Best tires for snow? Big Red 250...

[cosmohawk]

Hey guys...and gals...

I think it's safe to say that I do most of my riding in the winter, once the ground is well frozen and there's a good snowpack. My old Red has the original Ohtsu factory tires...but I haven't really found them all that good in the deep stuff. As long as there's a crust...it floats well...but if it breaks through...you're done.

I'm just wondering if anyone out there can give me some tire reccomendations? Seems like all they want to sell me are the Kenda Bearclaws (sixe 25x12x9)...but I'm looking for something with more of a chevron tread pattern, and high flotation with low tire psi.

Thanks for any info...pics to come...:p

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=107479&d=1287499675

[wisconsinite]

the tires i've got on my sx are pretty much like the old woolly booger tires, tractor type tread with some knobs mixed in. can't remember what brand they are i will check tomorrow. pretty good in snow. so far (knock on wood) i've only gotten stuck when i got high centered.

[harryredtrike]

best tires for snow are these

[Jerm1179]

my bear claws have yet to let me down

[ailll1]

best tires for snow are these

I dont think they would the best for BR. They only make 22'' 4snow. BR stock size tire is 25x12-9 so it would lose some ground clearance even with the expansion of the tires, but still they might do great.

[3wheelsinPA]

Mud busters are pretty good for all year round: http://www.gbctires.com/mud_buster.htm
For some massive cleats, Dirt Devil's aren't bad: http://www.gbctires.com/dirt_devil_ii.htm

Both are available in your size for roughly $75 USD.

[rbaral233]

ive got the dirt devils on my BR, last year was my first winter with them and they didnt let me down one bit i never had an issue... theyre a win in my book

[Mr_RPM]

I dont think they would the best for BR. They only make 22'' 4snow. BR stock size tire is 25x12-9 so it would lose some ground clearance even with the expansion of the tires, but still they might do great.

agreed.

have you tried airing down your stock tires?
finding 25inch tires in the size you need doesn't leave much of a choice.
the ITP Mudlite seems to be a favorite for your size. any mud tires thats not overly aggressive will work good. you just don't want something that will just dig yourself in a hole and weigh a ton.

[cosmohawk]

Thanks for the info guys...

I was looking at some Goodyear tires...but I don't think they make them anymore...and probably not in the size I need. Maybe something along the lines of the Rawhide Terra...or similar...

Yeah, the Bearclaws are going to be 25 x 12.5 x 9

http://live.eastbaytire.com/m/gdyr/atv/RAWHIDE-TERRA-LG.gif
http://live.eastbaytire.com/m/gdyr/atv/RUNAMUCK-LG.gif

[cosmohawk]

have you tried airing down your stock tires?

Yeah...aired them down to pretty much nothing, and it made the flotation better...but just looking for a combination of great traction and high flotation.

[hublake]

Hey guys...and gals...

I think it's safe to say that I do most of my riding in the winter, once the ground is well frozen and there's a good snowpack. My old Red has the original Ohtsu factory tires...but I haven't really found them all that good in the deep stuff. As long as there's a crust...it floats well...but if it breaks through...you're done.

I'm just wondering if anyone out there can give me some tire reccomendations? Seems like all they want to sell me are the Kenda Bearclaws (sixe 25x12x9)...but I'm looking for something with more of a chevron tread pattern, and high flotation with low tire psi.

Thanks for any info...pics to come...:p

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=107479&d=1287499675

If think that in snow that deep, if you break through the top curst you will have trouble with most tires. I

[wisconsinite]

107491
here's a pic of the tires on my sx. cheng shin 22x11x8. great in snow and mud.

[aldochina]

real nice bigred!! get the carlisle strykers, common tire, and good performance in mud and snow.

[Mr_RPM]

real nice bigred!! get the carlisle strykers, common tire, and good performance in mud and snow.

thats whats on my big red and had them on my 110 for a while. heavy, bullet proof, good traction. I agree they are a good tire. but they do digg a bit if your not careful in snow or mud. no big deal

not my first choice but a great affordable tire that will last a very long time

[Thorpe]

I have ITP Mudlites on my ES... Like them alot in the snow. Pushing the plow or dragging the portable icehouse on the lakes... It goes through alot of snow with them on there... Drug 200lbs of ice fishing stuff though (not over) 12-14 inches of powder on the lake, then uphill to the cabin. Spun every step of the way, but never got stuck!

[swifty]

id go with mudlites the es is a big heavy slow wheel speed tank you almost have to dig there not much staying on top or tread lightly with a big red just lean back hold the throttle open and let it eat!

[cosmohawk]

Great...thanks for the responses, and tire ideas. I was thinking ITP Mudlites at first, but never really liked them because every guy I know with a 4-wheeler has them on there.

Just kinda figured that there must be some better tires out there...only problem being finding the right size. Not a whole lot out there sized 25 x 12 x 9. Probably order something this week.

[Mr_RPM]

Great...thanks for the responses, and tire ideas. I was thinking ITP Mudlites at first, but never really liked them because every guy I know with a 4-wheeler has them on there.

Just kinda figured that there must be some better tires out there...only problem being finding the right size. Not a whole lot out there sized 25 x 12 x 9. Probably order something this week.

I'm the same way, I dont like what everyone else likes. music, cars, women, i like being different. lol
Part of why I like trikes

[Thorpe]

Come on now... The mudlites are sexy on a BR! :naughty: And they leave such cool looking prints in the snow!

