My 15 year old daughter has a Bayou 220. I want to put tires on it for her but I don't know what would be a good choice. I want something that is good for trail riding as well as mud, but doesn't decrease the power too much. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Thanks for all the replies. After looking at the suggestions, I will either go with the Mudlites or the Mud Machine A/T. The only thing I was wondering was the Mud Machine A/T's only come in 12 width, factory is 10, will this cut the power drastically?, because the Mudlites come in 11. So I don't know if it will probably even be a noticable difference. I know that was probably a stupid question, but like I said this ATV tire thing is new to me.
The only thing I was wondering was the Mud Machine A/T's only come in 12 width, factory is 10, will this cut the power drastically?, because the Mudlites come in 11. So I don't know if it will probably even be a noticable difference.
This might help you some in your decision.....got this article from Outdoor Life and it makes good sense.
Switching Styles
Today’s original-equipment ATV tires are designed as an integral component of the vehicle, with a tread designed to deliver good traction and performance in a variety of conditions. If you spend most of your time riding in sand or gumbo swamps, you may realize better performance by switching to a tire designed for that condition. However, keep in mind that a larger tire size or a more aggressive tread design will come with compromises, including diminished traction in some conditions, a rougher or noisier ride and boggy engine performance. For good all-around performance, replacement OEM tires or tires of similar size and tread design are usually the way to go.
To read the entire article on ATV Tire Tips, please visit: Tire Tips
Here is another very good article when selecting the right tire size which came from the Northeastern Wisconsin Riders Inc. ATV Club:
Tire size (Width, Height, Sidewall Height)
Recommended that you replace your ATV's tires with tires of equal, or as close to equal, width and height. Manufacturers spend a lot of time and money researching a tire's size to match the gearing, engine power, handling and component-fit before the ATV heads out of the plant to the retailer.
Here are some examples of pros and cons of changing tire size:
Smaller diameter tire - this will decrease the overall speed and increase the engine RPM. It will also increase hole-shot speed, but will decrease top-end speed. Riding on too small of a tire can stress a number of the components on your ATV, (e.g. engine, transmission, axles, etc.) because of the increased RPM of the tire. Smaller diameter tires will provide a firmer, yet less flexible ride.
Larger diameter tire - this will increase overall speed and decrease engine RPM. It will also decrease your hole-shot speed, but will increase top-end speed. Installing too large of a tire however, can stress a number of the components on your ATV (e.g. engine, transmission, axles, etc.) because of the additional rolling mass, and the decreased RPM of the tire. Further, too large of a tire can overheat your ATV's engine, because it has to work that much harder to turn a larger, heavier tire. Larger diameter tires will provide a softer, more flexible ride. Lastly, because of the extra rolling mass, your ATV's breaking efficiency will be diminished.
Wider tire - this will increase the amount of tread pattern on the ground, thereby increasing traction, particularly laterally. Conversely, too wide of a tire, like too tall of a tire, will increase the amount of rolling mass and diminish braking ability and stress the drive train. Further, selecting a tire too wide can cause problems with the steering and suspension components of your ATV. Simply put, too wide of a tire can cause the suspension to come in contact with parts of your ATV it shouldn't.
Narrow tire - this will decrease the amount of tread pattern contacting the ground, which is most cases is not a good thing. Some argue, however, that narrow tires-particularly mud tires- are more effective than wide tires. This debate has raged on for years, and the arguments are: Narrow tires will sink through the mud and contact terra firma below. Wide tires will float and skip across the soft goo. This editor prefers wider mud-terrain tires.
Sidewall Height - Until recently, most ATV's have had tires with very tall sidewalls (made for small diameter rims). Tire manufacturers like ITP and Maxxis have recently started producing tires that will accept rims up to 12" and 14" in height. Like tire diameter and width, sidewall height has its pros and cons too.
A short sidewall tire of the same overall tire height means that the rims size is also taller. This means greater ground clearance, especially if you're running your tires at a decreased pressure (for greater traction). Further, a shorter sidewall will produce less flex than a taller one, which can be good or bad, depending upon the type of off-roading you'll be doing.
A taller sidewall tire will produce far more flex than a shorter one. Good for technical off-roading, but bad for high-speed, hard-packed course runs. Further, a taller sidewall is also more susceptible to punctures than a shorter sidewall.
***** What's the bottom line on selecting tire size? It is recommended that you select a tire as close as possible to the original equipment size. If you determine that you do want to change the size (width and/or height), try and strike a balance as best as possible, to reduce the risk of over stressing your ATV's drive train and suspension components.
I put the Mudlites on her Bayou. They do very well all the way around. Especially on muddy hills where she used to have a hard time with the OEM tires. Thanks to everyone for the help deciding.
I just ordered a set of 23-11-10 Maxxis Mudbugs for the rears on my 220. I ride mostly in the mud, but still have the original knobbys mounted on a seperate set of wheels for trail riding...I'll try to post a report as soon as I get to try them out...
I just ordered a set of 23-11-10 Maxxis Mudbugs for the rears on my 220. I ride mostly in the mud, but still have the original knobbys mounted on a seperate set of wheels for trail riding...I'll try to post a report as soon as I get to try them out...
Well, finally got the Mudbugs in and mounted...the attached pics show the tires (23-11-10s) and the wheels. I had one old rim (the rusted one) that I picked up out of the Atchafalya River while riding one day that just happend to be the exact same wheel and stock tire. It was in pretty bad shape, but I figured it would come in handy. I bought one other used wheel from a local Kawa dealer off a scrap parts bike he had out back for 10 bucks. I took to it with a wire wheel and a drill, brushed it down to bare metal, sprayed a coat of primer and then black duplicolor.
Hopefully, I'll get to try them out this afternoon....but if not, I'll post a report as soon as I can... mudbug1.JPG
My 15 year old daughter has a Bayou 220. I want to put tires on it for her but I don't know what would be a good choice. I want something that is good for trail riding as well as mud, but doesn't decrease the power too much. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Hey, I have a 2003 Bayou 250 and a Honda 400ex, i was wondering if u wanted front and rear tires or what for your 220.
Well, I got to try the mudbugs out briefly last night...so far greatly pleased. They rode well on gravel and the trail, pulled like beasts in the mud, but I still managed to get stuck...I found one of those bottomless holes of that nasty, sloppy swamp mud, by accident. The night ended with a come-a-long attached to a tree pulling the thing out by flashlight and a sore back from trying to pull it out by hand. Guess I won't try it out at night by myself again without a winch...
Overall, they rode much smoother than I expected, really good on the trail, and just enough wobble on the pavement to let you know they want to be in the grass or dirt, but still bearable. Before getting bogged down in that nasty stufff, I was able to track through previous sections of the trail that would have been impossible before without even spinning the tires. As for strain on the 220, normal riding power loss is not very noticeable, but I did have to approach mud a gear lower than before. To really spin them in the mud and clean them out, I almost had to go to first gear...maybe a jet kit is in order...or just stick with a 22" tire...
Quality wise, I am extremely pleased with the tire. It looks great, very aggressive, and seems to be well made. The entire crew of the tire shop came over to check them out when they were being mounted, as no one from this area seems to be familiar with them. The owner said he was going to check into keeping some in stock even...I'll try to post a more detailed review after our ride on the 19th...
