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Posted by: lafngas
I have 26 inch 589's on my 450 Kodiak and in the deep mud in reverse is the only time I feel a power loss thats a lot of tire and the kodiak uses high gear in reverse ( why, I will never know.......). I did a few power mods to make up as much power as I could. With the big tire on it will do about 53 mph and with the stock tires and wheels it will do 58 mph. this is proven by my GPS.
Posted by: lafngas
yeah, there is always an upgrade that I wish I had. I bought it because of the diff-lock, theres a lot of machines that don't even offer that! I am keeping my eye on that Brute Force thats coming out! A friend of mine has a 05 700 prarie on order as we speak so I will be looking forward to trying that out!
Posted by: AJC629
kodiakowner, how do you like the claws? I just put the 25s on my Vinson but haven't had them out yet? How is the tread life on those?
Posted by: AJC629
I ride a Vinso, and chose to stick with the 25" claws for that same reason. I was afraid of losing the lowend "pep" and since I ride 6000 feet elevation frequently I chose the Dalton clutch kit to recoup the loss in power due to the elevation AND heavier tires than stock. Very happy with them so far. Unfortunately can't seem to find any good mudholes.
Posted by: KodiakOwner
I was told that you can go to 26's without affecting any of the ratios. Personally, I will stick with 25's. I cant justify buying a taller size to do the same thing that my bearclaw 25's will do.
The manufacturers do a lot of testing to figure out the best all around tire size to put on their bikes when you get them. otherwise they would come with 27"s or 28"s, you know?
Mud lites are a big seller. bigger than 26's will affect your differential and drive train on any bike. Meaning that you will need more torque to spin the bigger rubber. You can always go and get a clutch kit to fix this problem, like on the bigger machines such as the grizzly 660. ( I'm not sure if they make clutch kits for kodiaks???)
bigger rubber may rub in places that you dont want it to. like when you turn and such.
Im sure more people will reply back saying they put big tires on their machine, but at what cost? Replacing bearings, tie rod ends, axles, a few years down the road????
Its totally up to you and the choice is yours. Hope I gave you another thing to consider.
Posted by: KodiakOwner
The best thing I like about them is the availability of after market parts for the kodiaks. The switchable 4x4 to 2wd is really nice too. The belt drive system and clutch braking is the best system on the market in my opinion.
Posted by: KodiakOwner
Tread Life. Heres the story.
Im 22. My father bought his 99 or 98 kodiak 400 used (manual shift before they made the automatics) in 2001. It came with the bearclaws when we got it. The person he bought the quad from had placed the same exact tires on his big bear (1997 b.b. S.E.) then put them onto the kodiak 400. we bought it from him with the tires. Now I have a kodiak 450 and have put the original bearclaws onto my 450. Thats the third quad these bearclaws have been on.
I had a plug put into my right front tire yesterday. Not too bad eh?
Keep in mind that we hardly ever use them on roads, gravel or paved. we ride bush trails, mud, etc but I dont do much rock crawling, unless they are in my way and theres no other away around them. That just goes to show you something can last if its not abused. Take care of them and they will take care of you.
Posted by: KodiakOwner
lafngas,,
Doesnt it just bite your ass that yamaha put the override switch on the 04? then IRS on the 05?
kinda pisses me off, but i dont think I will trade up just yet.
Posted by: KodiakOwner
Just watch, when you thought it couldnt get any better they will throw a gps or something on it for 06.
Posted by: KodiakOwner
I like some of this talk about the Bear Claws. I am looking hard at the claws my only concern is with the tread depth. I would like to stay with the stock 25" but would like the extra depth of the 26".
I would love to hear a few more thoughts on the Bear Claw. How do they ride on hard packed or even on a gravel road? Will they turn a little mud? They just look like a great all around tire for my part of the country.
They ride really well on te hardpack. Like I said earlier, I have 25's and like them. After having them on 3 other quads its almost time to replace them. They still have tread but I would like to get some new rubber on the front rims.
25x 12'12 on rear and 10x8s on the front
Posted by: KodiakOwner
Id like to see the honda but you have no pics up?
Posted by: KodiakOwner
Ah you post nine posts. you have much to learn young gwasshoppa.
Posted by: atv123
For a decent mud & trail tire, I'd go w/ the ITP 589s or the Mudlites. If you've got performance mods, you may be able to spin 26s, but if not, I'd say go for the stock size 25 (I think).
