Sand Tires

ATV Sand Tires

Pulling out on to the sand for the first time with your ATV can be both an overwhelming and disappointing experience at the same time.  Imagine pulling up to the guy next to you, who has the same bike as you, and somehow he’s able to accelerate significantly better, and traverse the sand at rates that you could only dream of.

That’s because he has a good set of ATV sand tires on his quad, a set that allows him to get good traction on the sand.  Traction in the sand is something that your stock ATV tires don’t allow for.  So, before you head out next time you want to pick up a set of ATV sand tires?  Not a problem, but before you rush to your dealer there’s a few things you should know.

ATV sand tires are not meant travel on any terrain other then sand.  Taking these tires down a gravel road (or worse an asphalt road) will rip them to shreds.  So, the only time that you will be able to use them is the time that you spend on the sand.  Keep that in mind when you buy your set.  What this means for many people is that when they buy their ATV sand tires is that they also spend the extra money and buy a new set of wheels with them.  Buying an extra set of wheels can save money in the long run. Otherwise, you have to pay an arm and a leg every time you have your ATV sand tires swapped out for mounting, dismounting, and balancing.

When it comes to buying your ATV sand tires you have a couple different options of where to go.  Your natural instinct is to go to a local dealer and pick from their selection.  This has the advantage of both building a relationship with your dealer, and supporting a local business, not to mention they will likely mount your tires for you.

However, when you purchase your ATV sand tires from a local dealer you will likely be sacrificing both selection and price.  Smaller dealers can’t afford to carry the same type of inventory that online retailers can, so you will be limited to the very few ATV sand tires that they have on hand.  Also, since they have a brick and mortar (conventional) store front, they also have the expenses that go along with that store front, and usually the prices will be significantly higher because of it.

Regardless of where you buy, make sure that you educate yourself on the tires you select.  Some ATV sand tires are directional, which means that you can’t put the left tire on the right side and vice versa.  Likewise, if you install some of the ATV sand tires backwards, you will be disappointed and ultimately you’ll just end up tearing up your brand new tires when it’s not necessary.  Above all else, remember, rather you’re out in the dunes for the weekend or living on the beach with your ATV, play it safe, and keep it on the trails!