Hey All,

I was hoping people could provide what tire size they reccomend and why? I thinking of going with 22-11-10's in the rear and 21-7-10's in the front. ITP sand stars for the front and rear...

Thanks in advance!

Might want to read post in project thread. I found the 22 in front works better for me.

Hi Wesinls. I like your sandbullet. I ran the dual ribbed sand stars (22X8X10)at Little Sahara OK. a few weeks ago on my FL350. I think my shock preload was so stiff that they were giving me negative feedback through the steering wheel. My wheels are Douglas Alum. 10X6 with 4X2 offset. I bought the wheels after I saw chucklenuts at aftershot motorspurts Moronsports reccomending them over the 3X2 offset, supposed to be closer to the factory offset, which is important,and supposed to give less neg feedback than the 3X2. I then joined this forum and found out that chucklenuts at aftershot motorspurts Moronsports is on the shady side, so maybe he had an overstock of 4X2's and was trying to unload them?? Anyhow my son's FL350 also has Douglas 10X6 with 4X2 offset and they performed well in the sand with knobbys, although his stock shock preset was at middle setting,as I said before my shock preset was so stiff(set at stiffest setting) I don't think it would have mattered what tire I was running, my steering wheel was getting jerked from my hands on every big bump. As far as rear tires go Adnoh(who also posts here) uses the Ohtsu Powerwedge 500 on his Pilot. He likes them and says the have good traction and do not drag. After seeing him and his wife fly by me in thier Pilots, I would agree,LOL. Also could be he knows how to build a motor (( Internal Combustion Engine ? ))! IMO the Ohtsu does not have an agressive looking tread design but I saw them perform very well at the dunes. From what I understand the Powerwedge is only available in a 9" diameter. Soooo, I found what seems to be an Ohtsu Powerwedge 500 knockoff that is available in a 10" so it will fit on my 10" rims. They are the AMS Zippers (22X10X10) and are available here for a decent price. http://www.rockymountainatv.com/home.do . I bought a pair and will be taking them to the dunes next week to check them out on my FL350. I also adjusted the preload on my front shocks to the middle adjustment. I also will check to see that the center of the tire on my SONS FL350 is the same as MY Fl350. THat way I can compare apples to apples and see how the front sand stars perform with the front end properly adjusted, well at least properly adjusted to the extent of my knowledge. I will post here to let you and everyone else know how the AMS Zippers worked....Marc BTW Hoser, chucklenuts.....CUTE!

Thanks for the info, how close are you to the dunes?

I need more traction than my worn OEM rear tires provide the Zippers advertised tread height is .200 taller than my current rear tires so hopefully they will grip better.

FYI all credit for the chucklenuts thing goes to the creative mind of TurboTexas

I'm 2-1/2 to 3 hours (135 miles) from the West entrance. Me and the boy are heading up there next week (Mon17th-Fri21st) for 2 days during the week in hopes of getting the dunes to ourselves along with the jobless and/or rich. Adnoh was thinking about joining us. Anyone is welcome. We'll be choosing the 2 days with the best weather forecast. Its only my second time to the dune so it will give me a chance to get used to the layout of the area and also dial the Odys in to the dunes...Marc

Nice I wish I could go, its 15 hrs for me...

I liked to get their on Sunday night about dark and get a good spot to camp as people leave then have the dunes mostly to ourselves for the rest of the week and sometimes pull out Friday night.

Be safe and have fun, take lots of pics for us poor guys that could not make it :-(

Some pics from the past
http://pilotodyssey.com/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=18

http://pilotodyssey.com/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=20

thanks for all the info on the tire selection!

seeing those pics makes me jealous - the camping looks a lot more relaxing and enjoyable there than in the San Diego dunes...But the size of them makes up for that I'm sure!

Rain rain go away. Looks like you guys got to do some puddle jumpin. How long should one wait to go out on the sand after a couple inches of rain have fallen on the dune,seems like better traction, or does it matter. We will be sure to take photos and I will have to fugure out how you posted the slideshow format so I can do the same. And I thought I was crazy for thinking about driving 15 hours to get to Little Sahara Utah. As I did before with LS Ok, drooled over the pics that were posted here before finally getting to experience it for myself, I was doing the same with the LS Utah. Hills???...no Im thinking MOUNTAINS covered with sand....
P.S. Hope you find your setup on tires Wesinls

LS Utah pics http://pilotodyssey.com/cpg/thumbnails. ... m=5&page=1

Your toe setting on your fronts will make a big difference in the dunes... the manual calls for a bit of toe out!!!

