Tire brands and tread paterns

[thebuggyman1]

I'm sure this has been discussed in detail before, but when you search "tires" the number of posts is huge. I'll just apologise now and ask anyway.
I'd like some advise on buying/selecting new tires. I just bought an old sears sportster with three 40 yr old original tires and three knobby type tires. I've been told the knobby's are not good because of the way aatvs turn. I dont plan on much water crossing. Most of my riding will be in mud/swampy grass field. I was thinking of a chevron type like carlisle at101. Aren't chevrons usually stiff and meant for garden tractors? My aatv says 20" max size. It has 21's on it now (3 of them), and it looks like there is clearance for 22 inch.
It would be nice to have tires that don't wear out in a year also. Help!

[jeffery9076]

i do not know

would like to see some pics of your sears sportster

[racerone3]

chevrons are the best suited tire to skid steering, the angle of the chevron allows it to slide sideways. that said, a tire like the AT101 is a much more agressive chevron than the original balloon tires and will do more lawn dammage if your not careful. there are some better tires for mud, but being limited to 22" will narrow your selection. Both the AT101 and the rawhide III are discontinued... these are close alternatives: AG BAR LUG R1 HF255 :: AG BAR LUG R1 :: BAR LUG R1 :: DURO :: BAR LUG & TRENCHER TIRES :: TIRES :: Cedar Rapids Tire
JACKAL C868 :: JACKAL :: CHENG SHIN :: ATV TIRES :: TIRES :: Cedar Rapids Tire

[jeffery9076]

link to sears sportster

http://www.richardsrelics.com/images_ATV_for_sale/atvsforsale12.jpg

[LarryW]

Hey Buggyman1,
So you must be the one that got that sportster?

If you have 4 lug tires, we can throw my goodyear terra on it or some good year runnamucks on it also. Just for testing to see what you think if you want. Just for testing though, there not for sale. Both are discontinued but it can give you an idea on those style treads with handling and such. If you want to feel free to let me know.

btw, if you ever want to just ride, let me know, we have a small group here but it is slowly growing. Great people too. These 6 wheelers have helped me meet some great friends. There is a place called bundy hill in jerome michigan we want to check out some time which is pretty close to you I think. youtube search bundy hill for some vids or they have a website too. Any ways I got off topic so I will stop.
Bundy Hill Off Road - Jerome, MI - ATV/ORV Riding Trails

[thebuggyman1]

would like to see some pics of your sears sportster

I haven't figured out how to do that yet...I will soon as I do.

Hey Buggyman1,
So you must be the one that got that sportster?

If you have 4 lug tires, we can throw my goodyear terra on it or some good year runnamucks on it also. Just for testing to see what you think if you want. Just for testing though, there not for sale. Both are discontinued but it can give you an idea on those style treads with handling and such. If you want to feel free to let me know.

btw, if you ever want to just ride, let me know, we have a small group here but it is slowly growing. Great people too. These 6 wheelers have helped me meet some great friends. There is a place called bundy hill in jerome michigan we want to check out some time which is pretty close to you I think. youtube search bundy hill for some vids or they have a website too. Any ways I got off topic so I will stop.
Bundy Hill Off Road - Jerome, MI - ATV/ORV Riding Trails

I bought this one in Howell Mi. last Saturday. It was on craigslist: "6x6 wheeler Sears and Roebucks (or Trade) - $1800 (Howell, MI)" Not bad shape
the driver seat is broken, was poorly repaired, needs the tires replaced, needs the fuel tank cleaned, but it does run. Has tiny 3 lug patern on the wheels. I need to make adapters. After driving it I decided it needs a rollbar. I was scared. That will be my project this weekend.
Thanks for the invite, I'll get back with you when it is ready.

chevrons are the best suited tire to skid steering, the angle of the chevron allows it to slide sideways. that said, a tire like the AT101 is a much more agressive chevron than the original balloon tires and will do more lawn dammage if your not careful. there are some better tires for mud, but being limited to 22" will narrow your selection. Both the AT101 and the rawhide III are discontinued... these are close alternatives: AG BAR LUG R1 HF255*::*AG BAR LUG R1*::*BAR LUG R1*::*DURO*::*BAR LUG & TRENCHER TIRES*::*TIRES*::*Cedar Rapids Tire
JACKAL C868*::*JACKAL*::*CHENG SHIN*::*ATV TIRES*::*TIRES*::*Cedar Rapids Tire

