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Bias Ply vs Radial, Sidewall Dilemma

5K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  FordTruckMan 
#1 ·
2017 RZR XP1000
Stock wheels and tires (Bighorn 6ply rated, 29x9x14 front/29x11x14 rear)
Machine has some extra weight from a front winch bumper and a toolbox and small cooler in the back.

My problem is that I tear sidewalls on rear tires like it's my job. Granted, my heavy right foot is part of the problem, but I ride in the nastiest, rockiest, rutted out trails in old mining areas of western PA. I am not getting pinch flats, these tears are always nearly perpendicular to the circumference of the rim, with a slight arc in direction of tire travel.

I am down to two "good" rear tires, (I had a spare set bought used) and am ready to by something else. Unfortunately, I am limited by tire size, as I want to keep the stock height tire since I have 4 total wheels and tires for the front that are still good. I also cannot go taller because I am nearly scraping the ceiling of my toyhauler as it is.

So, this leaves me with, unless I missed some tires, the GBC Dirt commanders, more bighorns, or Tusk Trilobite HDs. The trouble is, I do not know how the machine will feel, handle, or perform with bias ply tires in the back and radials in the front. The GBC and Tusk tires are both bias ply, the bighorn is a radial.

I have no experience running a bias ply tire on a RZR, and I have no idea how they will handle at high speeds. I often ride a few miles on very twisty roads to get to trails, and almost always with a group. However, everything I have read indicates the bias ply design will provide a tougher sidewall than a radial of the same ply rating. I am absolutely will to give up high speed handling in exchange for better sidewall durability.

So, does anyone have any experience with bias ply tires on a RZR? Will the sidewalls be tougher? I am leaning towards the tusk tires, but have not seen a ton of feedback on them. If anyone here has run them I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Also, anyone have any black magic fixes for sidewall tears??? lol.:wink

Thanks guys
 
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#2 ·
I have no experience with bias ply atv tires, but I do have bias ply Interco LTBs and the sidewalls are THICK. I have a ton of superficial cuts all over but nothing into the cords yet. A bias ply tire will have much stronger sidewalls due to the construction of the tire.

BUT...they definitely don’t ride as good through small chop compared to a radial, even when aired down. And mine took a ton of grooving to get them to work like I wanted.
 
#3 ·
I have the Dirt Commanders stock on my S900, no problems with them at all. But I don't ride the same conditions you do.
 
#5 ·
Good Luck with your decision, I know with automobiles mixing bias & radials is a NO-NO.
 
#6 ·
I know this post is really old, but I realized I never followed up on this, I am not on here too often but had some time so I wanted to update this in case anyone else is in the same situation.

I ended up buying the tusk trilobites in the factory size for the rears, but never ran them on the XP1000. I ended up selling that and buying a turbo shortly after. However, it didn't take long to smoke those tires so last year I put the trilobites on and have been running them since.

They probably have 400 miles on them and look brand new. I am very happy with how they are wearing, and they ride and feel exactly the same as the stock bighorns. I have had them to 90mph and there is again no difference from the bighorns. I liked them so much my brother in law, who also has a 19 turbo, just bought a set to replace his worn out bighorns. He agrees, he cannot tell any difference between these and the stock tires. So, for the price, I can definitely recommend these tires to anyone looking for a stock replacement.
 
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