Bighorns are out. Dirt Tamer? Bearclaws? HELP ME

Grizzcrazy said:

I want to start by saying I am so frustrated. The Bighorns are out, so I need some other tire options. I ride sand, two track trails, and snow. Lite mud every now and then. I mess in the rock, but really I like the sand around it more. So ignore rock riding. I need help, aside from bighorns, what are the top three tires for me? What are the problems/disadvantages with all of them. I want details because I only want to do this once.

Click to expand...

Yeah, it's a hard decision especially when you do not have unlimited funds to experiment with $400+ on tires alone. To be more help, knowing what you're realistic maximum budget is will really narrow the field. For me, I knew for sure that I wanted radials, I decided a few months ago that I wanted wides all the way around and that meant over fenders, and I knew that I was not happy with the stock wheels. I had a total budget of under $1000.00 for the whole shebang. I was able to do it, and all of the reviews and people I know gave the thumbs up to the HTR Bear Claws.
I'm pretty sure any of the all terrain tires in 26 x 10 and 26 x 9 will fit with no issues on you're stock wheels and offset. For sand, gravel, a little mud, and some rock the Bear Claws, Dirt Tamers, Zillas, and original Big Horns would all be good choices. Then it comes down to budget. What do other riders in you're area run? Are there any local dealers that would tell you what the most popular tire they sell is? Around here it's the Bear Claws and ITP Mudlite XTR's. Hope this helps a little.

Ok. Budget is $400 tops. Looking at 26inch. I might have to bend a little but not much or I will break. The closest dealer is 90miles away and in very different type of country. Sooo, not really. Never really looked into the Zillas. I would want to get 27's though. That way they are about 26inch. @mainehunter neighbor runs claws and Bighorns
Loves both tires. The claws are on the plow machine. Gets around great in on foot deep snow and not a ruff ride in the summer. Seems they handle it all. I will have to ask some other guys. I don't know if anybody runs zillas. My wheels look better than stock Yamaha wheels. If I had stock I would be getting wheels and tires. @Vincent the reason Bighorns are out is because I need new tires on my truck and that hit my budget on atv tires. So while I would love a set of BigHorns or Pitbulls. I just can't afford them. Well, I might but I would not be able to get food, clothes, you know, the little stuff. Lol. I really like the claws, and honestly, they are about the only tire I haven't heard problems with. Looking to get lots of guys going on here.

Grizzcrazy said:

Ok. Budget is $400 tops. Looking at 26inch. I might have to bend a little but not much or I will break. The closest dealer is 90miles away and in very different type of country. Sooo, not really. Never really looked into the Zillas. I would want to get 27's though. That way they are about 26inch. @mainehunter neighbor runs claws and Bighorns
Loves both tires. The claws are on the plow machine. Gets around great in on foot deep snow and not a ruff ride in the summer. Seems they handle it all. I will have to ask some other guys. I don't know if anybody runs zillas. My wheels look better than stock Yamaha wheels. If I had stock I would be getting wheels and tires. @Vincent the reason Bighorns are out is because I need new tires on my truck and that hit my budget on atv tires. So while I would love a set of BigHorns or Pitbulls. I just can't afford them. Well, I might but I would not be able to get food, clothes, you know, the little stuff. Lol. I really like the claws, and honestly, they are about the only tire I haven't heard problems with. Looking to get lots of guys going on here.

Click to expand...

@Grizzcrazy, that all makes perfect sense. @grizzlyuk just commented on on another thread that he loves his bearclaws. All comments I have seen on them have been positive. I have not heard a lot about tire wear, so I would take that to mean that no one is unhappy with that. The 26x11 radials are $96.00 each plus $5.00 each shipping on Dennis Kirk. The 9" and 10" widths are less. They measure 26.4" inflated. The Kenda Bear Claw Evo's are another great choice, non-radial but an updated version of the original Bear Claw. BTW, the original K299 Bear Claw has been in continuous production for going on 30 years I think, so they have to be doing something right. If you are not dead set on radials, you can get some damn good tires for under $70.00 each. If you are set on radials like I was, the K587 Kenda Bear Claw HTR is going to be awfully hard to beat with a price tag under $400 for the set in your size. I would have personally preferred to purchase and American made tire like the Big Horns, but this time around I just could not do it. We did not expect to be paying off over $7000.00 insurance deductible for my wife's cancer treatments this year(all clear by the way)!

Kinda thinking like Ridgway, looking for gently used or new take offs, not sure what tire you are running now, and what is the driving force to buy a tire, or switch from current tire, or maybe you are in the wise informational gathering stage before spending cash. I am glad to hear the wife’s health is good, the rest of this pales in the decision tree of importance.

Truck tires, are a priority, gotta deal with that. Maybe we should be talking about good quality Chinese truck tires that we have succes with, I am running a set now, bought for the good price, will look at brand when go out, zero degrees, no hurry. Then that might free up some cash for your best ATV tire choice, and if you want to buy a set and be done with it for the life of your machine, there is only one choice, and you are trying hard to eliminate that one.....lol.

So, have the Chinese made a Bighorn knock off tire yet? Other curiosity, is how much is a set of Bighorns in 26” vs all of the other considered choices?

Before anybody bust my chops on buy American, I have four sets of Original Bighorns, all the Grizzlies and the Rzr, My tire store recommended the Chinese tires for the Ford f 150.