BEST ATV / UTV tires for winter trail riding
December 5, 2020Do you use your ATV or UTV in the snowy season? We do!
Eastern Canada is prime winter riding paradise for ATVs and UTVs! I kid you not!
CHECK OUT MARC’S VIDEO ON WINTER TIRES!
The Quebec ATV Federation ( www.fqcq.qc.ca ) started grooming it’s trail system in winter for over 20 years ago and it’s been growing ever since. At the time of writing this, over 25 000 km of federated trails is getting ready to be groomed this winter. You got to come to Quebec and try this if you only know snowmobiles in winter. It’s awesome!
image: fqcq.qc.ca
Recently, other provinces have started to offer winter riding to their members. The Maritime provinces now all have a large part of their trails available to their members in winter with great success. Even Ontario is getting on board slowly but gently. Winter trail riding is very different especially if you have access to groomed trails!
Similar to snowmobile trail riding, ATVs and UTVs are no longer reserved for summer use. 300km daily rides are not uncommon in eastern Canada and almost 100 000 ATVers are doin’ it!
But… There’s a problem: 90% of stock tires that equip ATVs and UTVs are not suited for offroad winter use!
Having the wrong tires on your machine can send you off the groomed trails in a flash.
Fear not! I’ve been winter riding for over 20 years and i’ve pretty much sampled 80% of tires available in the market. Winter trail riding on groomed or cleared trails is very different then bombing around in the local sand pit or woods. Packed snow that has frozen over is very, very slippery. Ice is also a fact of life in steep hills, ruts and turns. Being able to easily control your ATV should be a priority. I’ve seen my share of accidents with minor to severe injuries that were largely due to loss of control on ice. Wrecking and getting injured is no laughing matter. Especially when you have to go to work the next day.
Well then Marc, what tires do I need?
Anything that is available with a soft rubber compound with a 6 ply rating and less is good. I largely favor the use of radial tires for trail riding. They have a better feel, ride smoother and will have much better treadwear than any Bias ply tires out there. Bias tires are fine if you’re on a tight budget but, if you can spring an extra 15-20% more, get some radials, you’ll thank me later.
The softer the compound and sidewall, the better grip your machine will have. It’s exactly the same as the winter tires you use for your car, pickup or SUV. The only difference is that you will encounter amounts of snow in the trails that would stop a roadgoing vehicle dead in it’s tracks. Conditions vary quickly from pure ice to deep ruts to loose snow blown into the trails by the wind. An automotive type winter tire is simply not going to cut it.
So, you need a good all rounder! Stay away from the big mud tires with huge lugs! Those are great in the ruts as long as there’s no hard ice at the bottom. Most V-groove type of tires also do the same thing: They dig! I can understand the logic when people tell me they don’t understand why big mudders or V shaped tire treads dont work quite as well as they expected. You see the lugs and go: Hell yeah! This is going to be great! NOT!
Let’s get back to the winter tires on your car or truck ok? Did you notice that 90% of them don’t have big lugs? The most popular winter tires almost look like all season tires don’t they? The trick is the rubber compound. It’s very soft and the tire companies insert hundreds of Sipes in the lugs so they create even more traction on ice. That’s how it works in general.
THE TIRES I RECOMMEND:
In over three decades in the ATV / UTV industry, I’ve sampled most of what is out there for tires. Not all, but let’s say 80% of what is offered on the web and dealerships. I’ll narrow it to the best performing in the category because I could be naming tires until tomorrow and that would only confuse than inform.
BEST RADIAL TIRES FOR WINTER TRAIL USE:
Traxion Glacius Studdable Winter ATV/UTV Tire
The Glacius from the Canadian’s at Traxion Offroad is a unique ATV UTV tire specifically designed for winter use. It’s a 6 ply radial carcass that has a squarer profile then other 9 inch wide ATV tires. The tread pattern was designed to take advantage of the very soft rubber compound that has Sipes molded in blocks. Very similar to your car or truck’s winter tires. To top it all off, you can go to your local tire shop and get them studded with 160 dot type #17 studs turning them into absolute monsters on ice. Truly the best winter tire I’ve sampled in the business. One downside, don’t ride these in 30 deg Celsius summer heat, they will wear at an alarming rate.
At the time of writing this article there is only one size available: 27X9R14. Traxion Offroad is preparing a 26X9R12 and a 30X9R14 for 2021.
CONSTRUCTION |
PLY RATING |
TREAD DEPTH (IN) |
| Radial | 6 | 0.9 |
CST Stag Tire
My personal favorite all rounder. This tire is simply the best i’ve tested for winter trails. Built on the same radial carcass and rubber compound as the Maxxis Bighorn 2.0, the Stag’s tread pattern is what makes it turn in compacted snow like no other. If I had only one tire to choose from for riding year round in trails, the lightweight and capable Stag from CST Tire is on top of my list.
