Wheel Input sought

Hey Folks!!

I am debating tires on my Riot. I have ITP Holeshot SXS 25" tires on it now, I have also run the 26" GBC tires that came on it. I guess I am a perfectionist but I know for a fact, if you can't get the power to the ground, you won't win a thing...

Now the deep thinker questions!!

1. We run MX not short course really. I don't think the free spinning 25" short course tires work worth a darn!! Plus they lower the ride an inch which is sorely missed on a large jump!!

2. So, a 26" tire with better deep soil/ surface grip? That gives a better landing?

3. Or just go for broke with a 27"?

I think the tire flex on a 12" tire means a 14" would be better ( I rolled after hitting a deep rut this weekend)!!

There you go deep thinkers!! I MX race,what are the various qualities you have for tire choices? Gonna get this right!! Can't have then darn RZR's whole shotting me everytime!!

Not sure my response will help you........but it's a data point at least.

I run 26" Goodyears. They definately do not have the traction like a GBC. But they are very tough. Which is what I need for desert racing. I care more about toughness than traction. With the stock tires I rolled one off of the bead with stock wheels (no beadlocks). Stock tires actually had decent traction.

Aaron ran a set of Bighorns (27's) in the last race I was with him at. He said the traction was good and the top end was improved because he had a larger diameter. Plenty of engine to turn them. He SMOKED me in the last two laps (each lap about 45 minutes), beating me by 2 to 3 minutes per lap. And our setups were similar. He did not cut a tire either.

Short course racing is a different story, though. I think you want acceleration out of a turn with good grip. Means a softer tire compound with agressive tread design. Probably not taller than a 26". Probably should run a little larger wheel for less sidewall deflection to improve handling.

Just my random thoughts.

Great Input 4_by,

I get taken on the whole shot by the RZR's because I think I spin the wheels. On the wet sand track this weekend, the stock GBC's got me through the mud well. I unbeaded them in a deep rut and rolled on the side in practice. They are a 26" tire. I didn't get a chance to hole shot with them because I couldn't rebead them for the races.

The ITP Holeshot SXS spin up alot and actually on a dry track allow me to powerslide well in corners, which I like to do. But they suck outa the hole!! And you can't get them in a 14" rim......

I am leaning toward a 14" rim with a 26" or 27" tire with an aggressive tread. Contenders are
1. Interco swamp lite
2. ITP mud lite
3. ITP Terracross

I also need an 11" tire if possible out back because 12" are too wide and rub the trailing arm and 10" don't have enough contact patch.....


Keep them ideas coming folks!! Need your combined wisdom to polish off the Popo's down here!! LOL

How about a Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 ? A lighter version of the standard Bighorn, but still a 6 ply radial.
Rock Mountain has them ...

26x11x14 $109.99
26x9x14 $103.99

Bearfoot,
My question on the Bighorns, same as Terracross actually, I think a directional tread like the stock "afterburners" digs and accelerates better. I haven't ruled out 2.0's but kinda think that mixing directionals out back with maybe 2.0 in front may work...

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Hey Ronnie, I'm going to try something on my XL and I'll let you know how it works. I run MX and woods courses (GNCC style) out here and I'm having a similar problem. The Afterburners work great in the woods but on the hard pack MX course they get so much hook up they push me through the 180 turns and the RZR-S's gain quite abit of ground on me. I've tried 4by nuts advice of not powering through the turn but the RZRs are using 4 wheel drive and are able to turn much quicker. So I'm going to take the 14" rims with the Goodyear Rawhides off of my RZR and see if they will allow me to slide or drift around the corners and keep pace with the RZRs. I'm hoping for an advantage. Also do you have any race footage of your Riot from a spectators view?

SC,
I bought a set of 14" HiPer Racing Dakars and switched my 26" Terracross ITP's over to my Riot. Man, what a difference!! I had unbelievable hook up. Brought the holeshot down to about a length.

