ATV Mud Tires - Valuable Tips On Picking the Right Tire For Your Needs

Many reasons can come to mind as to why you have or want an ATV. There are many all terrain vehicle owners who simply want to have a recreational off road vehicle for adventurous weekends with their friends. Then there are those who are interested in a work horse vehicle to move around a big farm or ran, hauling loads and possibly move snow.

Then there is the other breed of owner; competitors. ATV riders have several kinds of races they can participate in. This begs the question; when do you need to go out and get those ATV mud tires? There is a vast assortment of ATV tire types. Each individual kind satisfies the requirement of both the terrain and the rider.

Uses for ATV's

If it is your intent to utilize your ATV on similar terrain for the majority of the time, and there is not that much of a climate change in the area of use, it is possible for you to continue the use of your stock ATV tires.

Nevertheless, if you intent to utilize your all terrain vehicle on various other types of terrains - hilly terrain as well flat terrain - and in various types of climates, you can benefit from the numerous kinds of tires that are available so your ATV will be more flexible to your needs.

Locating the proper type of tires for your all terrain vehicle can increase both the safety and comfort of your riding experiences. What is the best way to determine when you need to purchase ATV mud tires? Well, you will certainly require them if you intend to use your ATV in the mud. Figuring out what ATV mud tires also means determining the right kind or tread.

ATV mud tires typically have deeper treads that are constructed to hold and adhere to the ground surface. If you are thinking of traveling along a mainly hard, flat type of surface, the treads of ATV mud tires will usually be more of a hindrance. When looking to purchase brand new tires for your all terrain vehicle, be certain that you get the width down right for your particular rims. If the tires are too wide for the rims, they will fly off at some point.

You have the option to pick from a flat type of tire to a round one. There will be more contact with the surface of the road. If the tire you are looking at is a round one it has the ability to cause the ATV to roll when you are in hard cornering. You also have the option to pick from a short type of tire and a tall one. You will have to evaluate your personal driving style and your likely terrain you plan to drive on to determine this choice.

You will get a softer type of ride as well as additional ground clearance with a taller tire. You will get additional stability for hard cornering and at higher speeds with a shorter tire. Lastly, comes the determination in regards to the tread itself. If you looking to stay with a single set of tires, pick a tread that the main purpose is for general conditions.

If you wish to drive in numerous, very different kinds of terrains, and if you have the money to indulge, then an assortment of tires may be your choice. Available types of tires include trail tires, sand tires and, of course, the ATV mud tires.

Author Resource:-> Listen to Corbin Newlyn as he shares his insights as an expert author and an avid writer in the field of extreme sports. If you would like to learn more go to Honda ATV Accessories advice and at Yamaha ATV Parts tips.

By: Corbin Newlyn

The Ground Hawg Mud Tire

The Ground Hawg Mud Tire is a timeless classic "old-school" traditional Mud Tire Design that is reminiscent of early generation Mud Tires yet developed under today's technologies by Interco Corporation. Originally designed by the The Denman Tire Company, the Ground Hawg is a directional tread design mud tire which offers superior performance in thick mud, deep snow, and rocky terrain. Available in Bias & Radial designs, the Ground Hawg has an aggressive tread design that is made to work very well in deep mud yet wear well under normal highway usage. Several features of the Ground Hawg make this the choice mud tire for classic truck pull series as well as offroaders who have been ripping through the mud for decades. For offroad toughness the Ground Hawg Bias Tires are the better choice with up to 8 tread plys and 4 sidewall plys.

The tread design is very aggressive and complemented with massive siped outer lugs for clawing and digging in mud and snow. Inner staggered lugs are designed for a larger footprint and siped for traction, self cleaning and longevity on the highway beyond the average, mud terrain tire. The heavy duty construction is made from a durable tubeless nylon construction with a bulky rubber compound. Sidewall protection and traction is enhanced by deep sideway lugs extending far above the tread's huge directional outer lugs. Outer lugs are also designed to accept studs for even better traction, offroad as well as on ice and in deep snow and mud.

For those who prefer a Radial designed tire, the Ground Hawg offers it's Ground Hawg II Radial Tires. The Ground Hawg II Radial Tires offers the best features from the Ground Hawg Bias Tires, but in a radial design. The Radial design offers 6 and 10 ply in the tread area but only a 2 ply for the sidewall, although the wrap-around tread design offers greater sidewall protection over most mud terrain radial design tires.

About The Denman Tire Company and Walter R. Denman
The Denman Tire Company was founded by Walter R. Denman. It was first known as the Denman-Myers Cord Tire Company, and now known as Denman Tire Corporation. Mr. Denman founded this company in 1919 after working with Diamond Rubber Company, The B.F. Goodrich Company, and The Miller Rubber Company. Mr. Denman was a mechanical and electrical engineer. He was instrumental in perfecting the first natural cord tire and was granted over a dozen patents. The Denman family has since sold their interests but the name Denman remains.

Manufacturer Info:

2412 Abbeville Hwy Rayne, LA 70578 Phone: (800) 299-8000

www.intercotire.com

Interco Tire Corporation, is a Louisiana company that has evolved through three generations into a leader in the development of high performance tires for use on four wheel drive light trucks and all terrain vehicles. In 1968 Interco developed the first 78 series light truck tires which began the evolution in light truck tires we see today.