Thanks for the links. Carlisle website still shows the at101's I assume any atv tire will have a softer sidewall than a garden tractor tire??? Have you bought from Cedar rapids tire? How is the shipping$? I also need 6 new wheels, any advice on those? Thanks, Jim

[LarryW]

I bought this one in Howell Mi. last Saturday. It was on craigslist: "6x6 wheeler Sears and Roebucks (or Trade) - $1800 (Howell, MI)" Not bad shape
the driver seat is broken, was poorly repaired, needs the tires replaced, needs the fuel tank cleaned, but it does run. Has tiny 3 lug patern on the wheels. I need to make adapters. After driving it I decided it needs a rollbar. I was scared. That will be my project this weekend.
Thanks for the invite, I'll get back with you when it is ready.

Yea, I know the one your talking about. From the pictures it looked like a very nice one. I thought the ad stated it only needs 1 tire though. You definitely dont want to roll a sportster with your legs in the dash like that. Roll bar would be a great investment. But it does take a lot of " oh crap", to roll a 6x6. I may have a balloon tire or 2 I could get rid of, but not 6. I need to keep some for my spares. I have some things coming up and depending on how it all works will depend on what I need. Pm me if you are interested in a few.

[racerone3]

i had great luck with cedar rapids tire. i was needing some tires in a hurry. ordered at 6pm on a thursday, the guy had the shipping department hold the fed-ex truck that was getting ready to pull away. got my tires on the truck, and they were on my front porch at 10am on Saturday.
your best bet for wheels are the "K-Locks" from recreative (5 lug) i am cheap, and run 4 lug golf cart wheels on some of my machines. a lot of golf cart places will sell "takeoffs" cheap or give them away. they aren't quite as wide as a standard 8" atv wheel, so they will effectively make your tire a little taller.
also, i'm not sure of the axle size on the sportster, but if they are 1" these are the hubs i'm using on my attexs. ATV Live Axle Hub | Brakes, Clutches, + Hubs | Northern Tool + Equipment i just remove the set screw, and drill a 3/8 hole through the set screw hole to attach to the axle.

[thebuggyman1]

i had great luck with cedar rapids tire. i was needing some tires in a hurry. ordered at 6pm on a thursday, the guy had the shipping department hold the fed-ex truck that was getting ready to pull away. got my tires on the truck, and they were on my front porch at 10am on Saturday.
your best bet for wheels are the "K-Locks" from recreative (5 lug) i am cheap, and run 4 lug golf cart wheels on some of my machines. a lot of golf cart places will sell "takeoffs" cheap or give them away. they aren't quite as wide as a standard 8" atv wheel, so they will effectively make your tire a little taller.
also, i'm not sure of the axle size on the sportster, but if they are 1" these are the hubs i'm using on my attexs. ATV Live Axle Hub | Brakes, Clutches, + Hubs | Northern Tool + Equipment i just remove the set screw, and drill a 3/8 hole through the set screw hole to attach to the axle.

What do you think of these tires? Duro Tire & Wheel | Product Info
I was leaning away from the superlug types thinking they would have a stiff sidewall. I couldn't find any info on the k-lock wheels.
Depending on the wheels I choose and the offset they have I figured I would have to make my own hubs. Buying them would be great, does anyone else sell other options, I do have 1" axles?

[racerone3]

that duro tire will hardly swim at all! i have a set that i modified that swim a little better, but it takes an hour a tire and is real tedious to do. the first link i posted to cedar rapids, for the duro ag tire... that's what i'm running on my attex trail machine. had them side by side with an AT101 and couldn't see and difference. they ride just fine... i ran 3 hard days at busco a few months back and was no more sore than i usually am. i don't have the jackyls yet, but they are going to go my wifes max when i take the duros that you posted about off.
do a search here on the site for "k-lock" or call recreative. Mike has them on his max and never blows beads.
as far as hubs... i built adaptors to bolt on my old 3 lug hubs... broke 3 at ashtabula. went with the ones from Northern and haven't had an issue