Author |
Message |
Dan_Lockwood Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2023 Posts: 195 Location: Clare MI
|
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2024 5:50 pm Post subject: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
I've looked on the Custom Wheels/Tire forum and came up with squat for information on off road tires.
I "think" I'm looking for a tire similar to the ones on the front of this buggy. I'd ask him, but he's not been here since '14.
Are these made now? I'm looking for 7.00/15 old school mud/snow tires. Kind of like the '60/70's Firestone Town and Country snow tire tread pattern.
I have smoothies for the dunes, but need to tire up for some on the road running and trails. The trails are mainly sandy, but we "may" get off the trails and would like to have a front tire that has a bit of grip in the side of the tread etc.
Any pictures or vendors that might get me in the right direction?
Thanks, Dan |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Vanapplebomb Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2010 Posts: 5441 Location: Holland, MI
|
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:17 pm Post subject: Re: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
The fronts are still made, sold under the Mini-Mag name by Mickey Thompson. They are awesome and really tough. Use them on my buggy as well.
_________________ 1800 Type 4 Berrien 295
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=487021 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
racecougar Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2023 Posts: 111 Location: Imperial, MO
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2024 7:54 am Post subject: Re: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
I like the look of those.
I have the common, old-school, mud/snow type tires on mine currently. They've been fine off-road, but I would bet that those tires above are better.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
jsturtlebuggy Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2005 Posts: 4496 Location: Fair Oaks/Orangevale, CA
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2024 8:14 am Post subject: Re: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
Mickey Thompson MiniMag E78-15 tires have not been available for over a year now. They were supposed to be available in October 2023, but Mickey Thompson Tire was sold and new owner has not said when if ever they would be available again.
Many in the buggy community would like to see them again including myself. _________________ Joseph
Fair Oaks/Orangevale, CA
Elrod Motorsports
Motion Tire Motorsports
Having fun with Dune Buggies since 1970
Into Volkswagens since 1960 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ORANGECRUSHer Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2006 Posts: 2725 Location: West Coast (Michigan's)
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
racecougar Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2023 Posts: 111 Location: Imperial, MO
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2024 10:46 am Post subject: Re: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
ORANGECRUSHer wrote: |
I love my powerkings. Price was good and they don't throw rocks. |
Mine sure do. You can even see a rock stuck in the tread in my photo above. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
JWHracing Samba Member
Joined: September 17, 2008 Posts: 234 Location: Mesa, AZ
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:02 pm Post subject: Re: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
The Mickey Thompson buggy tires have been discontinued and are no longer made. This is the 7.00/15 Mini Mag, and 33x9 and 35x10 Baja Pros. _________________ 65 Baja - Class 5 Unlimited Race Car
2021 STORR Pro Air Cooled Buggy Champion
2019 AZOP Unlimited Buggy Champion
2017 SADR 1300 Class Champion
2016 AZOP Limited Buggy Champion
Currently "retired" from racing |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ORANGECRUSHer Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2006 Posts: 2725 Location: West Coast (Michigan's)
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
racecougar wrote: |
ORANGECRUSHer wrote: |
I love my powerkings. Price was good and they don't throw rocks. |
Mine sure do. You can even see a rock stuck in the tread in my photo above. |
That doesn't surprise me with the blocky tread. So far I haven't noticed it. _________________ Brian H.
I may not know everything,but I will try to help if I can
OrangeCrushER Berrien Warrior 2.4L Quad4
LAZY MARY 1970 Baja 1835cc |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Dan_Lockwood Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2023 Posts: 195 Location: Clare MI
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2024 5:38 pm Post subject: Re: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
Thanks everyone for the input and suggestions.
I just ordered a pair of Power King 7.00-15's.
I have my only manual tire changer and bubble balancer. That's probably good enough for my use.
Thanks again!
Dan |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Vanapplebomb Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2010 Posts: 5441 Location: Holland, MI
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2024 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
JWHracing wrote: |
The Mickey Thompson buggy tires have been discontinued and are no longer made. This is the 7.00/15 Mini Mag, and 33x9 and 35x10 Baja Pros. |
Dang, I just looked it up. Sure enough, Cooper tires was taken over by Goodyear. Shame. I always liked Cooper products. _________________ 1800 Type 4 Berrien 295
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=487021 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
vanderjw Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2014 Posts: 107 Location: Wayland, Michigan
|
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2024 10:44 am Post subject: Re: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
I saw some rail buggies at a show recently with motorcycle tires on the front. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
BFB Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2014 Posts: 1762
|
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2024 2:48 pm Post subject: Re: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
vanderjw wrote: |
I saw some rail buggies at a show recently with motorcycle tires on the front. |
Ive been running Motorcycle tires on the front of one of my rails for about 5 or 6 years now. The most off road this rail sees if a field and dirt roads, they tend to push in grass but thats to be expected. I would assume they’d perform about the same in sand as a desert smoothie?
They definitely dont throw rocks and with how the tread wraps around more than a standard tire i feel they’d be more puncture resistant.
I dont have a single complaint except that when you see the actual contact patch size if seems a little sketch .. but i also know ill take the back road corners at an easy 60 mph and they feel stable at 100 _________________ Forced induction can overcome a lot of obsticles that gets in it's way
"You are the Engineer and the Mechanic.
Build it your way not the way someone else does it. Their way might not work for you." - clonebug
An interesting thing happens in forums where everyone starts parroting the same thing and "common knowledge" takes over.
“ The monkey see monkey do mentality seems to run deep in VW people. "Gene Berg said it was so 30 years ago so thats the way it is" “ - bdkw1 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kbwakesk8 Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2005 Posts: 1499 Location: Hacienda Heights CA
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:44 am Post subject: Re: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
I run overload trailer tires. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Kizbo Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2014 Posts: 106 Location: KY
|
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
Don't underestimate the versatility of some 5.00-15 3-rib implement tires. These have been a God-send for a lot of my offroad riding. In sand they make steering easy as well as not throwing sand in your face like a treaded tire. Since the majority of the time, the middle rib is the one taking most if not all of the load, it will even feel smooth and also steer well in most offroad surfaces. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Wulfthang Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2018 Posts: 722 Location: Tucson
|
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2024 8:13 pm Post subject: Re: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
I'm running BFG's on my street/trail rail and they work nice. They don't throw rocks but one of them threw a piece of Cholla Jumping Cactus that required field surgery to remove from my arm! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12863 Location: Western Canada
|
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2024 5:37 am Post subject: Re: Sand Rail For Trail Riding Front Tires? |
|
|
I am running 5 rib 700 x 15 implement tires on mine. They work just fine for trail riding, the ribs are more shallow than the 3 rib so throw even less sand and rocks than the 3 rib tires. It's not all roses though. They are not legal for the street and do not balance well at all. They are only good for low speed off road use. Anything much above 40 mph sees them changing shape resulting in mild shakes.
They are good enough for what we do but next tire change I will look for something different. I also found they wear fast when flat towing making it necessary to have a set of spare street tires mounted on rims for that purpose. _________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|