[cosmohawk]

Come on now... The mudlites are sexy on a BR! :naughty: And they leave such cool looking prints in the snow!

Okay...alright there Mr. Showoff... : )

Yeah...they do look good on the BR...so does that plow...wouldn't mind having something like that around here.

Hmmmm...still shopping around, but I'm stuck in a cunumdrum...found some cool ones, but it looks like I might need to locate a mysterious set of 9" two-piece rims, 4-bolt to fit the BR hubs. Any ideas?

[pudge]

the 4 sno are best but wrong size, i have chen shin like wisconsinite and they are ok, my buddy has ITP mudlites and they blow mine away

[alinthepines]

I built them for awhile in Carlisle and I run em on my 200x in the winter! They make it in 25X12-9 the Carlisle Stryker is all about the chevron design and they r tuff as nails chen shin makes a cheaper version that r very close! Good Luck!

[Mr_RPM]

Okay...alright there Mr. Showoff... : )

Yeah...they do look good on the BR...so does that plow...wouldn't mind having something like that around here.

Hmmmm...still shopping around, but I'm stuck in a cunumdrum...found some cool ones, but it looks like I might need to locate a mysterious set of 9" two-piece rims, 4-bolt to fit the BR hubs. Any ideas?

why 2 piece rims? you just need a rim that fits on your hub pattern (4x110 i think......?) so a 9x9 (or a narrower 8 inch, so 9x8? im not sure what number goes first) rim with whatever offset you want with a 4x110 (or whatever the BR is) to go on the rear. now for the front thats a tricky part. finding a rim thats not offset for the front is hard from what I understand. alot of guys have to use spacers and things. but just use the stock front rim and find a tire that fits.

[Thorpe]

I had to make a .200" spacer on the front of mine....

[MorganHonda200!]

I have gators on mine and they work pretty good
but I think since you do more winter driving I would go with the ITP Mudlites

[cosmohawk]

Okay...so this is the sich'i'a'shun...

Just purchased a pair of vintage Ohtsu SP Wamulass tires (size 25 x 12 x 9) from a guy here on the site...but there were some unknowns as to whether the tires would fit the 1985 Big Red 9" rims or not...if the tires were meant for a 2-piece rim, or 1-piece rim...still unknown.

Asked the local Honda dealership if they thought the tires would fit the 9" 1-piece Big Red rims...a couple of guys thought yes...even with the obviously large-sized tire bead, which almost looks like it's meant to be sandwiched together...not really a conventional bead.

Long story short...tires are on their way...and I'm gunna try my best to squeeze them onto the rims I've got, and seat the beads...just not sure if I'll be able to get the rim through-and-through the tire...whadd'ya think...possible?

Here's what I've found so far...picture of the Ohtsu tires purchased, and the optional tires available for sale from the 1985 Hondaline Accessories Brochure...

I think they're the same Ohtsu Wamulass tires...or at least they have the same tread pattern.

Think the tires will work?

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=107660&d=1287704656

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=107659&d=1287704652

[Thorpe]

Looks to me like they would work on the stock steel wheels....

[Mr_RPM]

to bad they dont make tires like that anymore.

[atvnut]

I agree with thorpe, best overall, reasonably priced winter trail tire mudlight ...and they are light enough to ride year round, yet puncture resistant

[D-dub]

25'' Wooley Boggers work really good

[rkoley1]

I'm gonna see how the carlisle trailwolfs work in snow this year, big heavy wide tires, tread is almost 14 inches wide, deep tread should eat up some snow,available in 25x12x9

[cosmohawk]

Well...after all is said and done...and through some serious doubt and the unknown of purchasing vintage tires...I've got some great news!

SUCCESS!!! Brought a tire and rim to the local Honda dealership, and showed it to one of my fave parts guys (who has a pristine 200x I've been trying to get off of him for a couple years now, I might add). He took it out back and showed the shop guys...see what they think...if the tires could be mounted to a 1-piece 9" rim.

They still weren't sure if they could do it without wrecking the tire in the process. So I thanked them for their time, and walked out the door frustrated and somewhat disappointed in myself for not doing more research, and thinking to myself that I just wasted good money that could have been used to buy a brand new set of Kenda Bearclaws (25 x 12.5 x 9). Ah well...too bad so sad.

So I thought about it some more, and after close inspection of the tires (specifically the rugged-ass tire bead), I somehow fluked upon sticking my fingers up inside the tire and folded out the inner bead...only to find an inner super-tough woven ring on both sides. Hmmmmmm? I thought...they do come out...and if they can be taken out, that would allow the bead to flex even more. So out they came, and tonight I committed myself to attempting to mount one tire on the rim. Lubed the beads well with WD40, and had the tires at room temp. THUNK! got the rim inside the tire...flipped it over, and tried to get the other bead over them rim...and with some brute force, a couple tire irons and more WD40...THUNK! Whola! Tire is on the rim! Put the air to it...POP! POP! both beads seated...and brought it up to pressure...around 10 psi. WICKED TICKET! Tire started to round out and take shape...no more square and flat.

So...long story short...both tires mounted. SUCCESS!

Here are some pics of the tires, comparison to the stock originals, and those woven rings I mentioned.

I`m sooooooo happy these worked out afterall! : ) Bring on the snow! How do you spell FLOTATION!

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=108673
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=108674
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=108672
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=108671
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=108670

[Auto_Demon]

i have these tires on my 83 250r best in everything!!!

[Auto_Demon]

the chen shing