Best tires for use in deep Florida sand

[larrynordmann]

I'm a new rider and just purchased a 2004 Honda CRF250X equipped with a Pirelli MT32 on the rear and a Dunlop D742F on the front. Virtually all the terrain I ride in is sand, often deep, soft sand, so what would you suggest I change to? Handling has been a challenge with the current set-up, although I'm sure that will improve with experience...

[mikerides33]

Get rid of the front tire as soon as possible and put a 756 on there. It's not bad on the back either.

[deadeye1340]

I'll agree that the 756 is a good tire, but I like it for the intermediate stuff. For sand and mud I prefer the Dunlop 773.

[Dwight_Rudder]

The MT32 is a great sand tire. I suggest a Pirelli MT83 Scorpion Pro or the MT44 front tire.

Dwight

[CroomRider]

Michelin S-12 front and rear. Great traction and outlasts most.

CR

[PigPenKLX450]

you know the tire selection is only 20% of the challenge the other 80% is how you ride the bike in the sand.

Are you loose, keeping your weight back on the bike, keeping your speed up, powering through your turns, ect... because all those are going to help you ride in the sand trust me I ride sand alot and if you relax let the front tire go where its going to go make sure you throttle up on the turns and keeping your weight tward the back of the bike are all things that are going to help and if at all possible stand up as that will make your ride alot smoother as your keeping your weight backwards and youre center of gravity is better.

[larrynordmann]

Good advice - and I agree technique is 80% of the battle. I spent most of this past weekend figuring out - the hard way - everything you just mentioned. My form and technique still has a long way to go, but I've gotten comfortable handling in deep rutted sand on straightaways thus far. Speed seems to be key - I'll work on turns next weekend. But I figured tires must factor into the mix and I'm trying to optimize the bike for the conditions in which I generally ride in. I figured a new front tire is probably a small price to pay to make the learning curve a little less steep.

[Bryce250f]

Another vote for the Michelin s-12's. Like any soft terrain tire, they will chunk if you ride them in the rocks, but they work great in the sand.

[PigPenKLX450]

Good advice - and I agree technique is 80% of the battle. I spent most of this past weekend figuring out - the hard way - everything you just mentioned. My form and technique still has a long way to go, but I've gotten comfortable handling in deep rutted sand on straightaways thus far. Speed seems to be key - I'll work on turns next weekend. But I figured tires must factor into the mix and I'm trying to optimize the bike for the conditions in which I generally ride in. I figured a new front tire is probably a small price to pay to make the learning curve a little less steep.

yes the right Tires are a must and like you said a small price to pay and it does help alot. so just remember when you are practicing turning in the sand to throttle up as that will keep your front end up and out of the sand more and will allow you to turn easyer. Oh and also Have fun. ? When I first started riding I was weary of the sand and now I love it

[PigPenKLX450]

Are you riding at some kind of Dunes or are you trail riding but come accross sand washes from time to time?

[larrynordmann]

I primarily trail ride, but in the area I live, the natural soil is 100% sand, interspersed with the occasional mudhole near lakes or ponds. Occasionally I'll ride on packed clay roads, but those are manmade and are the exception. Most trails I ride are fairly heavily ridden by others so the sand is often deep and/or rutted. This is no doubt a newbie question, but if my current back tire - the MT32 - is a good sand tire, why wouldn't I want the same tire front and rear?

[CroomRider]

Being from Florida as well, I can tell you that we really don't have any dunes. The whole state is pretty much sand or soft dirt. If the sand is damp like after a recent rain, the traction is pretty good. If it's been dry for a while, it's not. I like the S-12's for Florida, they give great traction and last a long time.

CR

[PigPenKLX450]

if you ever get a chance to go to somewhere that has dunes do it cuz riding sand on trials is cool but dunes are so much fun and such an addrenalin rush.

[SpeedyR]

This is no doubt a newbie question, but if my current back tire - the MT32 - is a good sand tire, why wouldn't I want the same tire front and rear?

The Pirelli MT410 is the "real" sand tire but for what you are looking at is more softer stuff but some packed trails the MT32 is good. If you like the rear, try the MT32F front tire. it's excellent in the soft stuff as well. it will work well in the sand and is consistant in the harder stuff as well. the grip you get when it's leaned over in soft terrain is excellent and it's durable. I know it's dowdy's tire of choice for southwick so if it's good enough for him it's good enough for me.

usually it's good to run a matched set but some front and/or rear tires don't always work best so most people tend to mix and match what matches their riding style. just because someone else likes a tire doesn't mean you will. it depends upon what your priorities are. if you are racing or riding hard, you should put a premium on traction. if you are just out playing around and riding a lot you might want more durability, and if you don't have a job, you might put a premium on cost. ?

try to get reasons why people like something not just "hey I like the xxx tire". it'll help you make better decisions.

[tjg53]

Hear in mich. we have a lot of sandy trails, and i find a 756 front ,and a 773 rear work very good. They wear well to.

[florida4stroke]

i also live in florida and ride the sand michelin s-12 or the ms2 great tires found that the s-12 front and the ms2 rear make a great combo the s-12 rear almost hooks up to much if you like to slide into turns

[sp1graff]

I do ALOT of sand riding on my klx340 and have found the Kenda Millville to be the best sand tire. Front and Rear.