Mountain Sport-Tire Test

Producing a machine that is expected to perform for everyone, in all conditions, is the impossible task facing OEM ATV manufacturers. The result is often an ATV that works well but is ultimately a compromise. In trying to be all things to all people, the four-wheelers we purchase off showroom floors inevitably come up short in one category or another. Manufacturing agreements, company politics and budget constraints all dictate the decisions that affect the final product. Fortu-nately, the aftermarket industry has come to our aid in testing and manufacturing products that offer almost limitless options in how we configure our machines.

Chances are you've met the guy who spends a small fortune on go-fast engine mods but neglects the rest of his ATV. He ends up with a high-speed but marginal-handling rocket ship. Displacement is our dear friend but only up to the point at which we can put that power to the ground effectively. Suspension setup plays a key role here, but ultimately tires are the last connection between our ride and the ground. With so many options available and all the manufacturers claiming to have the best solution, whom can you believe?

Almost a year ago we contacted some of the most-popular tire companies and told them about our plans to test tires in the rugged mountains of North Carolina. The terrain there is terribly rocky and offers mud, roots and even the occasional snowdrift. We would be running a bone-stock Arctic Cat 400 DVX and a modified Kawa-saki KFX400 and wanted to try several different tire configurations, including those that would give more ground clearance. Flats are a particular problem here, so durability would weigh in as importantly as handling.

We have since logged enough miles on each to be satisfied with our ability to comment intelligently. Our testing schedule included the Steele Creek GNCC race in Morganton, hundreds of miles of local trails and several outings on a natural-terrain MX course. Each set was rated for its durability, weight, price and handling ability. The handling variable was comprised of three components: braking, sliding ability and traction. We plugged these numbers into our top-secret and highly accurate tire-scoring equation to reach an overall score.

Each tire was run at the manufacturer's recommended air pressure, and while some tires included in this test are not OEM sizes, we attempted to determine whether the greater clearance was worth any instability caused by changing the ride height. A word of caution: We must tell you that using tire sizes not recommended by the manufacturer is not suggested. Also, be sure you never mix radial and bias-ply tires.

Dunlop KT161 Front/KT165 Rear

A very aggressive and responsive set of tires--while the competition was close, these were clearly a top pick. Dunlop's engineers have surely done their homework, and they have the product to prove it. These tires offered superb handling in all testing conditions. Through rocks, roots, mud and off-camber nastiness, these are the tires to have. Based on many miles of riding, we enthusiastically recommend the KT161/KT165 combo for woods or track racing. Their light weight allowed for noticeably faster acceleration than some of the heavier tires in our test, and despite their light construction, we never experienced any trouble with flats. On the downside, these tires exhibited noticeable rolling of the tread edges after just a few miles of rocky trail. If you ride in similar terrain, expect them to wear out relatively quickly.

Size (f/r): 22x7-10/20x10-9
Weight (f/r): 11.05/12.65 lb
Price (f/r): $73.29/$76.69
Wear: * * *
Weight: * * * * *
Price: * * * ½
Handling: * * * * ½
Overall: * * * * ½

Dunlop KT821/KT865

A wonderful set of tires for the style of riding we do and our specific test conditions. The faster we went, the better these tires performed. The fronts seem to fight each other a little compared with other Dunlop meat, but speed appears to resolve the problem. Speaking of speed, these tires offer extraordinary stopping power should you need to get on the brakes quickly. The KT865 rears were disappointing in the rocks and tended to slip rather than grip. While these are on the light side and have very thin sidewalls, we did not have any trouble with flats. Studying some of the other tires, we wondered whether reversing the tread pattern would help with our traction issues.

Size (f/r): 22x8-10/21x11-9
Weight (f/r): 12.4/14.75 lb
Price (f/r): $66.95/$94.95
Wear: * * * *
Weight: * * * *
Price: * * *
Handling: * * * ½
Overall: * * * ½

