View Full Version : Paddle Tires
azjrebel
03/16/05, 5:43 AM
I am thinking of getting a set of paddles for my 400EX and I need to know:
What can I expect as far as performance?
Which is better...straight paddles or the v paddles?
Just Ride It
03/16/05, 5:49 AM
I run the Sandstars which are V-paddle and they work great. Good hookup and great turning.
Arizona Griz
03/16/05, 6:08 AM
This has been discussed here before. Try a "search" and you will find some additional information. I run Sand Stars (V design) and they work great. Haulers (straight design) are also good. There is not any tire any better than the next, it just what you prefer and what you expect to accomplish.
I have Sand Stars on my 400ex and a friend with a 400ex has them too. They work great.
Generaly, straight paddles are for drag racing in a straight line. If you intend to do more all around riding then V[8D] paddles will serve you best. I have Sand Skate II's. The next time I buy tires I'll probably get the Sand Stars also.
I have both the straight hook up harder and dont slide as easy,the v-paddels slide better and are a very good play tire..
Toybreaker
03/16/05, 9:18 AM
Got 3 quads. got 4 different sets of paddles.
Kenda trackers.---- heavy, good slidability kinda pricey for the performance.
Haulers---- great straight line performance, i like em for duning they hook on corners if you use body english.
dune hopper---- straight paddle,(think hauler in a less performance vein. good all around perfoming paddle.
Sand shark---- cheaper knock off of sand skate II's. all the performance less cost.
Gonna buy some sand stars and give away the trackers. Gonna be in town friday if you want em get em knocked off the rims and they are yours!
I have Sand Stars (V) on one of my 400EXs and Geckos on the other. I would say that the Sand Stars have a little better hook-up and the Geckos slide a little better. I think both are very good for the money. The Sand Stars are a little lighter.
azjrebel
03/16/05, 5:17 PM
Sounds like the SandStars are the tire of choice...since I am new to atv's I'm just looking to play at the dunes, not race up Comp or Olds...looking through my dennis kirk catalog they seem to be pretty reasonably priced. Not going for the kit though...they don't have any with steel rims. Thanks y'all for the input[8D]
Don't order anything until you compare prices with rockymountainatv.com I have purchased all of my tires/rims from there. Last I checked Dennis Kirk they weren't even close. Alot of people from this sight have great things to say about rocky mountain.
Arizona Griz
03/16/05, 5:39 PM
quote:Originally posted by azjrebel
they don't have any with steel rims.
Why would you want steel rims? I have my Sand Stars mounted on ITP T-9 .190 aluminum rims.
Aluminum means less rotating mass which is important for duning. Keep it light.
Jerry
azjrebel
03/16/05, 6:36 PM
The driving reason behind steel rims is that this set of tires/rims will just be used when I go to the dunes (too much clay and rocks around here) so most of the time they will be in storage...aluminum tends to oxidize and the steel rims won't...although when I checked out rocky mountain atv they did have a set of SandStars on Douglas aluminum rims that compared in price to what I would be paying at Dennis Kirk:D so who knows...might be worth some polishing time before each trip to the sand.
Arizona Griz
03/16/05, 7:04 PM
Mine sit for 6 months during the off season on the quad and they don't oxidize. If they do oxidize you are not going to notice them anyways because the aluminum wheels will be dull from the sandblasting. It doesn't take them long to loose their luster.
drtrider145
03/16/05, 8:22 PM
If your bike is stock I would not waste the money, I have a 400ex (stock) and my cousin has one also (STOCK) we weigh about the same +-10 lbs and I have v paddles and aluminim rims and he has stock wheels and tires when we run the same hills we both are at the same speed and at the top at the same time , and for a long time he said that his was a better built bike but I have a more logical explaination for this , first a HONDA aircooled 400cc single cylinder engine , only puts out about 28hp and mass amount of torque with this in mind. hp= wheel spin ,torque=traction and since the 400ex only has about 28 hp and only revs to about 8k rpm I don't think that this machine can benefit from paddles because of the lack of hp and wheelspin ,but if you have good traction you can lug this machine up almost anything, this is just my advice this machine does just fine without paddles ,and if you are trying to win races you might think about a different bike, I'm not knocking honda 400ex's, they are great all around do anything and always run machines ,they can do it all ,they are just not the fastest at any one I hope this helps
You will notice a huge difference on a 400ex with paddles vs knobbies in the dunes. They are not the fastest quads but I would not take mine to the dunes without my paddles.
Paddels and sand dunes only make sense!
drtrider145
03/16/05, 9:43 PM
I have gone eveywhere at the dunes ,in glamis ,buttercup and gordons well ,with and with out and I don't even know the difference I own paddles and chose not to waste the time putting them on, but it could be that they are not top of the line paddles, I have even ridden my two wheeler without a paddle,maybe it's just me
or you dont climb anything steep THAT'S FOR SURE![:p]
trapperb1
03/17/05, 1:32 PM
I proved to myself that paddles work.
One trip to Dumont (big, steep dunes) I tried riding with my Turf Tamers and couldn't get up anything. Went back to camp and switched to my Sand Sharks and went wherever I wanted, including straight up any dune I choose.
So, the paddles make a difference.
duneDS650
03/17/05, 2:58 PM
I doubt you can climb China Wall without paddles.