I'll double check my toe.Thanks Turbo and gotta love the Aftershot Motorspurts overriding the origional name!

No charge for the nickname... I did like the moronsports add on...
If you need a pair let me know... I have a stock set, that is bent, and a set of aluminums weed made out of aluminum...

To begin, the sand at Little Sahara had ? inches of rain that fell a couple days before I ran the Odysseys. The first day (Thursday) had 25-35 mph winds which kept the dunes with a nice layer of loose sand most everywhere. The next day (Friday) wind was 5-15MPH and lots of peeps there leaving thier mark on the dunes and sand was more noticeably wet under the surface. So I think my best day for testing the tires was Thursday. It is written on the sidewall of both the AMS Zipper and the ITP Sand Stars, "use bead lock wheel". I did not use beadlock wheels, I am using Douglas aluminum 10 inch wheels, front 4X2 offset and 10X8 factory offset in rear.I started the AMS Zippers at 10 lbs,not wanting to chance breaking bead just yet until I have some fun, tires spun out of the hole more than I wanted, so I lowered pressure to 6 lbs., I liked that, hooked up well. We jumped hills 3 feet or so of air, I got rowdy in the trails trying to break bead, never happened to front or rear.I did some slow climbing and had no trouble getting up and over the hills. When running WOT (Wide Open Throttle) tires glided over the dunes and seemed to have no resistance like I encountered with the more agressive Kenda Gecko paddles, also during decelleration no resistance.FYI IMO don't GET THE KENDA GECKOS. To wrap up the review on the AMS Zippers i loved them,though I am not an experienced Odyssey rider I reviewed the tires as to how I would like a tire to perform in the sand. As for the front ITP Sand Stars...To start off...I am running "number one" Odyssey with a generic pair of "knobby" front tires and "number two" Odyssey has the ITP Sand Star front tires...(I was not sure what pressure to set the sand stars to so I went with 10lbs., could this be too much??).The front end adjustments were set, to the best of my knowledge and ability, the same on both Odysseys,such as toe,offset on wheels is the same 4X2,running Honda stock shocks both preload set at middle setting. That being said,I have to say the sand stars performed as well in a slow turn as did the "knobby" tire.I am not sure what I was experiencing with the sand stars but 0 to 20 MPH the sand stars tended to give me feedback through the steering wheel much much more so than the knobby. I believe the sand will cause feedback through the steering wheel with any tire, especially on the FL350 Odyssey, but the knobbys were much much less noticeable than the Sand Stars. At speeds over 20 MPH, honestly I cant remember if the sand stars tracked better than the knobbys, I don't remember which one I liked better at speeds over 20 MPH, nothing stood out bad or good, darn I wish I wrote this review the night I got back from the dunes, old age is making my brain go (*(^&*(*.... To wrap up this review on the ITP Sand Stars I was left believing the knobbys performed better, I wouldn't have believed this after reading all the great reviews the sand stars were getting at Rockymountainatv, although the reviews were with the tires most likely mounted on 4 wheelers and not an Odyssey. On the next trip to L.S. I will switch out the sand stars to Ody number one and install the knobbys on Ody number two. This way I can compare apples to apples. After this test I will determine if I am going to use knobbys on the front, keep the sand stars and lower pressure, or maybe try a single ribbed tire. Hope this helps ya'll...Marc










Odyssey number two (me) coming in for a landing



The masked stix





Odyssey number one (Zac) getting air,Im proud "o" that boy...

don't make any desicions until you have rode them on the same day/conditions... the wet sand will ride different than the dry...

Me riding in the wet stuff

Good point. My review was based on Wednesday only

Wheres U riding in the wet stuff?

To correct myself, my review was based on Thursday...Marc

Are the Zippers directional (have an arrow)?

http://pilotodyssey.com/PO/viewtopi ... ght=kermit

DOH???

Good report stixs. Go by Phils in OKC they has a set of used 22" tall frot single rib on al rims cheap. Start a dialog with them the part get cheaper. This should improve the handling after a toe adjustment is made being used with the zipper type rears. The concern I had with zippers were bed lock and paddle angle. You ansawnerd the beed lock know take a good look at the angle and provide taper in degrees for comparson to the prowedge. Do you feel the tire choice had an effect on belt burn. Mic the new belts and after weekend runs remic checking for the top of belt for roll over. Make sure the clutches are good or excessive belt waer will take place and effect run out. the belt will ride in a grove for a longer period untill enough force is incountered and will push it out on up shift. It will sound like the bike was sfifted into another gear loosing rpm than reclimb into power band or fall back into groove. The belts yu run have a taper pretty close to stock so some roll over will be noticed untill the new one are wore in, the friction is greatest on the top parts of the belt causing excessive wear on belt and clutchuntill wore in. the load is consatrated in a narower contact patch this allowing greater friction untill broke in. Kinda like the zipper verses the paddle. Any temp problems. You know mabe you burned them up just having fun and in that case burn a few more. Any smiles, grines or oh ya's.

