Has anyone tried sand paddle tires in snow or mud?

[Nick_R_23]

I was thinking about getting a new set of tires for my Big Red. It will mainly be driven in mud and snow. Ive been looking at mudbugs mainly but I wondered if anyone had tried paddles in the mud or snow or how well you think they would work?

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[Liquid-Darkness]

I was wondering the same thing. I see some mud and wonder if some paddles would make me float over it.

[RichinMO]

I was at a mud bog competition a few years ago and there was a Tecate-4 there with sand paddles. He flew through the mud like it was nothing. I don't think the would have the same effect on a 4 stroke unless it was a high strung 450.

[icp4life162005]

With paddle's regardless of it being a four-stroke or not you would walk through any mud. Think of a paddle boat and tractor tires together. The only problem I see with it is tire related with wear and breakage but for that you would need to talk to an expirenced duner, try the glamis trikefest thread about four listings down from this one.

[350xBomb]

Ive done it in the snow....bout 10 or 12 inches, worked alright but you always get down to the dirt and it gets bumpy. I see motorcycles that do dirt hillclimbs will paddles all the time but thats just up and down a hill in competition...If you were gonna try muddin with em, Id try a hauler or something that can be re paddled so if ya rip one off perhaps it would be less likely to puncture the tire, just tear the paddle. but most sand tires arent very thick

[The_dew_man]

I have ran Kenda Gecko 21x11x9 on a 350x. they work decent in snow. on harder snow just enough so your 3 wheeler isnt falling through all the time they work great just like a snowmobile. I dont really ride in mud that much. but the few time i have they work good. never ran a mud tire before so i dont know how to compare them.

[RedRider_AK]

They seem like they'd be lighter than most mud tires, anyway...

[Nick_R_23]

Well Ill do a little more research before I get a set. For the mud trail, I need to ride 5 miles on dirt and less then 1/8 mile on paved road to get to there. Will that ruin the tires too quickly? Whatever tires I end up getting, the machine will be used strictly for mudding and swamp, so there will be minimal road driving. What is the biggest size paddle tire available closest to the stock size on a Red? I was also thinking if I dont get paddles I was looking at mudbugs, how to they do? I heard the ITP mudlites do real well, but i think the tread is ugly.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[tyman]

I've heard nothing but good things about mudlites... paddles might be a little rough on the dirt and pavement since the tread doesn't "blend" to the next lug like most other tires... up-down-up-down-up-down... good luck with whatever you get...

[Tri-ZNate]

just go get some realators and turn them around so its scooping instead of digging

[Preddy05]

I have never run any sand tires but i have seen people run the AMS zipper tires and they seem to go great in the snow not sure about mud but i would think they would go great there as well.

[Eric250R]

Well Ill do a little more research before I get a set. For the mud trail, I need to ride 5 miles on dirt and less then 1/8 mile on paved road to get to there. Will that ruin the tires too quickly? Whatever tires I end up getting, the machine will be used strictly for mudding and swamp, so there will be minimal road driving. What is the biggest size paddle tire available closest to the stock size on a Red? I was also thinking if I dont get paddles I was looking at mudbugs, how to they do? I heard the ITP mudlites do real well, but i think the tread is ugly.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

I actually just replied to this same thing in another thread, but here goes. I know most people really like the mudlites, but, they wear VERY quickly. And once they're about half worn, they might as well be bald. As far as paddles, I too have thought about it, but never tried it.

[ATC-Eric]

I agree, realators!!! Those tires wear like Iron! I have riden so much pavement with mine, lets just say they outlived the bike. Great in the mudd too. I had 30 foot rooster trails all the way down the trail.

[icp4life162005]

who makes them?

[ATC-Eric]

Their called Realtor Pure Sports.

http://www.americanmototire.com/index.html?lang=en-us&target=d1036.html

Heres a pic with them on my Warrior. Great tires.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k300/ericbsemail/DSC00030.jpg

[icp4life162005]

they look crappy do they slide well?. and do they flex? i don't want much flex.

[Tri-ZNate]

no they do not flex or wear much. they are 6 ply

[cr480r]

I ran my old sand paddles in the snow last winter. They were skat-trak edge 8 paddles. They did great until I got into some shallow stuff and found gravel... They were completely smoked before I even burned 1/2 tank on my LT250... I recommend trying them, but dont ruin a good set... Next year I wanna try some actual snow paddles...

[ATC-Eric]

Do they slide? I did donuts on the pavement. And the tread was still fine!!

There is NO flex to these tires.

[madmanwithmouse]

I ran sand devils in a mud-run once and did good, but once you sink they kinda suck. altho the paddles where broke afterwards(not torn off, just flexed). Personaly for mud and snow I prefer my 6.00-12 ag tires, they are 25'' tall and 5'' wide, they wont hardly slip in thick goo and cut straigt through snow. Not good for floating. They have won severl mud-runs. :)

[RedRider_AK]

Realtors... ick.

[icp4life162005]

whats the problem red?

[Nick_R_23]

Well I thought about it a bit, and since I might still use my Red to tow cars around also, im going to go with the ITP Mudlites, stock size. The local powersports dealers got them for ~80$ per tire. Is this a good deal? Is there anywhere else I should look? (remember I have to pay shipping to Alaska if I buy them online) Thanks for your opinions guys.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[hazard]

good choice man, i would say that is a fair price, you dont wanna pay an arm and a leg for shipping all the way up there, id say GET THEM MAN they will look sweet on you trike too, get some pics once you get them on. good luck to ya man.

[RedRider_AK]

whats the problem red?

Realtors... LOL. That's the problem. I've heard so much bad stuff about them and never any good.

[Eric250R]

Well I thought about it a bit, and since I might still use my Red to tow cars around also, im going to go with the ITP Mudlites, stock size. The local powersports dealers got them for ~80$ per tire. Is this a good deal? Is there anywhere else I should look? (remember I have to pay shipping to Alaska if I buy them online) Thanks for your opinions guys.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

Oh well.... I tried to warn you....lol.

[Nick_R_23]

Oh well.... I tried to warn you....lol.

Nope!!! I took your advice, Im getting the Mudlites, not the Mudbugs. I talked to one guy who used them and said he wore them out in about a week then got a set of Mudlites and they still look new. He also said he hasnt gotten stuck since he got them.

-Nick :TrikesOwn