P500 Kenda Bearclaw HTR

[sthomp54]

OK, just got the Kenda Bearclaw HTRs installed. Wow, night and day difference from stock. Got 26x9x12 front and 26x11x12 rear on stock wheels. Got them for $360 delivered and had wally world mount them up for $5/tire, thought about doing it myself for about 5 seconds, but this is a tough, stiff tire...not messing with it to save 20 bux.

They measure 26.25" actual height and front are 9", back are 10.5", running 7 psi. Overall rear width 50.5" and front width 49.5" I know this is important to me and for some people so wanted to give some good specs. Also, the front tires clear the frame corner with about .75" clearance, shouldnt be any issues there as I didnt want to cut the frame.

The gearing seems to be about right now, 1st is actually usable to get some wheel spin up the slick steep stuff...I went up a large bank near my house that the old tires would never get even halfway up even in 2nd gear wide open, just put it in 1st with these htrs and dropped the hammer, clawed right up. The ride is much better too, kinda surprised at that. There is some loss of power, but not dramatic.

I was toying with the idea of getting 26x9 for the rear but chickened out! I do like the look of the 26x11 on the back and it is a much beefier tire than the 26x9 on the front, figured I'm in 2wd most of the time so the rear tire takes a lot of the abuse. Here are some pics:

 

[rocmar]

OK, just got the Kenda Bearclaw HTRs installed. Wow, night and day difference from stock. Got 26x9x12 front and 26x11x12 rear on stock wheels. Got them for $360 delivered and had wally world mount them up for $5/tire, thought about doing it myself for about 5 seconds, but this is a tough, stiff tire...not messing with it to save 20 bux.

They measure 26.25" actual height and front are 9", back are 10.5", running 7 psi. Overall rear width 50.5" and front width 49.5" I know this is important to me and for some people so wanted to give some good specs. Also, the front tires clear the frame corner with about .75" clearance, shouldnt be any issues there as I didnt want to cut the frame.

The gearing seems to be about right now, 1st is actually usable to get some wheel spin up the slick steep stuff...I went up a large bank near my house that the old tires would never get even halfway up even in 2nd gear wide open, just put it in 1st with these htrs and dropped the hammer, clawed right up. The ride is much better too, kinda surprised at that. There is some loss of power, but not dramatic.

I was toying with the idea of getting 26x9 for the rear but chickened out! I do like the look of the 26x11 on the back and it is a much beefier tire than the 26x9 on the front, figured I'm in 2wd most of the time so the rear tire takes a lot of the abuse. Here are some pics:View attachment 10640 View attachment 10641 View attachment 10642 View attachment 10643

Kool.....
badass.....

 

[SBuckJ]

I have them...best all around tires I have had on any machine...and they wear well...that's a plus! Enjoy!

 

[sthomp54]

Thanks, thought I would show a quick comparison between stock and new tires for reference. Sometimes its hard to tell from pictures, but really changes the look of the machine.

 

[rocmar]

Thanks, thought I would show a quick comparison between stock and new tires for reference. Sometimes its hard to tell from pictures, but really changes the look of the machine.View attachment 10712 View attachment 10713

Great pics. ...showing comparison of tire size.....

 

[393stroker]

I really like mine. It was a toss up between these and bighorns. Price won out. I never had radials before on a atv always had mud tires. These ride smooth and have plenty of traction. Here is what they look like in 25/8s 25/10s on 12" rims.

 

[Sxsnewbie]

Bighorn 2.0s vs stock

 

[393stroker]

I had 27" zillas on before I liked them but they made my machine fill tipsy on hills around my property. So I went with 25s for stability. But after seeing your 26s I might have to exercise the card 1 more time. I like the stance your has. Nice looking rig sthomp54.

 

[Montecresto]

View attachment 10748 View attachment 10747 I really like mine. It was a toss up between these and bighorns. Price won out. I never had radials before on a atv always had mud tires. These ride smooth and have plenty of traction. Here is what they look like in 25/8s 25/10s on 12" rims.

How wide are you with those tires and wheels?

 

[393stroker]

52" in front 53" in rear.

 

[Montecresto]

52" in front 53" in rear.

Thank you. See that's the deal killer for me when it comes to those nice looking wheels. I bought the P-500 to slip it in the bed of the pickup truck which might accept 51-1/2.

 

[Montecresto]

OK, just got the Kenda Bearclaw HTRs installed. Wow, night and day difference from stock. Got 26x9x12 front and 26x11x12 rear on stock wheels. Got them for $360 delivered and had wally world mount them up for $5/tire, thought about doing it myself for about 5 seconds, but this is a tough, stiff tire...not messing with it to save 20 bux.

They measure 26.25" actual height and front are 9", back are 10.5", running 7 psi. Overall rear width 50.5" and front width 49.5" I know this is important to me and for some people so wanted to give some good specs. Also, the front tires clear the frame corner with about .75" clearance, shouldnt be any issues there as I didnt want to cut the frame.