GBC Dirt Devil

These were the heaviest tires in our group. The fronts felt sluggish in the rocks and seemed to have a mind of their own; they searched and deflected off every obstacle, requiring a great deal of effort to keep the machine on its intended course. Both tires wanted to follow the ruts. As expected, these devils were excellent in sloppy sections and made child's play of navigating through mud holes. As a result of their heftiness, several aspects of the machine's handling were affected negatively. We immediately felt the drag on the machine's acceleration, especially on the stock DVX. Unless you have a modified engine, the stock 400 motor will struggle pulling these tires. Once you are under way, you can feel the tire's inertia--producing a flywheel-type effect--which makes the Cat brake slower and require more rider effort to keep things under control while you slow down. Finally, we noticed a considerable effect on the suspension: Response was affected over bumps, forcing the quad to kick sometimes and pack down at other times. Racers go to great lengths to lighten their machines to reduce unsprung weight; these tires were just too heavy for a sport machine such as the DVX/KFX and for our riding conditions. If you live where there is lots of mud, they might be an excellent choice. We look forward to running them when there is snow and slop covering the ground; otherwise, they will collect dust the rest of the year.

Size (f/r): 22x8-10 6-ply/22x11-9 6-ply
Weight (f/r): 16.92/23.47 lb
Price (f/r): $50.95/$65.99
Wear: * * * *
Weight: * *
Price: * * * * ½
Handling: * * *
Overall: * * * ½

ITP Holeshot XC

Handled exceptionally well for a 22-inch tire, especially at high speed. Cornered well and felt remarkably agile for its weight. These tires gripped better in the rocks than other mud rubber but not quite as well as the Dunlops or Maxxis Razrs. The Holeshot XCs were completely at home in soft loam and sandy soil. It was fun to watch test riders corner as these tires completely shredded through the turns, giving terrific drive on the exit. We were impressed with how well they wore and would recommend them for really rocky terrain. Pricey, but depending on your needs, they might be well worth it. We would love to test these tires in a 20-inch configuration.

Size: 22x11-9 6-ply (rear)
Weight: 22.87 lb
Price: $105.95
Wear: ****
Weight: **½
Price: **
Handling: ****
Overall: ***½

ITP Mudlite

We were surprised and delighted with how agile they felt for a mud-compound tire. While prone to following ruts as the GBC Dirt Devils did, the Mudlites handled remarkably well in the rocks. They offered a surprising amount of grip and showed a normal amount of wear after significant abuse. We couldn't pinpoint anything these tires were particularly good at aside from sloppy conditions, but they are certainly not underachievers. Not a bad choice if you are planning to ride in a lot of mud--some weight savings over both the ITP Hole-shots and Dirt Devils.

Size: 22x11-9 6-ply (rear)
Weight: 20.4 lb
Price: $63.29
Wear: * * * ½
Weight: * * ½
Price: * * * *
Handling: * * * ½
Overall: * * *

Kenda Klaw XCF Front/XCR Rear

The front Klaws were not as responsive as other tires, making for slow steering. They did, however, hold up to punishment in the rocks exceptionally well. Once we discovered these tires' hidden talent for the rough stuff, we made a point of seeking out some of the worst sections of trail. We found the tires worked well in the harshest of sections without deflecting in a manner that would typically upset the direction of your quad. The Klaws are a great choice for fast riding on rock-strewn trails. We were never comfortable with the vague feeling they offered--as if we were riding with two giant marshmallows attached to our front rims. Our rear tires provided good traction and predictable sliding, but overall, this combination of front and rear tires just didn't feel right. They seemed to wallow in a way that gave the sensation of trying to balance on top of a log in water. One thing you'll notice about Kenda tires is they are true to their size--meaning a size-22 tire has an outside diameter of 22 inches compared with, say, the 22-inch ITPs, which actually measure 21 inches. As such, the Kendas offered the most ground clearance but also rubbed against the fender mounts on hard landings. Overall, they showed poor handling when used on the DVX.

Size (f/r): 22x7-10/22x11-9
Weight (f/r): 11.6/18.17 lb
Price (f/r): $76.69/$94.19
Wear: * * * ½
Weight: * * *
Price: * * *
Handling: * * ½
Overall: * * *

Kenda Knarly Rear

The Knarly is a sturdy 6-ply tire, but with its strength comes significant weight. While not the heaviest of the bunch, it ranked fourth from the top in the heft category. We ran these tires with the Kenda Klaw XCF fronts. We never became comfortable with how the Knarlys worked on the 400s. They didn't slide well and made the machine feel very top-heavy. They pro-vided good traction in the rocks but were just awful on off-camber root-covered sections, which are common in this part of the country. On several occasions we stopped on hillsides, and the Knarlys had a difficult time finding a grip compared with all of the other tires. We would not recommend them for use on our 400 test machines, but we would be interested in seeing how a lower-profile model of the same design would do.