Posted by: kawasaskirules
dirt devils
Posted by: Gianni
I would like to know what the guys who have Kodiaks like the best. I am in Ohio and ride in a wide range of conditions. Also, is it best to keep the stock tire size or go larger. Thanks
Posted by: Gianni
Kodiak killer not.
Must be nice to have all that free time at work Vinny.
Gianni- Don't come into the thread a try and stir a contoversary. If you can't respond in a helpful way, then don't post at all. Dan Forum Moderator
Posted by: Lomax
I just put 27-12-12 Claws all the way around on my Big Bear. In the Real Gooey mud, If you dont keep them spinning they tend to pack up a little bit more than i like, they ride very good for and agressive tire, they dont seem to have the "headshake" that my dads Mudlites have at slow speeds and i have had a pair previously ona 2wd quad so i already know that they are going to last forever. I would recomend then to anyone who wants a tire than can do it all without giving up to much of one thing to do another.
Posted by: Lomax
This went from a good thread about tire recommendations to insulting one anothers machines in only 17 posts, Hard to figure out how talking about Tires went to Mine is better than yours, This was a thread about TIRES and Recommendations, If you want to start something about how you think your machine is better than everyone else's on earth, Make a new thread.
Posted by: Lomax
Well in some of the other Forums when insults out of nowhere come about then everyone gets upset over it. I figured the same thing would happen in here so i just was taking a shot before it got started. If noone in this forum really cares though.... Let the trash talking Begin!!!
Posted by: Lomax
Well I gave the Bear Claws a good test this weekend. I was happy with there overall performance. When i got in the nastiest mud i could have used a more aggressive tire ( something with a little more sidebite ). I normally try to stay out of the worst stuff so that wont be a real common problem for me. There was also alot of hardpack and they rode very well for a tire of that size ( 27-12-12 ) and didnt have a tendancy to "walk" all over the trail.
Oh and we can find you plenty of mud if you so desire to drive off in it.
Posted by: freetrapper
I like some of this talk about the Bear Claws. I am looking hard at the claws my only concern is with the tread depth. I would like to stay with the stock 25" but would like the extra depth of the 26".
I would love to hear a few more thoughts on the Bear Claw. How do they ride on hard packed or even on a gravel road? Will they turn a little mud? They just look like a great all around tire for my part of the country.
Posted by: freetrapper
I had decided on the 26" Bear Claws with my second option being 26" Dirt Devils. As I have brand new stock tires and am having a hard time convencing my wife I need new ones already I had not bought anything yet. Then I met a fellow with a set of Dirt Devils and we worked a great deal. So due to the great deal on the Dirt Devils that will be my next tire. I will have them on soon and will give you all a report.
Posted by: freetrapper
I do not mind trash talking if they start a thread for it. But lets keep a tire thread to tires.
Posted by: freetrapper
Back to tire talk,
Decided on the 26" Dirt Devil XT's and I just got them on my AC 500i and so far I really like them. Have not got out to the farm (lots of creek riding with sharp, wet rocks and lots of loose plowed farm fields) or the trails (deep mud, loose & hard pack hills, faster trail riding) for a good test yet. So far I have had them out on the boys MX track and they handle great for that. We also have several mud pits that are rutted bad and have about 24" of good mud (will stick any sport quad and make most utilities use 4x4) and I can not even get them to slow down, I never even locked it in 4x4. I even tried getting crossed up in the ruts to stick them and could not.
As far as the ride goes I had them on hard pack gravel roads and asphalt at low speeds and up to 50+. They are as smooth as the stock radials at all speeds, or at least to close to tell the differance. They are a stiffer tire and the turning and high speed handeling is much better than stock.
Now for the only downfall ( so far anyway). Going from a stock 25" radial to the 26" XT they do rob a lot of power. I can still spin them over and I do not have problems but you can really tell the differance. For a lack of a better description I would say that they really take away the "pep" in the lower end.
So far they are a great and I think they will make the perfect all around tire for me but I will keep you posted as I test them out.
Posted by: freetrapper
Come on out we have a lot of mudholes this year. Been a real wet summer.
Posted by: ncdncd
Check out my Kodiak Killer
Posted by: Kodiakguy
Quote
Originally posted by: atv123
. If you've got performance mods, you may be able to spin 26s, but if not, I'd say go for the stock size 25 (I think).
I have no performance mods and mine spins 27'' fine. Sure, it takes a LITTLE power away, but it still pulls fine in the thick mud. But get whatever size fits you.
Posted by: Kodiakguy
I forgot to mention i have Mudbugs. With the outlaws or zillas, 26'' may be the way to go.