Hoser...This is what RockymountainAtv's description said about the AMS Zipper.
Lightweight two-ply casing reduces unsprung weight and increases flotation in sand and snow conditions.
Casing expands at high rates of speed for added traction and stability.
Shock-absorbing casing provides a smoother ride.
Natural rubber compound runs cooler in the desert and stays flexible in snow; increased puncture resistance in both climates.
"Design allows reversal of tire rotation for increased traction in a variety of conditions"
I found no arrows on the tire indicating a direction.
Turbo,Nice flag"don't Mess With Texas"!
Adnoh...My heart will be at LS next weekend but the flesh cant make it either...The angle of the paddle was 23 degress plus or minus a degree. When we arrived on Thursday and just before we got on the dunes, I miced both belts and compared the measurement to a new belt and found no difference, I moved the gauge vertically up and down to get a constant reading like you said. The time on the belts was only what Zac and I put on them when we were at LS with you and the draks when testing them in the field in front of my house but that was only for approx. 1 hour on each. OK NOW...The belt that burned was on my Ody with the Zippers, however,this happened when I had to pull Zacs ODY out of the sand after he got stuck at the top of a hill,we hooked up the tow line, Zac was in my Ody, when he throttled, Zippers dug and then stoped turning, then after the smoke cleared a Genie showed up and said "wheres the other stooge guys?".I believe the extra weight,soft sand, and ol' inexperienced, throttle happy Zac led to the smokeing, I was ready for a ceeegar by this time. I have never experienced any excesive slip on my clutch or seen smoke, I also just got thru running my fingers along the clutch area where the tapered part of the belt makes contact and felt no grooves. Now the other belt that ruptured was on Zacs Ody, I was driving it, got to the base of a hill, I was going about 10MPH when I got to the bottom of the hill, I throttled WOT (Wide Open Throttle) to get up the hill and made it half way up then I heard the belt go brap brap. I coasted to the edge of the top of the hill and found that the belt had lost tread see pics...


I did notice that on Zacs Ody (belt as seen in pic) what I believe to be balancer oil leaking around the crankshaft area. Maybe the oil is making contact with the belt. I didnt notice any slippage with his belt though and maybe it wouldn't be noticeable. We'll see how a new belt holds up. I was pushing it pretty hard right before the brap brap. I follow you on the belt "wear in".I noticed my older belts that measured narrower than a new belt, made more contact with the clutch. EGT still running a little high,2750 to 3250 WOT (Wide Open Throttle) but water temp has remained low after pump installed. I "drove it like I stole it" for the two days, periodically pumping throttle during decelleration, not too often though. Ill have to get the compression gauge and do some plug chops and we can go from there. Were still trying to pry the grins off our mugs. Take care...Marc

What brand of belts were giving way? The last trip to LS I blew a brand new NAPA belt made by Gates($14). Factory belts for 350s were made by Mitsubishi, if I remember right, and are pretty spendy($70-90). I have had decent luck with Dayco Max belts($30-60) depending on type(HP, HPX, ulti-max 2, or 3). I like the ulti-max 2 the best of what I have tried so far. I think its # 1042M2 but I need to double check that number.

Whats the EGT numbers....celcius? What does that equate to in Fahrenheit?

Gary

You worked in missile silos and you don't know the difference between celsius and fahrenheit?

Yikes!!!!

Just kidding........

1 degree celsius is equal to 33.8 degress fahrenheit.

If the numbers he quoted were celsius, he and everything within 50 feet would've been burnt beyond recognition.......

His numbers would've been: 92,950 f - 109,850 f

I are only semi-ed-ju-mi-cated! You aught to sleep well now with me wrenching nukes... LOL You have to remember these silos were built in the late 50s and early 60s and most of the electronics are generally from that era too. The missile computer has about the capacity of the Commador 64(if you remember them).

Fed(stitch) bought a digital EGT on ebay a few years back and it reads something other than Fahrenheit. It ran him nuts trying to figure out what the good/bad temps were. Me, I still like a nice needle gauge with a 270 deg deflection, tell at a quick glance then back to driving.