Maxxis Bighorns, any input?

Meat talk....Wheel talk.

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Ken
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Postby Ken » Sat May 20, 2006 6:56 am

Mr. Miyagi wrote:How about.... GAS OFF..... Hello!!!

Hey...ya can't make progress forward OR down with out it!
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Postby RonK » Mon May 29, 2006 11:55 pm

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Ken,

I know you don't like radials, but what you don't consider is that the same flexible sidewall that gives out to the side also allows for contours in the road grade. A bias has a tendency to pull you in the direction of the slope or groove as it wants to follow the slope downhill, while a radial will "tilt" and allow more control. While you might have more squirm on a turn with the radial, you also have less grabbing or wandering when going straight. This is more important on uneven roadbeds than asphalt (unless you are on asphalt with tire channels), and I spend a lot of time on uneven roads.

To realize this, think about your old Jeep with worn ball joints (the key here is "worn"). How did it ride when you used bias compared with radials? I've never known any bias that wouldn't pull a vehicle like that all over. New, large vehicles often have strong enough power steering and firm joints that can overcome the negatives.

As to the flex on rocks, all the tests I've seen with auto tires always give the most flexibility, and ability to bend around the rock, to radials.

Granted, you do lose some height with the radials, but as the Bighorns are about an inch bigger than the posted size, the final height should be close to the stock bias. The actual height, or rolling diameter should be measured while on the vehicle, with the expected tire pressure, and from the ground to the center of the wheel--then doubled. That's the correct accurate way. Also, many tires need several hundred miles of use to break in before they settle down to the lifetime height.

RonK

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Ken
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Postby Ken » Tue May 30, 2006 1:34 am

No doubt, radials have sidewall flex...that's been the problem...too much...and thinner sidewalls.

I'm not dead-set against them....I know technology changes.

That's really good to know, that they run higher in height than the listed size. I HATE it when the tire runs LESS than the listed height...that's really lame.
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Postby rangertom » Tue May 30, 2006 6:54 am

I'm still lovin' my bighorns!!! They are soooooo smooth!
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Postby BradM » Fri Sep 22, 2006 12:23 pm

I just returned from a trip, six days camping on the machines. The trails were very rough. The Big Horns ate it up without a mark on them, they have excellent traction, better than I expected. I'm super impressed with them, more than I thought I would be. Thumbs up!
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Postby Ken » Fri Sep 22, 2006 12:37 pm

Thanks for the report back....


For a radial, they do seem to be a tough tire...Larry has 'em, and they worked pretty well. They don't seem to be as soft (I mean in appearance)...I didn't see them flex much and I think Larry runs at 3.5 lbs (1/2 lb less than me on 589's).

What inflation did you run at...and did you notice that as well. It could be stiffer, due to the heavy duty contruction.

Also...anyone know the tire weight difference between a comparable 589 and a Bighorn...or Larry and I need to weigh 'em? LOL.
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Postby BradM » Fri Sep 22, 2006 1:16 pm

Ken wrote:Thanks for the report back....


For a radial, they do seem to be a tough tire...Larry has 'em, and they worked pretty well. They don't seem to be as soft (I mean in appearance)...I didn't see them flex much and I think Larry runs at 3.5 lbs (1/2 lb less than me on 589's).

What inflation did you run at...and did you notice that as well. It could be stiffer, due to the heavy duty contruction.

Also...anyone know the tire weight difference between a comparable 589 and a Bighorn...or Larry and I need to weigh 'em? LOL.

No they don't seem to flex much but they sure stick to the rocks.

One of the guys with me was running Carlisle 489 bias ply tires on his machine. I did get to see the incredible sidewall flex of his tires several times, with my own eyes. The first time I saw it, while hand spotting him over some big rocks, I was actually startled- For a second, I thought he had a flat. The Big Horns did outperform the 489's traction-wise, however, as his tires spun several times when the Big Horns did not. But that sidewall flex was real. No way can the Big Horns flex like that.

I ran about 5 in the front and 4.5 in the rear.

I'll give 3.5 a try next month. Was that 3.5 front and rear?
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Postby BradM » Fri Sep 22, 2006 1:20 pm

Ken wrote:

For a radial, they do seem to be a tough tire...
PS Yes they are. I pointed them at all kinds of sharp rocks and rock situations with out regard for potential sidewall injury.. I just didn't even pay attention to that risk and they ate it all up. An amazing tire Ken, at least for my kind of riding.
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Postby Ken » Fri Sep 22, 2006 2:00 pm

BradM wrote:
Ken wrote:

For a radial, they do seem to be a tough tire...
PS Yes they are. I pointed them at all kinds of sharp rocks and rock situations with out regard for potential sidewall injury.. I just didn't even pay attention to that risk and they ate it all up. An amazing tire Ken, at least for my kind of riding.

Ah...I don't own them, but from what I've read and what I've seen with Larry...they're a great tire. I have nothing bad to say...other than my own personal tastes to get satified on rock conditions. And I think only actually using them would solve it.

Larry has the King Quad...which is lighter than my Sportsman. He runs at 3.5 front/rear. With your MV....I might just stick to 4lbs Front/Rear. I would play with it.

The best way is to go to extremes...start at 5, ride a spot....and then go to 3, and ride on the same spot. You'll probably find yourself float back to 4...but at least you'll know the difference.
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Postby oldtrucks » Fri Sep 22, 2006 8:31 pm

Brad as Ken pointed out I'm running 3.5 front and rear when crawling. They don't flex much laterally, but the do lay down a nice foot print. Out on the trail or desert I'm running them at 6 psi, very stable and ride is smooth. I have over 1000 miles on mine, in some nasty rock and thorns, and not a single problem. I just put a set on the Rhino as well and just started experimenting with the pressures. They should probably be pretty close to you quad as far as weight goes. 6 psi is good for rocks and slow speed, but I'm guessing closer to 10 psi for the trail and desert.

Here's a picture that Teri took, shows the footprint, no flex Image
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Postby BradM » Sat Sep 23, 2006 2:58 pm

I see that. No flex in that photo. You could have 10 psi in those for all we can tell :lol:

I think, given the flex issue, that my main reason for preferring radials is the better ride quality they give on the kind of rides I do.
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Postby rangertom » Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:18 am

I run 6 psi in mine too. I do mostly desert riding, as you might guess, BradM. What's odd, at 6 lbs, my father-in-law always comments to me about my tires look awfully low, but they never are. These are undoubtedly the toughest tires I'll ever use. I love them! They'll most likely be the first improvement on the X2 when it finally arrives.
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Postby RonK » Wed Sep 27, 2006 5:14 pm

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Well, I don't know. They seem to wear out pretty fast. One guy I was ATVing with today has Bighorns, and they're more than half worn out already--and they only have 6800 miles on them! He's going to have to replace them by 10,000 miles, I'm sure.

Waddaya' think?

RonK

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monty
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Postby monty » Wed Sep 27, 2006 5:56 pm

dang. i was hoping to wear mine out enough to justify going up to 27" Bighorns, but it looks like i better start riding some more....

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Postby BradM » Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:08 pm

I'll see how mine look after the pounding of 13 straight days of riding in Nevada next month.
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