I'm fairly new to the quad/sand thing. My wife and I have been riding 3-wheelers mostly, with paddles, but never bothered to do anything for a front tire. Well, I got her a Raptor, and was wondering she will notice any difference maneuvering in the dunes if I put some sand tires on the front? I've got some Sand Stars for the back, but just knobbies for the front.

What are anyone's thoughts? Are they worth the $$$$, or just look cool?

I dont have any fronts but I've ridden other's with them...and damn, you feel a difference, the quad will turn on a dime as long as you are shifting your weight of the rear wheels...

Its gonna be my next investment

Well I have ridden in the sand a couple five times without them and turning was a problem. I just picked up a set for my warrior and I am hoping that they will make a difference. If you look hard enough you can find some killer deals. I picked mine up for about 100 from someone on the boards. If he is reading this, thanks again for the hook-up these tires look sick on my bike.

Aaron

GET THEM, my brothers raptor would plow straght forward untill we got some "dune trackers" up front or razors whatever you want to call them. WELL worth it. you will LOVE them, on my shee.......its the difference between living and dying

had'm on my DS and could tell a difference... recently got a 450R and don't have razors on the front yet... it's ok for the most part and still duneable... but I'd be much more comfortable with'm

I've riden with them and without them. Right now I ride without them. I didn't like them on the front of my new bike. I like the knobbies better. I have a YFZ450 with Sand Stars in the rear.

I had my eye on those- that's what got me thinking about this topic. Ya beat me to 'em, and they're even on my side of town (usually everything I want on this board is in freakin' CA!).

Anyone else have a set for sale????

They make a difference when your trying to turn up hill ,,i run sand stars and love them..

Sand Stars, 22" float nice, turn great, jump even better.

THE BOMB

ITP sand stars here, they make the bike handle waaaaaaaay better.

i run sand tire unlimited razorbacks on my predator, i will never run without ewm inthe sand again, they absorb alot of the stutter bumps and stuff since they are soft and bubbly lookin

I think a quad works much better with them. The STUs are the best you can
buy. They are the lightest also. (and the most expensive). As far as the sand
stars Sand Sports Magazine (Feb/Mar 04) tested them and said "As mentioned
earlier the front tires dual ridge design is intended to offer nearly twice the
traction for turning as a single ridge tire. This may be true, but we've never
really noticed a lack of traction with the single ridge tires.Don't think this means
the Sand Stars aren't better. Where they really shined was in a straight line.
Single ridge tires can sometimes feel as if they always want to turn. They can
hunt from left to right. The dual ridges on the ITPs new tire seemed to be more
relaxed and willing to just stay pointed down the center."
Personally I will always stay with a single ridge.

How may bikes have the incorrect toe in causing this problem?

I can also tell you that most Hondas that I have ever bought(1/2 a dozen 86-89
250rs, a 400ex and my 2005 450r) the toe was off and makes a huge difference
on performance and handling. My 450 had .750! It is now set at .375 and
works great. There is a good previous thread on this board on setting the toe in.

Here is the thread on toein. More critical with a razor than the knobby.

Toe in
Also the rubber compound and wall flex feels much softer on the STU Razors.
A much better ride.

Some interesting info: Just looked in my 450R service manuel and it calls for
.450 to .600 on the toe in. My .250-.375 figure was given to me by Neal at
ATV Racing and he is one of the smartest around. Not sure what gives. My bike
is dunes only and it works. (2 wheels only in the desert - KTM rocks.)

R MX-ATV in Peoria (43rd ave/Peoria) has been selling the Kenda front Razors on blue label wheels for $99.00 per set the last few monthes. You might give him a call to see if he still is selling them for that price.

Having said that, i will be one of the firsts in this thread to say I didn't feel a noticable difference in control when switching over from nobbies. However, I dunned the first 18 years without them and just switched this year so maybe it is what I am used to.

'Bob

Yes it does make a difference when you are going up the dunes,
And when the sand is tore up by your fellow riders, it helps the front end say straight
It also helps keep turning and sliding under control.

I have the ITP Sand Stars on my 2003 Raptor and I think they are great. I like the way they track at high speeds on the flat and have found they make a big difference turning in the dunes. I would recommend them.

Well I just got back from GW and let me say I will never run sand again without razor style tires. I have 8 paddle haulers on the back and I could still manuver the bike with some effort. But it was nothing like the fight I had on my hands before. If you dont have them, spend the 100 and get a set

Aaron

and at least they look cool.

I like drifting more than turning. Grab some throttle, throw the ass end of your bike around, and countersteer. I can corner fine like this with my knobbies...

I have the sand stars and I like them much better than the knobbies. . . The only thin, is that I've heard that if you get the totally smooth ones, you really have to let off the throttle to turn. . . but the ones with the ridges are great. . .

if you want to buy sand wheels for the front go to atvrent.com, based in san diego, for new sand tires i havent found cheaper, i think i paid like 130 for a pair a sand stars with itp rims.

you stick to your drifting while we all take the turns way faster than you

i used to be in love with drifting too, but you lose speed in the turn and coming out of it.