The gearing seems to be about right now, 1st is actually usable to get some wheel spin up the slick steep stuff...I went up a large bank near my house that the old tires would never get even halfway up even in 2nd gear wide open, just put it in 1st with these htrs and dropped the hammer, clawed right up. The ride is much better too, kinda surprised at that. There is some loss of power, but not dramatic.

I was toying with the idea of getting 26x9 for the rear but chickened out! I do like the look of the 26x11 on the back and it is a much beefier tire than the 26x9 on the front, figured I'm in 2wd most of the time so the rear tire takes a lot of the abuse. Here are some pics:View attachment 10640 View attachment 10641 View attachment 10642 View attachment 10643

Nice light bar mount too btw!

 

[sthomp54]

Nice light bar mount too btw!

Thanks, I liked it tucked up under the roof, but I do get some glare off the half windshield at night...was thinking about putting some window tint on the top lip of it to stop the glare.

 

[ehart814]

Well I was sure I was going with the bighorns, but now I'm thinking hard about these tires... the price is so good. Did you find them locally for that price? I can get a set for $375 delivered. My only concern is the 8 ply rating. One of the reasons I was going with Bighorn 2.0 is the good ride quality everyone reports. The other big issue is the weight of the tires. I am assuming the bighorn 2.0 tires are quite a bit lighter than the bear claws, with a smoother ride. The extra durability won't hurt, but I'm sure a 6 ply would be plenty tough for me on this machine... And it sure is nice that these wear well, since I run a lot of roads...

After owning them a while, do you think the ride quality is much improved over stock? Anything you don't like about these tires?

 

[scott]

Well I was sure I was going with the bighorns, but now I'm thinking hard about these tires... the price is so good. Did you find them locally for that price? I can get a set for $375 delivered. My only concern is the 8 ply rating. One of the reasons I was going with Bighorn 2.0 is the good ride quality everyone reports. The other big issue is the weight of the tires. I am assuming the bighorn 2.0 tires are quite a bit lighter than the bear claws, with a smoother ride. The extra durability won't hurt, but I'm sure a 6 ply would be plenty tough for me on this machine... And it sure is nice that these wear well, since I run a lot of roads...

After owning them a while, do you think the ride quality is much improved over stock? Anything you don't like about these tires?

They ride really smooth on the road even at 40mph. 100 times better than stock tires. No power steering 700 even turns better with the HTR's. Weight difference is minimal. The bear claw HTR are great i like them better than the big horn 2.0 anyday. Now the original big horns are a closer match to how good/tough the bear claws HTR are but not the 2.0's. The big horns are better at lateral controll but i think that is all. I would still buy the bear claw HTR over both big horns. Cheaper!!! and 8 ply just can't beat that.

 

[sthomp54]

Well I was sure I was going with the bighorns, but now I'm thinking hard about these tires... the price is so good. Did you find them locally for that price? I can get a set for $375 delivered. My only concern is the 8 ply rating. One of the reasons I was going with Bighorn 2.0 is the good ride quality everyone reports. The other big issue is the weight of the tires. I am assuming the bighorn 2.0 tires are quite a bit lighter than the bear claws, with a smoother ride. The extra durability won't hurt, but I'm sure a 6 ply would be plenty tough for me on this machine... And it sure is nice that these wear well, since I run a lot of roads...

After owning them a while, do you think the ride quality is much improved over stock? Anything you don't like about these tires?

Scott prob has more experience with them since he did RRB. I havent been riding much with them. One thing I do notice is that that dig really well compared to stock, they tear the heck out the ground when climbing... I got them online and had em mounted local. You will not be disappointed in their performance.

 

[ehart814]

Scott prob has more experience with them since he did RRB. I havent been riding much with them. One thing I do notice is that that dig really well compared to stock, they tear the heck out the ground when climbing... I got them online and had em mounted local. You will not be disappointed in their performance.

We I haven't heard any complaints about the 8 ply rating causing a rough ride, or the weight sapping power.

I climbed some gnarly hills last night with the stock pioneer 500. Lots of deep ruts from recent snowmelt and heavy rain... The trail never gets used because its so rough, rocky, and not even close to level in any direction. I thought for sure the ruts would have me hung up and tipped over, but somehow I made it up. It was bad enough that I went a different route after climbing because I was sure I'd roll trying to crawl down it. With a little taller and more aggressive tire like the HTR or Bighorns, I can't imagine what these little machines are capable of!

 

[tex]

kenda bearclaw 25 inch ,moose hard roof, 3500 superwinch, horn kit, homemade rear basket, trailer hitch, doam light,

 

[rocmar]

Scott prob has more experience with them since he did RRB. I havent been riding much with them. One thing I do notice is that that dig really well compared to stock, they tear the heck out the ground when climbing... I got them online and had em mounted local. You will not be disappointed in their performance.

I've seen them tires
throw softball size
rocks...... very aggressive
tire....

 

[sthomp54]

Had them in some really deep and thick mud this past weekend and they surprised me. I could ease along in 4wd where I would have been hammering down spinning the stock tires before. I like being able to ease around and not cover me and the machine in mud!