Also, when you ride without paddles, you can't stab the throttle to get out of trouble on a steep face if you're going too slow. Most likely you'll get stuck, where with paddles you would have shot up the face and out of trouble.
drtrider145
03/17/05, 6:30 PM
when I'm on a steep face on my quad I more than likey already have it pinned anyway, but thats why I stick to two wheelers so I can go up anything
azjrebel
03/17/05, 8:05 PM
I was at the Superstitions (Cali) last month and I tried going up a steep dune...guess what...yep, buried it...lol...while my girlfriend was at a less steep section and went right up...I had a hard time living that down...shhhhhhh, I think she forgot about it already...lol...anyway, I checked rocky mountain and then went on ebay...found SandStars on ITP rims for less than what Rocky Mountain wanted.
sandnyerface
03/18/05, 8:39 PM
quote:Originally posted by goose
Don't order anything until you compare prices with rockymountainatv.com I have purchased all of my tires/rims from there. Last I checked Dennis Kirk they weren't even close. Alot of people from this sight have great things to say about rocky mountain.
I love Rocky Mountain ATV. Best company I've ever delt with online. I have Skat-Trak Edge (V blade) and just started using Skat-Trak Extremes in a 9 paddle for my DS 650. Some serious hook-up and still can turn with no problems. The Edge's will be sitting on the shelf for a while.
I use ITP Sand Stars on my TRX450R. I also tried Sand Sharks before I got my stars. The Sand Stars are definitely the better tire of those two and a very good value overall. With the Stars I had plenty of straight line performance and could usually pick the front end up on demand. They also turned and slid quite well.
I purchased my Stars on .190 ITP T-9 wheels from Surprise ATV and Sandport for about $150.
I also run a paddel on my cr250 in the dunes !
Arizona Griz
03/19/05, 5:12 AM
quote:Originally posted by Hammer
I also run a paddel on my cr250 in the dunes !
Why wouldn't you? :D
quote:Originally posted by Arizona Griz
quote:Originally posted by Hammer
I also run a paddel on my cr250 in the dunes !
Why wouldn't you? :D
MAN THAT'S SNAPPY!?What's up with all the snide remarks?being a mod i would expect a little different attitude from you?
http://www.killsometime.com/video/videos/Kimbo-Bare-Knuckle-Fight.wmv
quote:Originally posted by Hammer
quote:Originally posted by Arizona Griz
quote:Originally posted by Hammer
I also run a paddel on my cr250 in the dunes !
Why wouldn't you? :D
MAN THAT'S SNAPPY!?What's up with all the snide remarks?being a mod i would expect a little different attitude from you?
http://www.killsometime.com/video/videos/Kimbo-Bare-Knuckle-Fight.wmv
Hence the smiley. He was joking.
sandnyerface
03/19/05, 11:34 AM
Man, that was quite the shiner on that guys eye, Hammer!
quote:Originally posted by Lucky
quote:Originally posted by Hammer
quote:Originally posted by Arizona Griz
quote:Originally posted by Hammer
I also run a paddel on my cr250 in the dunes !
Why wouldn't you? :D
MAN THAT'S SNAPPY!?What's up with all the snide remarks?being a mod i would expect a little different attitude from you?
http://www.killsometime.com/video/videos/Kimbo-Bare-Knuckle-Fight.wmv
Hence the smiley. He was joking.
SO was I!
ahsumtoy
03/21/05, 4:36 PM
Both my wife and I have 400ex's. I recommend anyone with a 400ex to put an aftermarket pipe and exhaust on it. Also open the box, put a K&N in and rejet it. It makes a big difference on the dunes. Next, the person who said regular tires run about the same as sand tires must not ride that hard or turn that fast in the dunes. Sand tires, at least in the back make a large difference.
I have always ran STU Sand Skate II's on my quad. Same with my wife. I got a chance to put on ITP Sand Stars on mine and my wife's quad a few weeks back. What I liked about them is they hooked up very well, better than my Sand Skates (but I really don't care about dragging that much - but I could do wheelies easier). What I didn't like about them is that I could not slide as fast and turn as sharp as my previous tires. Also, if you are behind any person with Sand Stars, I guarantee you won't stay there long. They throw a ton of sand in your face, even when you are just cruising along. For my riding, I will stick with the Sand Skates.
The next thing we did was to put the Sand Stars on the front and compared riding with them as apposed to stock tires in front. Not much difference except when I was riding at high speeds (4th gear and up). The sand tire seemed a little more secure than my stockers in the front. There's my 2 cents worth.
Taylor_01
03/21/05, 5:19 PM
Ive seen that fight before, wicked. You got all the cool vids Hammer lol. Dunes second weekend of April man, u goin?? The 800cc DS on a bottle is comin too!
Sand stars, great dune tires.
Redcell
03/22/05, 10:16 AM
i have sand stars and haulers. i like them both for diffrent types of rideing if your just going out to ride save the money and get the sandstars but if your draging get haulers. but the hauler work well out in the dunes too. but i dont like spending a ton of money then not use them.
Redcell
03/22/05, 10:19 AM
also everyone check this place i havent seen anyone touch their prices http://www.nebraskatire.com/atv/atv_home.htm thay dont know very much about atv tires so do your research and then call for priceing.
trapperb1
03/22/05, 2:52 PM
Can't beat the Sand Stars for price. I got rears mounted on ITP wheels out the door for $165, fronts mounted on ITPs for $139. Dycorp in Anaheim. I know that is too far for most of you to drive, but, that's where I got mine.
Also, Cycle Parts West has excellent prices.