Size: 22x11-9 (rear)
Weight: 18.35 lb
Price: $62
Wear: * * * ½
Weight: * * *
Price: * * * *
Handling: * * ½
Overall: * * *

Maxxis M943/M944 iRazr Radials

If too much traction could be a bad thing, then these tires would win the award for it. We found the iRazrs could hook up practically everywhere, requiring us to always be on the alert when punching the gas. In spots in which other tires would slip, the iRazrs would grab and loft the front wheels; these are incredibly sticky tires. The outstanding traction actually prevented the front tires from tracking as well as anticipated partially because of the light front end. These tires provide one of the smoothest rides in this bunch. Incredible traction just about everywhere did affect our ability to slide, which was important when negotiating some of the tighter mountain trails. Make no mistake: These are excellent woods tires--you just need to get used to them. The iRazr has a much lower profile than other Razr models, which did slide considerably better, by the way.

Size (f/r): 21x7-10 6-ply/20x11-9 6-ply
Weight (f/r): 11.9/17.3 lb
Price (f/r): $93.07/$107.95
Wear: * * * *
Weight: * * * *
Price: * *
Handling: * * * *
Overall: * * * *

Maxxis M931/M932 Razr

These tires performed remarkably well in soft terrain but quickly lost our confidence in the rocks. They handled especially poorly in sections containing roots or any kind of off-camber slipperiness. The Razr front meat did not corner as expected and often broke free without warning. Under heavy braking, these tended to skid more than the other tires in this test. The rear Razrs slid predictably and steered well using power. We found the Razr difficult to mount when compared with others. This is one tough tire at a very reasonable price. Available in both 4- and 6-ply ratings.

Size (f/r): 22x7-10 6-ply/20x11-9 6-ply
Weight (f/r): 11.55/16.35 lb
Price (f/r): $76/$85
Wear: * * *
Weight: * * * *
Price: * * *
Handling: * * *
Overall: * * *

Maxxis M933/M934 Razr2

A sturdy tire that handled exceptionally well in the rocks and at speed but was unpredictable in slick conditions. Designed specifically for GNCC use, this tire is terrific for all kinds of fast-paced woods riding but warrants caution around anything sloppy. Our first impression of the front tire's tread pattern was that of complete skepticism, but that was quickly put to rest a few miles down the trail. The Razr2s go where you point them and offer remarkable braking power. These tires provide a smoother ride than most with the cost of feeling somewhat heavy. Our test tires showed very little wear after lots of use, so you can expect these sneakers to last. If you can stomach the price, we think you will find these to be terrific tires for woods riding and racing.

Size (f/r): 22x7-10 6-ply/20x11-9 6-ply
Weight (f/r): 13.35/18.15 lb
Price (f/r): $104.44/$113.13
Wear: * * * * *
Weight: * *
Price: * * ½
Handling: * * * *
Overall: * * * *

Ohtsu H-Trak M/R 101 Front Radial & H-Trak M/R 501 Rear Radial

Our Ohtsu test tires exhibited signs of wear almost immediately. After just one short trail ride, the knobs were rolling and had experienced some chunking. While offered at a very reasonable price, they could prove expensive to run depending on how and where you ride. Two hours into testing, a front tire blew out from a sidewall puncture. This was repeated days later on the opposing front side. When you consider the M/R 101s have the thinnest sidewalls and are the lightest of the batch, it is easy to understand why. Unless you enjoy plugging tires, we would not recommend these for rock-infested trails. We did manage to sneak out to a local MX track and can therefore attest to their terrific manners in the soft stuff. Overall, the Ohtsus offer good traction and handling and the ability to stop on a dime. Out of all of the tires, these were some of the easiest to mount. If you've never heard of Ohtsu, just visit your local Honda dealer--in fact, that's the only place you can buy them. Ohtsu tires are original equipment for Honda's TRX250R and TRX400EX models.

Size (f/r): 22x7-10/20x10-9
Weight (f/r): 10.79/13.15 lb
Price (f/r): $58.99/$57.99
Wear: * *
Weight: * * * * *
Price: * * * * ½
Handling: * * * *
Overall: * * * *