Mudlite 25x12x9?

[DerekF]

Hi all,

I have an Avenger 05. I went out to the mountains last month and I could not believe how many flats I had. Al together, I think I had 5 flats from pinched sidewalls and another 2 tires have huge gashes in them. I started out with 2.5 pds in the tires, but after two flats in 10 minutes I went to 5 psi. Still managed to pinch another 3 sidewalls over the course of a week, usually when I had a moose in the tub and was loaded down crossing a river bed or a rocky section.

In any case, I use mudlites on my quad and have never had a flat. they are awesome tires. I realize they will ride rougher than the rawhides but has anyone ever used them on an argo. I don't really care how they swim but am more concerned with durability.

thoughts?

[boncrshr]

Don't know the answer to your question as far as durability, but they do rock on quads for sure. If you can fit a 25" tall tire on your Argo, why not consider a 25x13-9 Vampire?? They are about 12-12.5" wide when mounted on MattO rims, they swim, mud awesome, and are supposedly durable.

EDIT: As far as bomb-proof durability, check out the Kenda Bearclaws, 6-ply sidewall! And they ride like it too!

[DerekF]

The mudlites are 6 ply. I can run mine on my quad with no air at all, hardly notice. So I know the avenger would ride terrible with them, however, it is better then constant flats.

I will price out some of these options...let you guys know what I find.

[boncrshr]

Hey Derek,

One last thing...and I have no share in Interco Tire, hehehe...but the Vampires on 9" rims ride like pillows. Better than Rawhides IMO.....the tire compound is very soft! But I have read they are tough, however; not much first hand knowledge in rocky terrain, so who knows???

I will say that the quad that came closest to hanging with me and Mudbug had Mudlite's on it. They looked like they pulled pretty hard in the mud.

[mudbug3]

boncrshr ,


Yes I remember that same quad that your talking about . Even though he did not want to follow me into the deeper mud holes , he hung with me in the ones that had a bottom to them . He had a 8 inch lift on his quad and the more aggressive mud lite tires on it , so he did pretty good in the mud . Mud lites don,t swim we know , because BW6 tried them in the lake with his custom made alluminum 6x6.

[DerekF]

Hey Boncrsher,

The vampires on 9 inch rim ride better than the Rawhides? Sounds almost too good to be true. I would have thought that the pattern on the vampires would make the ride poor.

Do they ride good on hard pack trails?

[mudbug3]

DerekF ,


The main reason the 25 inch Vampires ride better than the 25 inch Rawhides , when mounted on the same 9x10 rims , is because the Vampires have softer side walls. At 2-2.5 psi they flex more than a 25 inch Rawhide tire will , and the traction climbing ability on muddy hills is better too. They also ride well on hard pack trails as well.

[boncrshr]

I swear it is true.....the Vampire tire compound is VERY soft....I would not have believed it until I rode on them because they look so aggressive.

[DerekF]

I am deciding between the mudlites and the vampires. In the 25 inch size, the mudlite has the .75inch tread, whereas the vampires are more aggressive, but heavier.

Did you guys notice a power drop with the heavier tire over a "stock" type tire like the rawhides?

[boncrshr]

Yes....but I went from 22" tires to 25"...so it is hard to say how much was from weight vs. increased diameter. That was what made me gear down the Hustler 30%, no problems now.

JPSwift on the other hand went from 26" Rawhides to 26" ASX Vampires and said the ride was better with no difference in power or skid steer ability.

[mightymaxIV]

Vampires

I am deciding between the mudlites and the vampires. In the 25 inch size, the mudlite has the .75inch tread, whereas the vampires are more aggressive, but heavier.

Did you guys notice a power drop with the heavier tire over a "stock" type tire like the rawhides?

Derek-The vampires are an excellent riding tire but they are heavy and hard to turn in deep mud and will stress the drive train more than the goodyears. However if your are going to use the 25" tire on an Avenger I doubt that you will feel much of a power drop and you always have a low range to drop to in deep mud. I have run in the mud and swamp with Lee's frontier equiped with 25" mudbugs and I have yet to see another Amphib that eats mud like his machine. I have run my tires through very bad swamp conditions and the worse problem I have had is losing a bead! Matt's 9" rims should handle that!

[boncrshr]

Hey Derek,

Just a little more info for you. I checked Interco's website and Maxxis'

Vampire 25x13-9 is 30 pounds with a tread depth of 43/32.

Maxxis Mudbug 25x12-9 is 28 pounds with 1.2" tread depth.

TSL Vampires | Interco Tire

M962 Mud Bug Rear

I don't know what type of riding you do, but Vampires will mud with the best of them, will climb muddy banks better than any tire (check hi lifter forums, this is one area almost everybody agrees), ride good, and are proven swimmers. It is kinda cool now with my Vamps...I NEVER have to worry about climbing out of the water, just line the Hustler up perpendicular to the bank and idle up it!

I have seen Mudbugs do very well in the mud on a quad, and that 6-ply should be durable, but will probably not ride well. My Kendas would let you know if you hit a gum wrapper! Also, I do not know how they would swim on an amphib?? There is not too much difference in tread depth...a little more than 1/10 of an inch. I was kinda surprised when I read that on the Maxxis page.

IMO, Vamps would be awesome....but the only question would be sidewall durability in rocky terrain??? And to be honest I have no idea.....

[boncrshr]

Sorry Derek,

I got on a roll like when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor.

OK, ITP Mudlite 25x12-9 weigh 21lbs, 21/32 tread depth.

9lbs is fairly significant....

[mightymaxIV]

Vampires

Derek, if you mount the 25" vampires you will get about 2 1/2 mph water speed on an 8x8. You'll get an excellent ride. You'll get about the best mud tire and trail tire you can buy, and you'll be able to smoke every other Argo with tires within a thousand miles. I don't see a down side. If you'll willing to put a little more air in the Vampires they even give you more ground clearance! I can't speak for the side walls in rocks but I can tell you they are one tough tire! I am with Scott on the muddy banks. Nothing will pull you up better! (Mudbugs are a good tire but they will only give you about 1 1/2 mph in the water-Mudlites barely swim at all!)

[DerekF]

Thanks Guys! I emailed Matt to let him know I will take them!

I rarely go in water, and if I do, I use an outboard motor. However, the stream bank thing is going to be great, as I am constantly crossing banks while hunting.

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts

Derek