I grew up on a farm in the late 70's and early 80's. Few of our neighbors had what we had......a 3 wheeler! We were the envy of many of our school friends when we told stories of riding our ATV on mud trails or through deep snow. Today, an ATV is a must on any farm or ranch. In fact, the ATV and UTV segment is one of the fastest growing markets in the country.
Directly proportional with the explosion of numerous ATV Makes and Models, has been an equal increase in styles and sizes of ATV Tires. So why so many different ATV Tires? Because these machines are designed for racing, working on the farm and ranch, taking a Sunday drive, hauling an Elk off the side of a mountain, plowing through knee deep snow, crawling through mud fields, and just about any type of activity you can think of! Pick an activity, and there is an ATV tire for you today!
There are four basic categories of ATV Tires. All Terrain tires, Mud, Race, and finally Sand ATV tires. All terrain tires are the most abundant and probably the most popular. They will last the longest and ride the best because they are not designed with huge lugs, but rather moderate tread design. Examples of this type of ATV Tire are the Carlisle 489.
Mud ATV tires are used in Mud terrains obviously. These tires have very aggressive lugs which are great for Mud, but hard on the back when used for trail riding due to their rough ride. These tires tend to wear much faster than less aggressive All Terrain types. Examples of this type of ATV tire are the Mud Wolf by Carisle, Kenda Executioner, ITP Mudlite, and many, many more.
Race tires are built for speed and for dirt tracks. I talk to numerous customers each day on the phone. It is always fun for me to talk with the Quad racers, because they are passionate about their tires! I find that a racer that is seeking a specific tire, will not be talked into another brand or style of the same size....they like what they like.....period! Once again, there are numerous brands and styles to choose from, but the most popular at our store are ITP Holeshots, Titan Fast Trekkers, and the Carlisle Fast Trax.
The final segment and becoming more popular each day, is the Sand ATV Tires. These tires are specifically designed for.......you guessed it.......the sand. Rear tires have paddles that help the Quad accelerate rapidly in the loose sand, while the front tires are fairly smooth with the exception of a center "fin" that helps the Quad steer. Some rear Sand ATV tires have a required "Right" and "Left" tread design, so make sure you understand what you are ordering if purchasing on-line. If you're not sure, it is always best to speak with a sales specialist prior to buying.
Well, this is quite simply a short story on why there are so many darn ATV Tires available today! I plan on writing about the many choices some of the main ATV tire brands offer in the future. Until next time, enjoy the outdoors on your ATV!!
For more information, check out our online store at www.smalltires.com
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