30-inch Tire Review

By Jon Crowley, UTVGuide.net

Amongst all the cool UTV builds and new products at the 2012 Sand Sports Super Show I found four different tire manufacturers with five new 30x10R14 tires. Being a fan of larger tires for rock crawling, I was thrilled to see manufacturers push in this direction. Until now if you wanted to run a large tire, the best option was to us a light truck tire on a 15-inch wheel.

For pure rock crawling, I found the light truck tires worked just fine. I have run a set of 30×9.50R15 BFG KM2s and also a set of 31×11.50R15 Pit Bull Growler LTs on several different vehicles. On the plus side, the tires are tough. The BFG KM2 has a max load rating of nearly 2,000 lbs each and the extra ground clearance made rock crawling so much easier.

In the desert it is a different story. Although several Best in the Desert UTV race teams have been running light truck tires in the last few years, I tried them and was not happy with the outcome. The combined tire and wheel weight was right about 60 lbs (42 lbs. for the tire alone). The additional rotating mass really affected power, and the stiff sidewall and extra weight really took a toll on suspension performance. I could possibly let this go in order to get more ground clearance, the one thing I did not like was the lack of traction when cornering. With most UTV tires it is pretty easy to slide in the corners. Predictability is key for me and I found that the BFGs would break free unexpectedly. This was a tire killer for me.

The new tires I found at the Sand Sports Super Show are specifically made for UTVs. They all use a common 14-inch wheel, weigh less and have a max load rating much more inline with a UTV than a truck.

After contacting the tire manufacturers about doing a tire shootout, all were interested in participating. It took a few months to gather all the sets, but in early December we were ready. To be most fair, we should have used the same wheel for each tire, but that would have proved cost-prohibitive for me. Take that into account.

The first thing we did was weigh and measure each tire.

Tire	Ply	Weight	Mounted Height	Mounted Width
Maxxis Bighorn	6 Ply	30 lbs.	29 1/8″	10″
GBC Kenati Mongrel	8 Ply	33.3 lbs.	30 1/8″	9 3/8″
ITP UltraCross	8 Ply	34 lbs.	29 1/4″	9 1/4″
ITP BajaCross	8 Ply	34.4 lbs.	29 1/4″	9 1/2″
STI Roctane XD	8 Ply	39 lbs.	31″	10″

We tested all five of the new 30x10R14 tires in a variety of terrain to see how they reacted in different environments. Our 2013 Polaris RZR XP was used for all testing.

For the desert part of the test, I traveled to Barstow, CA and met up with Rick “Wally” Wallace from Side x Side Outfitterz and Mike Lasher from SxSPerformance.com. Both these guys are extremely experienced with desert terrain whether it be in a race or just for fun. After running all the tires through a course that included high speed dirt, g-outs, whoops and sand washes, we all agreed on our favorites.

Tire pressure was set to 12 psi for all tires.

For the short course and rock crawling tests, I hooked up with Paul Hart and used Prairie City SVRA as our testing grounds. This location is used by Valley Off-Road Racing Association for several short-course races each year, and also used by Nor-Cal Rock Racing for three events each summer. It is a great location for testing in these terrains.

Tire pressure was set to 9 psi for all tires.

 Tire pressure was set to 9 psi for all tires.

After combining all the data from the different terrains, I worked with Wally, Mike and Paul to come up with our thoughts for overall performance covering all of the terrain we tested.

The tread pattern and wide footprint give this radial exceptional traction, and the Bighorn’s shoulder lugs protect the sidewalls. Solid raised white lettering gives this tire an attractive look. With radial construction, recreational riders as well as ATV racers will immediately appreciate the ride quality and comfort. Mike Penland won his 10th GNCC Utility Stock Championship on the Bighorn radial.

• Radial construction offers a significantly smoother ride over rough trails
• Extra lugs on the shoulder protect the sidewall and rim
• Raised white lettering on one side
• Tire is suitable for desert, dirt, and rock application
• 6-Ply

30x10R14 Maxxis Bighorn

Our Thoughts:

GBC Motorsports – Kenati Mongrel:

Manufacturer information:
The Kanati Mongrel by GBC Motorsports is the first true all-purpose DOT tire built specifically for Side-by-Side UTVs. You might recognize the name Kanati from our affiliated light truck tire, the Kanati Mud Hog. That’s because the Mongrel utilizes the very same tread pattern as the Kanati Mud Hog, marked by aggressive diamond-shaped lugs.Much like the light truck version, the Kanati Mongrel’s tread is optimized for peak performance on multiple surfaces. The Mongrel can handle a variety of off-road terrain while remaining equally safe and suitable for paved surfaces. The 8-ply, DOT approved radial also boasts an impressive 1,000 lb. load rating and an equally impressive 87 MPH “N” speed rating.

