March 2009 ATV Photo Contest Vote

23 friends 5 days great weather in Wyoming riding Sand Dunes & trails !!

Mud riding is one of the most popular forms of ATV riding, but the wrong tires can leave you stuck fast in deep ruts and swampy trails. Choosing the best ATV tires for mud can dramatically improve traction, steering control, flotation, and overall off-road performance.
Whether you ride trails, mud parks, swamps, or backwoods terrain, this guide covers some of the top ATV mud tires available today and what makes them stand out.
What Makes a Good Mud ATV Tire?
Mud tires are designed with aggressive tread patterns and deep lugs that help clean out thick mud while maintaining traction. The best mud tires usually feature:
Deep tread lugs Wide spacing for self-cleaning Strong sidewalls Taller tire sizes for added clearance Durable construction for rough terrain 1. Maxxis Zilla

The Maxxis Zilla is one of the most popular ATV mud tires because it balances mud performance with trail comfort. It is lightweight, aggressive, and performs well in a variety of terrain conditions.
Why Riders Like It
Excellent mud clean-out Lightweight design Smooth trail ride Available in many ATV sizes Best For: Trail riders who also spend time in mud.
2. ITP Cryptid

The ITP Cryptid is designed for serious mud riding with deep tread lugs and strong sidewall construction. It provides excellent traction in deep mud while remaining durable on rough trails.
Features
Deep aggressive tread 6-ply durability Strong side bite traction Great for lifted ATVs Best For: Deep mud and swamp riding.
3. Outlaw 2 ATV Tires

The Outlaw 2 has become a favorite among hardcore mud riders thanks to its massive lugs and impressive pulling power in thick mud.
Pros
Extreme mud traction Large tread design Excellent forward bite Popular in mud parks Cons
Rougher ride on trails Heavier than trail-oriented tires Best For: Dedicated mud machines and mud bogs.
4. STI Out & Back Max

The STI Out & Back Max offers a solid balance between aggressive mud performance and everyday trail comfort.
Highlights
Durable sidewalls Great traction in loose terrain Smooth handling Long tread life Best For: Utility ATVs and hunting machines.
5. SuperATV Assassinator

The Assassinator is built for extreme mud riding and features huge paddle-style lugs capable of digging through the nastiest swamp conditions.
Features
Massive tread depths Extreme mud traction Available in oversized setups Designed for hardcore mud riders Best For: Extreme mud builds and dedicated swamp riders.
Choosing the Right Mud Tire Size
25-27 Inch Tires
Great for stock ATVs Less drivetrain strain Better acceleration 28-30 Inch Tires
Balanced performance More ground clearance Popular for trail mud riding 32+ Inch Tires
Maximum mud performance Best for lifted ATVs Ideal for deep swamp riding Larger tires may require clutch upgrades, lift kits, or gear reductions depending on your ATV.
Bias vs Radial Mud Tires
Bias Ply Tires
Stronger sidewalls Better puncture resistance Popular for aggressive mud riding Radial Tires
Smoother ride quality Improved handling Better trail comfort Most serious mud riders prefer bias-ply tires because of their durability in harsh terrain.
ATV Mud Tire Maintenance Tips
Wash mud off after every ride Check tire pressure regularly Inspect sidewalls for damage Rotate tires periodically Avoid excessive pavement riding Lower tire pressure can improve mud traction, but beadlock wheels are recommended for very low PSI setups.
Final Thoughts
The best ATV tires for mud depend on your riding style and terrain conditions. Riders who split time between trails and mud often prefer versatile tires like the Maxxis Zilla, while hardcore mud riders typically choose aggressive options like the Outlaw 2 or Assassinator.
Before upgrading to oversized mud tires, make sure your ATV can handle the added weight and drivetrain stress. Proper setup can dramatically improve your ATV’s performance in deep mud and swamp terrain.
Visit QUADCRAZY ATV Forum for ATV tire reviews, mud riding discussions, builds, and technical advice from fellow riders.

