WR450 Tire Wear

[YamahaSteve]

OK, I have a few questions all related...

1. I have a 2004 WR450 with exactly 308.5 miles on it. The tire is already demolished. There is maybe 1/4" left on the center knobbies. Is this typical for the stock tire?

2. Since my stock tire fell apart pretty much, what tire should I use for high desert type riding?(loose rocks, mostly dirt and sand) Brand? Type?

3. Can you put an oversized tire on the WRs? My buddy put a bigger tire on his XR and he says it really helped with the hookup... any suggestions?

Thanks...

[gfergtr74]

Try a Kenda Carlsbad. It is a pretty stout tire and holds up well. If you are constantly spinning the thing in the rocks though any tire it going to be short lived.

[YamahaSteve]

Any other thoughts?

[Treebender]

Don't put a larger tire on it will really effect how the bike handles and it has no problem hooking-up.

I've worn several tires out at Virginia City (probably the kind of desert your riding in as it's close to you), the knobs can be totally gone in a 4 hour GP on those rocks.

Try a Dunlop 606, it's a dual-sport tire but it really holds up in the Neveda rocks.

You control the tire wear with your right hand. If you're on the throttle--your either lifting the front wheel or spinning the back tire--that's life with the WR450.

[tp3dxf]

YamahaSteve,

I ride a 01WR426. I race dez and have tried a few tires. Usually I can expect about 500 miles out of a rear tire. I have used both the D739 and the D739 AT with good results. Also a Kenda Trackmaster II that I just tore up. After 310 miles most tires will be worked but still useable. The 739AT is better for dez rocks. It doesn't chunk out like a regular 739 will. But so far the best tire I have used is the Maxxis IT. The thing wears like Stainless Steel and is about 20$ cheaper then the Dunlop stuff. Right now they are my rear tire of choice. The dez will eat tires. But the Maxxis IT is a great tire that is priced right. They also hook up great. Try one. But remember that the dez eats tires and the 426/450 will also burn them out fairly fast as well. 500 miles for a rear tire that is run agressivly is good. You really can't ask for much more then that.

The front is a different story. I swear by the Dunlop 756 awesome front tire.

[YamahaSteve]

Thx. You are the second person now to recomend the Maxxis brand. My brother has been running one on his YZ426 and it seems to hold up. I just wanted some other opinions and see if others thought the maxxis was a good one to go with. I think I will try it out. I have a 40 miler coming up this weekend and I think my stocker tire will retire after that.

[Desracer]

I am still running a Kenda Millville 120-18 rear at 500 plus miles. No chunking or tearing and good traction and a great price. I thought I could get more wear and traction for the larger tire, so far so good. I have paid way more for tires that havent come close to preforming like this Kenda.

[YZUL8R]

i am running a michelin MS2 starcross on the rear..i love it..even though i may give the maxxis a try when i need a new tire (very soon)...But i found the MS2 to hold up alot better than the dunlop 739..and it hooks up alot better on anything IMO..

-Travis

[Hamish]

I currently have a VeeRubber on the rear of my 426. Hooks up well, and seems to be lasting ok aswell. And they are cheap too, but I plan to try a Maxxis IT next time around ?

Hamish

[_Blue_Mule_]

maxxis all the way, i have over 600 miles on my maxx cross IT, and it looks almost like new. the stock dunlop looked like a racing slick after 600 miles ?

[mayday]

I run the dunlop AT 739 Desert and I have 10 rides on it. Looks almost new all my friends can't believe how well it is wearing! I also heard the maxxis it is good too. But I am very impressed with the 739at desert!!! ?

[dirtstiff]

Hey Blue Mule, I appreciate the vote of confidence on the Maxxis... Do you also run the IT on the front as well?? My 739 still has some life on the front, but I can't wait till they arrive. I rode with a bunch of CRF Buds today and it was frustating running my worn out 739.(Sorry I didn't read your post completely,you described using Maxxis as pairs.) I also ride Eastern Oregon a lot which is rocky too, It will be interesting to see if the Maxxis are any good in that terrain as well . Thanks,Jim. ?

[john450f]

Hey Steve-O, Pay attention to where the opinions are coming from (area of the country, not the person- don't want to offend anyone). Seems alot of responses come from areas with real dirt-with moisture. I've been looking for a good compromise tire(traction vs wear) since I got my 450. The dry hard dirt and rocks in the southwest just tears up tires. The stock dunlop hooked up great but wore too fast. Tried a cheap kenda(not carsbad)didn't hook up at all. Now on Perelli MT21's. They have lasted pretty well, but are pretty skatey(sp?) on dry hardpack. I'll probably try the Maxxis next- seems to be pretty good. Aside from frequent tire changes, out here it's always a compromise

[JVP]

I believe the best tire for the money is the Maxxis IT. Front and Back. They hook up in all conditions well and they hold up longer than most. I did have a read Kenda TrackMaster once and it was like steel, but it is costly.