Great for the mud and sand tracks, but I still think that the Holeshot would be better on a hard pack track. The other thing I found, The 26" tire doesn't compromise ground clearance and for the MX racing we're doing that's as critical as hook up!!

I have a bit of video my Uncle shot from the stands. I'll see about getting a link today!!

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O.L.D. Racing Team- Proudly supporting:
Team Industries, Hiper Racing Wheels, Twisted Stitch Seats, Red Rock Powersports, Queen Racing Products, Tire Balls, Speedy Services A/C & Heating, Harmon Racing Cells, Big Gun Exhausts, Redline Performance Products, homeless Teddy Bears, three legged dogs, and various other weird stuff.

Okay folks,
I have a garage full of tires now, so I am prepared to write up my findings now. Been a long road and the wife thinks I'm opening a UTV tire shop!!

What I tried:
ITP Terra Cross
ITP Holeshot SXS
Maxxis Bighorn
Maxxis Bighorn 2.0
GBC Afterburner
Maxxis 4 Speed

Heres' what I'm running as my race setup in hardpack with some loose fill:
Maxxis Bighorn 2.0

I'll run the ITP Holeshot SXS on a really hard pack track, but they aren't the best on the holeshot. I'll also run a ITP Terracross on deep loosefill or mud. The Maxxis 4 speed's are trash, and the GBC Afterburners aren't a bad tire, but a bit narrow with too much sidewall flex.

I prefer a 14" tire in a 26" dimension for a few reasons. I like the extra height for the overall vehicle ride height. You can't have too much ride height on large jumps with collapsing suspension. The 14" also has less sidewall flex than the 12" so there's better cornering stability. I plan on shaking it up with a 25" Bighorn 2.0 in the rear withn a 26" in front just for cornering stability and tire spin up. The 25" tire is a few pounds lighter than the 26". This will just be another option to haul around if needed.

And that brings me to the most important aspect of the tire other than traction. Wheel weight!! Wheel weight equals rotating mass. That equals more ponies on heavier tires to launch similarly.I need the max traction on the lightest tires. I really wish ITP had a Terracross 2.0!! ITP tires are made in the USA and the Maxxis are Taiwan imports. Might be just me, but I like made in the USA better than made anywhere else. However, racing is racing and ITP just doesn't make my product yet. I'll wait patiently........

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O.L.D. Racing Team- Proudly supporting:
Team Industries, Hiper Racing Wheels, Twisted Stitch Seats, Red Rock Powersports, Queen Racing Products, Tire Balls, Speedy Services A/C & Heating, Harmon Racing Cells, Big Gun Exhausts, Redline Performance Products, homeless Teddy Bears, three legged dogs, and various other weird stuff.

Addendum:
I went riding at a place called Barnwell Mountain, Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area , it turns out that this park sits atop a hill and has multiple trails leading to the top and bottom. Essentially a rock crawlers paradise!! Had several bonafide rock crawling monsters out there.

The long and short, I was surprised at the articulation of the Riot!! Although it only has two wheel drive, the suspension articulation was such that I climbed everything I attempted, including a 4 of 5 rating jeep only trail. Long story, but I ended up with no option but to finish the job anyway!!LOL

To the tire option topic, the Bighorn 2.0's were flawless!! The ITP Terracross looks like I was trying to rip off lugs with vise grips!! So let's add durability to the Bighorn 2.0 on top of weight, traction on loose fill, and cornering performance.

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O.L.D. Racing Team- Proudly supporting:
Team Industries, Hiper Racing Wheels, Twisted Stitch Seats, Red Rock Powersports, Queen Racing Products, Tire Balls, Speedy Services A/C & Heating, Harmon Racing Cells, Big Gun Exhausts, Redline Performance Products, homeless Teddy Bears, three legged dogs, and various other weird stuff.

I have the standard Bighorns. I've been amazed how well they are wearing. One of the best tires out there. The 2.0 would have been a better choice. I think they're lighter.
I've lost a little top speed, but still hitting the 60's mph. With no BENT WHEELS!

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