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Tires for Sand?

14K views 14 replies 10 participants last post by  m77ranger 
#1 ·
Does anyone have any recs for a good sand tire? I found a spot real close to my house that has some potential but a lot of sandy areas.
 
#8 ·
Look for tires with lots of prominent side knobs for the front tire.

I don't mean tall knobs, but you want a continuous line of knobs, just the opposite of a mud tire. Mud tires have lots of big gaps on the side knobs to let mud escape, but you want to trap sand.

I had a tri-razor tire on my moto for the Oregon dunes. It had a middle line, and 2 very prominent lines of rubber that splayed outwards at an angle, trapping sand in the middle and allowing the tire to get up onto the sand.

On the rear, look for paddle style blocks with enough space to dig in.
 
#9 ·
cannonballtrail said:
Geax saguaros aren't half bad as long as it's not a beach
Maybe as a rear tire but otherwise a horrendous front tire (from experience). Side knobs are worthless unless maybe you are using a 40mm wide rim. A few rides on DC proved that point to me. Had the 2.2" on 23mm rims (OD, not terrible small). Sold that tire 40 miles later. Thats likely a very good light sand over hardpack tire, rear only.

I've learned that railing sandy corners is more about finese and ballance than having the perfect tires. Practice makes ummm not as many hard crashes ??? :p I washed out on a sandy corner yesterday. Just a little too much weight on the front with the amount of lean and bam, washout :madman: Rollin Front 2.4" Specy Purgatory Control on 35mm rims at 32psi with a Serfas Krest 2.1 on a WTB trail 27mm wide rim at 38PSI. Good enough traction but when my technique gets sloppy, the tires can only help so much.. .
 
#10 ·
twowheelsdown2002 said:
Look for tires with lots of prominent side knobs for the front tire.

I don't mean tall knobs, but you want a continuous line of knobs, just the opposite of a mud tire. Mud tires have lots of big gaps on the side knobs to let mud escape, but you want to trap sand.

I had a tri-razor tire on my moto for the Oregon dunes. It had a middle line, and 2 very prominent lines of rubber that splayed outwards at an angle, trapping sand in the middle and allowing the tire to get up onto the sand.

On the rear, look for paddle style blocks with enough space to dig in.
Makes sense

When I was looking at this Wicked Will tire, I was thinking along those lines b/c the side knobs are pretty continuous
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=32486&category=624

A more DH type tire for sandy areas may would be a Specy Clutch Front and maybe a Chunder on the rear b/c of the large center paddle type knob http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=57837
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=56711
 
#11 ·
berny2435 said:
Makes sense

When I was looking at this Wicked Will tire, I was thinking along those lines b/c the side knobs are pretty continuous
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=32486&category=624

A more DH type tire for sandy areas may would be a Specy Clutch Front and maybe a Chunder on the rear b/c of the large center paddle type knob http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=57837
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=56711
:thumbsup: Those look like some good choices.

A wide rim to square the tire profile out a bit more, and low pressure as well, would both help.
 
#12 ·
Sand? I try and avoid it if possible, and I would rather buy my tires more specifically for the places I enjoy riding more: rocks and high trails. So far I have managed to ride little sand around Tucson, and if I encounter any, I will get off and push if the weight-back-pedal-like-f**k approach doesn't work. If I want a beach cruiser I will get a Pugsly, but I don't think that's ever gonna happen...
 
#14 ·
m77ranger said:
How do you like that tire? It looks like a nevagal rip-off for half the price. Does it perform? Does it last?
Just started using it actually. DC was my first ride on it. Not a terribly soft tire so it should last. I replaced a wire bead light weight Maxis Ignitor that was just getting destroyed ride to ride. With only one ride on it, it for sure beats the Ignitor for traction at DC. Especially on the little steep uphill washes.

I wouldn't consider it a Nevagal rip-off at all. Completely different tire. More knobs and should be faster rolling Haven't ridden a Nevagal on my 29r before. It measures a 2.1 on a WTB trail rim. Their website http://www.serfas.com/product_details.asp?ID=559

They don't feel like 880grams like the site says. one dudes comment at 740 feels about right but I didn't weigh it before I mounted it.
 
#15 ·
berny2435 said:
Just started using it actually. DC was my first ride on it. Not a terribly soft tire so it should last. I replaced a wire bead light weight Maxis Ignitor that was just getting destroyed ride to ride. With only one ride on it, it for sure beats the Ignitor for traction at DC. Especially on the little steep uphill washes.

I wouldn't consider it a Nevagal rip-off at all. Completely different tire. More knobs and should be faster rolling Haven't ridden a Nevagal on my 29r before. It measures a 2.1 on a WTB trail rim. Their website http://www.serfas.com/product_details.asp?ID=559

They don't feel like 880grams like the site says. one dudes comment at 740 feels about right but I didn't weigh it before I mounted it.
Thanks for the info.
 
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