SIZE |
CONSTRUCTION |
PLY RATING |
TREAD DEPTH (IN) |
| 25″ | Radial | 6 | 0.71 |
| 26-32″ | Radial | 6 | 0.79 |
Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 (MU09/MU10) Tire
The Bighorn 2.0 is probably the most popular UTV / ATV tire in the world. It equips Can-ams, Yamahas, Kawasakis and a few other right out of the factory. It’s simple the best performing lightweight radial UTV tires in the business. The tread pattern is very good for forward traction with the ultra soft compound that says soft until -20C! Excellent value in winter. Available in 12 / 14 inch wheel sizes from 23 to 30 inch in height
SIZE |
CONSTRUCTION |
PLY RATING |
TREAD DEPTH (IN) |
| 24-25″ | Radial | 6 | 0.72 |
| 26-28″ | Radial | 6 | 0.78 |
| 27X9-12 | Radial | 4 | 0.78 |
ITP Blackwater Evolution Tire
The Blackwater EVO is one of the rare 8 ply radials that i’ve sampled that really works in winter. The compound hardens up under -15C but still is a worthy candidate especially if you ride where a lot of rocks are present. They have a very good sidewall that can take abuse. They’re on the pricey side but you’re getting a very good true all rounder. Lots of sizes available in 12 / 14 / 15 / 17 inch wheel size
CONSTRUCTION |
PLY RATING |
TREAD DEPTH (IN) |
| Radial | 8 | 1 |
OVERSIZED WINTER TIRES FOR UTVs (GO BIG OR GO HOME!)
You own a big rig? A heavily modified UTV? A monster mudder?
Mud paddles or most big fat truck type tires are absolutely worthless on hard packed snow and Ice. I’ve been there many times! So, what do you get to keep the look and stance of your heavily modified UTV or ATV?
Super ATV Warrior XT ATV/UTV Tire
There can be only one! (highlander movie remember?). Well, there’s only one big and tall tire that I’ve sampled that can handle ice and snow. The warrior XT from Super ATV is available in a “sticky” compound that is perfect for winter. It stays soft to -40C and has a tread pattern that lets the blocks work with the rubber to create grip. It’s the only truck type ATV / UTV tire that I’ve tested that works on groomed and icy trails. They were designed for rock crawling but they love winter too.
It’s built on an bias 8 ply carcass that has aramid reinforced plies. Super tough and can handle those bif horsepower machines all day. One drawback, pricing is off the chart! Smallest size available with the sticky compound’s street price is over 300$ a pop! OUTCH!
CONSTRUCTION |
PLY RATING |
TREAD DEPTH (IN) |
| Bias | 8 | 1 |
BEST BIAS PLY TIRES FOR WINTER USE
Interco Swamp Lite
The absolute best and oldest soft compound bias ply tires available for 9 to 14 inch wheels. From your 2wd race quad to UTVs the Swamp lite has you covered. A 6 ply bias carcass holds the very soft rubber together very well for an almost 10 year old design. Pricing is a tad high but you wont have much choice in the smaller sizing. Those holes in the blocks are a unique feature that mimics the soles of broomball shoes.
Don’t use these in summer if you own a powerful multicylindre ATV or UTV. They will wear faster than butter in a hot pan! For smaller displacement machines they do very well.
SIZE |
CONSTRUCTION |
PLY RATING |
TREAD DEPTH (IN) |
| 22X11-9 22X11-10 |
Bias | 6 | 1 |
| 22X8-10 22X7-11 23″ |
Bias | 6 | 0.66 |
| 24-25″ | Bias | 6 | 0.75 |
| 25X11-10 | Bias | 6 | 1 |
| 26″ | Bias | 6 | 1.13 |
| 27″ | Bias | 6 | 1.25 |
| 28-29.5″ | Bias | 6 | 1.56 |
CST Ancla (C9311/C9312) Tire
This one is probably the most popular in my neck of the woods. It’s inexpensive and is one of the rare directional V shape patterns that actually works. The compound is soft and it’s a decent all rounder.
SIZE |
CONSTRUCTION |
PLY RATING |
TREAD DEPTH (IN) |
| 24″ | Bias | 6 | 0.75 |
| 25X8-12 25X10-12 |
Bias | 4 or 6 | 0.75 |
| 25X11-12 | Bias | 4 | 0.75 |
| 26-28″ | Bias | 6 | 1 |
Traxion Rover Tire
A virtual unknown here but at a bargain basement price. It’s a decent performer. Compound is on the harder side of soft. Not to be mistaken to the Gripper Max or the Maxxis Bighorn family. This is a 6 ply bias tire. Available for 12 inch wheels and 25 or 26 height only
Get it here from REVCO.CA
CONSTRUCTION |
PLY RATING |
TREAD DEPTH (IN) |
| Bias | 6 | 0.75 |
