires are not a good choice for load. I had Interco Reptiles on my Grizzly & did awesome, no issues with wear or getting stuck. I'm looking to go with 27's, but if there's a better option please let me know specially with clearance. Thx guys

-Grim Reapers
-Original Bighorns
-Kenda HTR
-Interco Reptiles

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1 - 20 of 28 Posts

styk

· #2 · Apr 12, 2015

-Grim Reapers, great tire but heavy as it's an 8 ply rated tire. stiff sidewalls so sometimes they can become unseated.

-Original Bighorns, tough tire without out a doubt. Wear like iron but lack bead protection so they are prone to getting stuff in the bead which personally i find ends up giving problems keep air in the tire.

-Kenda HTR, hear lots of good about them and they are cheaper in price then the big horns

-Interco Reptiles, i know nothing on these tires.

Did you look at pitbulls?

VenomLightning

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 12, 2015

Thx for the info bro, the Bighorns tread pattern from what I've seen is a PITA to clean, they were kind of on the bottom of the list, I've looked at the Pitbull Rockers, great tire & awesome reviews but the weight is quite a bit, even compared to the Kenda's, my concern would be clearance for the Kenda's or Rockers, seems to be something you have to watch out for on the Outty's than I did with my Grizzly. I can get away with a 6 ply, I don't hit the rocks that often but I do want something that's capable of handling that stuff when I want to.

jmason

· #4 · Apr 12, 2015 (Edited)

2

I second the Grim Reapers and add the Dirt Commanders to the list of favorites. I own both (both made by GBC) and they are a smooth running radial that is about as indestructible a tire as you will find. As to the weight comment, you will never notice the differerence between a 6 ply and an 8 ply tire, but an 8 ply will be more resistant to punctures and wear longer. Ive ran both the above mentioned tires HARD for several years and never had a flat out of either tire. We run the black and black and red trails at the Rock House and other places at HM, their performance is simply amazing.

Dirt Commanders on the Renegade and Grim Reapers on the Rincon

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VenomLightning

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 12, 2015 (Edited)

Thx for the input man, I like the Commanders's on your Rene, What size do u recommend, would 27's fit???

jmason

· #6 · Apr 12, 2015

Yes the Dirt Commanders are on the Renegade. I believe your Outlander comes factory with 26" tires correct? I know your concerned about ground clearance but keep in mind for every 1" larger tire you only gain 1/2" of ground clearance. I'm not sure the trade off is worth it considering the extra unsprung weight your adding. I went with 27x9 front and 27x11 rear on my Rincon one time and hated it. I went back to 26x8 front and 26x10 rear on it, they fit my riding style a lot better. My Renegade has 25" tires on it and I can go anywhere my Rincon could as well as my buddies with Outlanders on factory 26". Just food for thought.

jeffoutty800

· #7 · Apr 13, 2015

Personally I find the rockers to be the best tire I've ever used. I had bighorns then went to rockers. Heavier yes, but better than fighting the flats I had with the bighorns.

I have a set for sale in the classifieds if interested. Only reason I'm selling them is because I bought a maverick. They are 26.5 and the mav has 28" bighorns. Which I'm no fan of.

VenomLightning

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 13, 2015 (Edited)

Thanks jmason for the info, mine came with the 26's, the rear GC isn't too bad but the front could be a little wider and taller. The tire heighth made a good difference when I had my Grizzly, specially with rockier trails, with the Outty being heavier just want that added safety in case I get into that stuff. Something I'll definitely consider, preciate it.

Jeff, did you have your Rockers on your Outty? How did it effect your power/down low torque??

jmason

· #9 · Apr 13, 2015

Im not trying to disuade you from buying bigger, but for my style of riding the 25" tires on my Gade has gotten me everywhere my 26s and 27s did. I'm not sure if you've ever ridden the Rock House and Bear Wallow at Hatfield McCoy but my 25s carried me up and down every black and black and red trail (a few at Bear Wallow required some winching as did everybody else).

What I would look at is over all ground clearance, that will tell you the real story. Look at publsihed ground clearance of each machine in stock form and that will tell you whether or not you need to increase in tire size to match what you had with your Grizz.

jeffoutty800

· #10 · Apr 13, 2015

VenomLightning said:
Jeff, did you have your Rockers on your Outty? How did it effect your power/down low torque??

Yes. After having bighorns for 4200 miles I decided to go with the pit bulls. Totally different bike. Ride was better, traction was better and no more flats. Rode mostly at hatfield mccoy trails. I didn't really notice much difference in the low down torque compared to the bighorns. I could still hit 78 but it took a little longer to get there. For me, the durability of the tire was well worth the trade off of the loss of acceleration. I was still the one in the group that had to wait on everyone. Heh heh.

VenomLightning

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 13, 2015

Thx,, will check that out, I believe the Grizz has more GC in stock form

jeffoutty800

· #12 · Apr 13, 2015

No problem. I rode Taylor park one week back in 09' FANTASTIC scenery, but wow is it rocky there. They don't call them the Rocky Mountains for nothing!

VenomLightning

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 13, 2015

I haven't gotten out too much since I moved here, a few times with the Grizz, me and my brother went to Rocky Run Trail and Taskers Gap in Va last Nov, that was rocky, more small stuff but my bro has a Wolverine so he had it worse than me....my Reptiles did pretty good, the power/tq on the Outty is just amazing, throttle is touchy but I love it.

jeffoutty800

· #14 · Apr 13, 2015

I called the throttle the happy button. Farther I mashed it, the happier I got. Ha

VenomLightning

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 13, 2015

Were those Pitbull's around 27" or 26" when aired up to your riding preference, did you gain any GC??? Thx

Scubasonic

· #16 · Apr 13, 2015

I found with my Outty 1000 2015 I went to 27-9-12 on front and 27-11-12 on back couldn't go any wider on stock rims.

flashmann

· #17 · Apr 13, 2015

jmason said:
I second the Grim Reapers and add the Dirt Commanders to the list of favorites. I own both (both made by GBC) and they are a smooth running radial that is about as indestructible a tire as you will find. As to the weight comment, you will never notice the differerence between a 6 ply and an 8 ply tire, but an 8 ply will be more resistant to punctures and wear longer. Ive ran both the above mentioned tires HARD for several years and never had a flat out of either tire. We run the black and black and red trails at the Rock House and other places at HM, their performance is simply amazing.

Dirt Commanders on the Renegade and Grim Reapers on the Rincon

Not to hijack this thread, while I am running GBC Grim Reapers on my three gades, which I absolutely love, anybody have any input on the GBC Spartacus? At the going rate, I will never ever wear out the
the reapers, but when I do, I was thinking of the Spartacus...

Rockhead

· #18 · Apr 13, 2015

The one thing about going with a tougher tire is, the ride quality often suffers but not always. You can run lower pressure. I have the Kenda HTRs and they are apparently 8 ply and no issues with ride quality or even the weight of the tires. The sizing is closer to true to size with them. OEM measure less then 25 inches new at 6 psi. Almost any manufacturers 26 will give you more clearance than OEM.
I ride a lot on wet sharp rocky hilly, muddy terrain, and so far so good with the HTRs.

jeffoutty800

· #19 · Apr 13, 2015

VenomLightning said:
Were those Pitbull's around 27" or 26" when aired up to your riding preference, did you gain any GC??? Thx

They measured 26.5 and maybe half inch over the 26" bighorns.

jeffoutty800

· #20 · Apr 13, 2015

IMO the rockers rode better than the bighorns. Tire just forms itself around rocks or roots or whatever was thrown at it

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