A Comprehensive Guide for Buying Powersports Vehicle Tires
As an outdoor enthusiast, you’ll want your powersports vehicle to always be in tip-top shape and ready for your adventures. If your off-road vehicle doesn't have the right parts and accessories, you’ll probably have to spend more time coercing it to move than enjoying the ride. To skip the hassle, ensure you have the right tires for the terrain you hope to hit the most. Not all tires are equal, and some are better for certain types of riding than others.
Read on to learn more about buying powersports vehicle tires, and for more information, contact Thompson’s Motorsports!
The Basics of Powersports Vehicle Tires
Here are a few key terms to help you navigate the off-roading tire scene.
Knob size is a rating that refers to the amount of surface area on a tire that contacts the ground. The bigger the knob size, the more your tire will touch the ground when you’re riding.
Tread depth tells you how deep a tire will cut into the ground by displacing softer material. Higher tread depths are better equipped for riding through terrain with a lot of soft material lying on top of it.
Pattern shape refers to how a tire is cut and designed. This affects the traction your tire gets in wet and dry conditions.
Tires for Hard Terrain
If you plan to hit hard-packed dirt and rocky terrain, you’ll benefit from investing in tires with short knobs placed close together. These models often come without too much tread depth. You can get tires with a flexible carcass to avoid feeling every bump on the road.
Tires for Soft Terrain
If you hope to frequent sandy, muddy, or gravelly terrain that shifts when you apply pressure, you’ll probably want to explore tires that help create the traction needed to get by smoothly and conveniently. Ideally, look for knobs that are more spread out and have a spiky appearance on the front tire and a paddle-like appearance on the back tire.
Intermediate Terrain
For everything in between, you’ll probably need an all-rounder tire!
Intermediate terrain tires don’t cut through too much material and come outfitted with taller knobs. This unique design helps them accommodate a variety of trails and make your powersports vehicle more suitable for your off-roading endeavors.
Are you ready to go shopping for tires for your powersports vehicle? If you have more questions, contact Thompson’s Motorsports. We proudly serve Terre Haute, Bloomington, & West Indianapolis, IN, and Effingham, IL—so reach out today!