Tip: Baja Claws/Directional Tires

[ExplorerDMB]

I'm sure some people already knew this, but for those who don't:

If you have Baja Claws or any other directional tires and you go off-road and want better/more grip - simple rotate your tires. Putting them in the wrong direction (tread wise) will allow for you to dig into the dirt/mud/ground a whole lot better. Hope this helps someone out.

-Drew

 

[ohe_boy]

Not to say you're wrong or anything, but where'd you get your source from? Just an interesting FYI that I would like to learn more about.

 

[Texplorer]

Youd tend to think that a directional off-road tire would already be in the best direction for off-roading.

 

[ohe_boy]

Thats what I was thinking!!

 

[FAT CAT]

Xterrains

I've heard of some guys that run mostly in the sand doing that. Turn them around & air 'em down a bunch & you get kind of a paddle effect. I don't know about any other surfaces though. I did see a picture of a rock buggy with xterrains turned backwards, so maybe... I'm kind of new to the xterrains, so I run half going forwards & half backwards just to be sure

 

[ExplorerDMB]

I heard it from a few friends that run those tires who tried it out and said it was better tracation. I then heard it on that new SPIKE TV show 4x4Extreme or whatever it's called. I think the only reason for directional tires is to get rid of water quicker - notice that most Mud-terrain type directional tires are Radials.

-Drew

EDIT: Just to back up my "most M/Ts are radials that are directional" -- if you think about the people with like A/Ts and some BFG tires say that they hydroplane pretty easily -- I'm sure a tire manufacturer just said "well, make a directional radial M/T that'll get rid of the water better". Just my thoughts though.

 

[ohe_boy]

Well...that solves my tire rotation problem

 

[ohe_boy]

CG - when you try it, let me know how it turned out.

ExplorerDMB - will this backwards rotation also work on mud and rocks or just hard /loose dirt?

 

[Chew_12]

You could just drive backwards

 

[Jefe]

You could just drive backwards

I think thats the secret. . .its not that they have better traction going forward (while mounted backwards), its that you get better traction going backwards, so you never get stuck.

J/K . . it all sounds like bull to me.

 

[FAT CAT]

CG - when you try it, let me know how it turned out.

ExplorerDMB - will this backwards rotation also work on mud and rocks or just hard /loose dirt?

I was just kidding' when I said I run them half & half, that's why I put the wink in there I just rotate mine front to back on the same side and have a generic all terrain non-directional tire as a spare. I couldn't tell ya if running them like that works or not, but I have seen it done.

I've never run into a situation where I've said "these tires suck, I'm gonna try running them different or run another brand. For the stuff I do most any beefy tire will get me through & I just get the one I think looks best. When these Xterrains give out, I'm gonna go to the new BFG MT's, I’ve seen some pics & they look great & I'm sure will run just as well for me Some of the more serious rock guys or pre runners will have their favorites & know more than me about the best set up for what they are doing.

 

[james t]

The only one ive seen people run backwards is the claw. They work alot better on rocks/trails backwards.... but suck even worse in mud- so those of you who wheel were there is the wet stuff dont bother trying it. Never seen anyone run X-terrains backwards.

 

[EBInterceptor]

I'm sure it would probably give more traction (use to run my rear mountain bike tire backwards on trails), but if you look at farm tractor tires they are always run forward because they shed dirt and mud better and are designed that way. So I would agree with not wanting to run them in mud, but in certain instances it wouldn't hurt to try.

 

[ohe_boy]

Which all goes back to...

Youd tend to think that a directional off-road tire would already be in the best direction for off-roading.