30x10R14 GBC Kenati Mongrel

Our Thoughts:
The Kanati Mongrel was the top pick for desert, second in the rocks and short course and combined for the overall top position. The Mongrel is truly an all-purpose tire that stresses versatility and functionality. It is the lightest (just barely) of the 8-ply tires and also the tire that come closest to 30-inch tall. In general all testers felt the Mongrel’s height and width was the most proportional of all tires. The Mongrel is a great looking tire with a rounded profile, good siping and the best rim guard. The Mongrel is the only DOT approved 30-inch tire that we tested. When sliding around corners on the hard pack, we did notice that the Mongrel did not have as predictable of a kick out as the Bighorn or Roctane, but it was still tolerable.

ITP – Baja Cross:

Manufacturer information:

• Baja proven to handle the toughest and heaviest UTV applications.
• 8-ply rating and 25% stronger construction has produced our most rugged, durable tire yet!
• Extended-life rubber compound and innovative overlapping tread pattern provides a smooth, predictable ride as well as slow wear characteristics — this is the highest-mileage tire ITP has ever produced!
• Stepped lugs provide consistent tread edges as the tire wears, for predictable performance throughout the long life of the tire.
• Advanced carcass design delivers the most comfortable, trail-compliant tire available.
• Wraparound lugs provide improved shoulder protection.
• Super deep Rim Guard feature offers the best wheel lip protection in the business.

30x10R14 ITP Baja Cross

Our Thoughts:
The Baja Cross is our second favorite overall tire. It did well in all terrain and has a proven track record for durability. This is the only directional tire of the five and this can be a slight issue with a spare tire mounted in the wrong direction. Although we did run them wrong in one instance and did not notice a difference. The tread pattern fared well in loose sand and is a predictable in the desert and short course. The 29 1/4″ height was on the shorter side of the tested tires and hurt its performance in the rocks a little.

ITP – Ultra Cross:

Manufacturer information:

• Tightly spaced, overlapping tread pattern lowers rolling resistance and enhances ride comfort.
• Tread pattern has been computer-designed to reduce rolling noise levels.
• 8-ply radial construction and a new, more durable rubber compound delivers longer wear and enhanced cut resistance.
• Super deep Rim Guard feature offers the best wheel lip protection in the business.

30x10R14 ITP Ultra Cross

Our Thoughts:
Although the Ultra Cross looks like an all-terrain LT tire, it is not DOT approved. The Ultra Cross is very similar in shape and size to the Baja Cross and has good curb appeal. The tightly spaced tread pattern should make it less prone to damage from sharp rocks or nails that can puncture a tire with a more open tread pattern. We all felt like the Ultra Cross had less traction that affected cornering in the desert and short course.

STI Tire & Wheel – Roctane XD

Manufacturer information:
Roctane XD’s 8-ply-rated radial carcass is built to confidently handle ever larger, faster and heavier UTV applications. A heavier denier nylon cord maximizes tire toughness while retaining flexibility for a comfortable ride. The Roctane’s unique, non-directional tread design and wide profile footprint deliver smooth, quiet operation and precise control. STI’s exclusive new RocWall sidewall construction features reinforced lower sidewalls and extra-wide tread belts for added shoulder protection and stability. Add in super-deep RocGuard rim guards to protect even the thickest wheel lips from trail damage, and the result is the most reliable tire on the market. The Roctane XD’s specially formulated tread compound extends it life even further, yet it still grips the slickest rocks like a dedicated wall-crawler.

30x10R14 STI Roctane XD

Our Thoughts:
The Roctane XD was clearly the biggest tire of five. At 39 lbs., 31″ tall and 10″ wide it topped all categories. This is a stout tire with a stiff sidewall. The larger size and solid traction made it the favorite in the rocks, but caused it to not fair so well in the desert where its sheer size and weight affected performance, steering and suspension. If you are looking for a rock-specific tire, the Roctane XD is hard to beat.

Fender Trim

Fender Trimming:
To fit a 30″ tire on a RZR XP, a little fender trimming is necessary up front. The stock front fender flare is still used, but the rear part needs to be moved back and the plastic underneath needs to be trimmed. Then you can use a self-tapping screw to fasten the fender flare to the tube behind it. This pulls the flare backwards and gives it just enough clearance for most situations. The only time we slightly hit was on the short course, over a jump with the STI Roctane XDs.

EPI Performance Clutch Kit for the RZR XP 900

Clutch Work:
A 30-inch tire will definitely affect how your UTV performs. A change in weight and spring(s) will help bring the RPMs back in line with the powerband of the engine. We used a kit from EPI Performance on our RZR XP and it made a big difference.

More pictures and details at: 30-inch Tire Review