If you’re an off-road sporting enthusiast, it is essential that you understand what makes a quality tyre for a quad bike. A good quad bike tyrecan all the difference for your vehicle’s performance.
The big question is how you differentiate quality quad bike tyres from the vast range available in Australia?Selecting the right tyre can be a very tough and complicated process.
Before buying quad bike tyres, there are a few things that you should consider:
First, you should know the type of terrain you are riding in the most, whether it is mud or snow,rocky or forest? Or are you looking for an all-purpose tyres?
Second, how many plies do you need in your tyre, or how much puncture resistance do you need?
Here are some considerations that will help you determine the quality of your quad tyres:
Tyreconstruction
Quad Bike Tyres are constructed either as bias-ply or radial structure. Both types have their own pros and cons, and deciding between them depends on your preferences and riding style.
Bias-Ply tyres are more durable than radials. Their sidewalls are very tough and puncture resistant. However, Bias-Ply tends to heat up faster as well.Bias-Ply tyres consist of plies that are bonded together, and the ply rating refers to the number of plies used to construct the carcass of the tyre. Most commonly, 2-ply tyres are used. They are the right choice for racing as they deliver responsive handling and excellent feedback.
On the other hand, radial tyres are more flexible as they have thinner sidewalls and allow for a plusher ride compared to bias-ply tyres. They generate very low heat and consequently have a longer life. Also, radialtyres cause less damage to the ground.
Tyre profile – round versus flat
Another factor that determines the quality of quad bike tyres is their profile which can be either round or flat. Most people don’t pay attention to the tyre profile but if you want the best performing tyre, then the shape of the tyre should be considered.
Tyres with a round profile require less steering effort and have less traction on hard-packed surfaces. Tyres with a flat profile make for a rougher ride because of the stiffened chassis and cause more traction on hard-packed surfaces because of larger contacting surfaces.
Tread design
The tread design is one of the most challenging decisions when selectingthe right tyre for vehicle. There are many tread designs and you should consider the surface you are riding on when selecting.
For utility ATVs, you should use tyres with a rugged tread design,while for sport and race tyres, a knobby tread design works the best. If you are riding on mud, you need a long and tall tyre with self-cleaning capability. Tyres with flat lugs or tyres that are pre-drilled for studs allow more traction in snow.
Tyresize
Tyre size influences the handling of the vehicle. Too much change in tyre size can throw your bike off balance. If you haven’t modified your ATV, it is a good idea to stay with the recommended stock size.
However, if you want to choose bigger tyres, you can choose up to 2.5cm larger than recommended stock. You should be careful if you are choosing a smaller tyre. It will increase engine RPM and can overload your CVT.