MUD TIRE COMPONENTS

Belts — One or more rubber-coated plies (layers) of steel, polyester, nylon, Kevlar or other material running circumferentially around the tire under the tread. They are designed to reinforce body plies to hold the tread flat on the road. Belts reduce squirm to improve tread wear and resist damage from impacts and penetration.

Carcass (Casing) — The main body of the tire consisting of wire beads and body plies. The carcass does not including the tread or sidewall rubber.

Inner Liner — A layer of specially compounded rubber forming the inside of a tubeless tire, designed to inhibit loss of air pressure.

Plus Sizing — Plus Sizing is among the simplest ways for you to dramatically improve both the look and performance of your vehicle. The concept is to alter the wheel diameter and the tire aspect ratio. There are three common categories of Plus Sizing: Plus Zero, Plus One and Plus Two. One or two layers of heat and impact resistant, rubber-coated fabric used to form the body of the tire. Automobile and light truck tire plies are normally constructed of nylon or polyester cords.

Ply — One or two layers of heat and impact resistant, rubber-coated fabric used to form the body of the tire. Automobile and light truck tire plies are normally constructed of nylon or polyester cords.

Tread — The portion of the tire which comes in contact with the road. Tread designs vary widely depending the the specific purpose of the tire.

Tread Groove — The space or area between two tread rows or blocks.

Tread Design — The Pattern of Grooves and Tread Elements

Tread Pattern, Lugs, Voids — The tread pattern refers to the overall structure of the tread. The tread pattern is made up of tread lugs and tread voids. The lugs are the sections of rubber that make contact with the terrain. Voids are the spaces that are located between the lugs. The mud-terrain tire pattern is characterized by large lugs in the tread pattern with large voids between these lugs. The large lugs provide plenty of bite in poor traction conditions while the large voids allow the tire to clean itself (Self Cleaning) by releasing and expelling the mud or other material while spinning. The all-terrain tire pattern is characterized by smaller voids and lugs when compared to the mud terrain tire. A denser pattern of lugs and smaller voids make all terrains quieter on the street than the mud terrain tire. The downside to an all terrain is that the smaller voids cannot clean themselves as easily of mud, slush or material as would the larger voids on the mud tire. When voids fill up with mud the tire loses much of it's bite and traction. However the all terrain is a good compromise to general highway driving and minimal off-road use.

Self Cleaning — Self Cleaning is the effect of a tire's tread pattern to allow the release of mud or material from the voids of tread, thereby providing a good bite on every rotation of the tire. The better mud terrain tires will allow the mud or material to easily be released from the tread voids.

Asymmetrical Tread Design, Non-symmetrical design - The design of the tread pattern changes from one side of the tread face to the other, in order to have two or more different types of tread patterns on one tire for better overall performance.

Directional Tread Design — A tire designed to rotate in only one direction for maximum performance, especially on wet roads or in mud.

Sidewall Strength — Sidewall strength refers to the tires resistance to punctures and tears in its sides. The strength is typically a result of the number plys extending into the sidewall and by the tread design and tread pattern that extends down onto the sidewalls. Typically the greater the sidewall strength, the more resistant the tire is to flex even when aired down to lower pressures.

Mud & Snow Tread Design — A tire with a heavy bar or block tread element design to provide maximum traction in mud or snow conditions. The tire will be marked M+S or MT on the sidewall.

Non-Directional Tread Design — A tire designed to rotate in either direction
without loss in performance.

Hydroplaning — Associated with driving on rain-slicked roads with worn or poorly treaded tires. It is the lifting action on a tire when water pressure forces the tire upward, leaving a cushion of water between the tire and road surface.

Load Range — A term which is gradually replacing the term "Ply Rating" and which is indicated as Standard Load (SL) and Extra Load (XL) for auto tires and Load Range C, D etc. for light truck tires. (The carrying capacity of the tire at specific air inflation pressures.)

Service Description — A marking consisting of the load index and speed symbol, ie. 87S.

Tread Depth — A mound of rubber in the tread measured in 32nds of an inch from the tread surface to the bottom of the tread grooves.

Tread Design — The pattern of grooves and tread elements.

Tread Wear Indicator — Narrow bars of rubber molded into the tread at a height of 2/32nds of an inch. When wear reaches the tread wear indicator, it is time to replace the tire.

Wheel Alignment — The measuring, analyzing, and setting of angles to predetermined manufacturer recommended specifications to ensure maximum tire service life, vehicle handling, and safety. Proper wheel alignment is attained when each wheel's position, relative to the vehicle and specification, is correct.

Four-Wheel Alignment — Four-wheel alignment is the setting of all four wheels to specifications and referenced to the vehicle centerline.

Two-Wheel Alignment — Two-wheel alignment is normally performed on solid axle rear wheel drive vehicles, and is the setting of the front wheels relative to one another.

Wheel Balancing — Adding external weights to compensate for unequal distribution of tire and wheel weight. Unbalanced tire and wheel assembly is balanced by clamping appropriate metal weight to the rim.