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Hey Everybody,
 
I am always curious about any ATVs I haven't tried yet. I'll probably be in the market for something different soon, currently looking to sell my 05 Brute Force 750. I decided to note my favorite features of any 4x4 ATV and compile them into a list. These are all models I've had in the past, the King Quad 300 and Brute Force 750 are my current models. I'll most likely consolidate to one.
 
Really just wanted to get some ideas on what other people have owned in a similar range, and maybe get ideas for my idea quad (used). So far, I keep finding myself back at the 05 Yamaha Kodiak 450 or Grizzly 450. Not sure exactly what years they made which, but they seem pretty similar.
 
Some of the features I tend to like best  (aside from durability and reliability)
Engine braking (good for hill descent) Park gear (the regular parking brakes always seem to be finicky) Mid sized engine for better fuel efficiency (Seems that anything 500 or above really starts to guzzle gas, and they fit better on narrower trails) IRS (more comfortable ride) Diff Lock (can't live without it) **Side note: I know Durability and Reliability might seem like they'd be the same, but the way I am defining them is:
Durability is how long I can go without something breaking. OR how often things break with seeming not much of a good reason. Reliability is about the on-trail experience of having everything work properly as designed (i.e. Starting up and being able to get going without much issue, the 4wd drive engages without quirks, I can park it on a hill when needing to help someone else without worrying it'll roll away, etc) My Brute Force 750 is a perfect example of why Durability and Reliability were rated so differently. With durability, I really never felt like I've had anything break on the thing that was really from riding it. Which is great in that regard. But all of the things i've had to fix on it seem more so in it's design. The infamous KEBC code on the dash that refused to go away even after completely cleaning and lubing the KEBC and confirming it functions properly. Hard starting issues. 4WD requires you to roll about 10 to 15 feet to engage, so if you get stuck in 2WD, you're in a pickle. The infamous bus connector that goes bad and stops your charging system from working. I've worked through all of these, but these are all things I'd consider reliability issues that happen really at no fault of mine as I ride it pretty gently. Writing up this list has actually put a lot into perspective for me. The King Quad 300 really is a superb quad. The inclusion of the Super Low range provides stellar engine braking down pretty much any hill you can think of, it seems like it's unmatched. It has great gas mileage, and it's been dead reliable despite being a 1994. It's got 4x4 AND Diff lock, and the semi automatic transmission also help with not letting the quad get out of control down a hill. Plus it's more fun to me and gives me a bit more to do while riding. The biggest annoyance so far has been the parking brake. No matter how much I adjust it, it just doesn't seem stay adjusted after some time. I believe this might just be flawed on these models.  Also, parts availability is not the greatest on these since they don't make anything newer with any similar parts. Front axles are quite expensive, rear drive shafts go for $400 to $500 brand new, etc.
And that's where the Park gear on Yamaha's Ultramatic eliminates that issue. That's where I keep landing on the older Grizzly or Kodiak 450s. They have a park gear, IRS and Diff lock, a lot of power and they're super fun to ride (got to test one).  But I'd be giving up fuel efficiency and the Super Low range. The Ultramatics still have good engine braking, but still not comparable to the Super Low on Suzuki.
 
With ALL that said, curious about what other people out there have had and enjoyed, and I'm just looking to get some ideas of what other smaller/mid sized quads are out there with similar features.  I don't really know anything about Honda, Suzuki, or Arctic Cat models from the mid 2000's.
 
Curious to hear other perspectives!
 
Make Model Year Parking (gear/brake) Engine Braking Fuel Efficiency (mpg) IRS Diff Lock Durability (1-5) Reliability (1-5) Overall Rank (1-5) Suzuki King Quad 300 1994 Brake Super Low range 20 Yes Yes 4 4 4 Honda Rancher 350ES 2002 Brake (none?) 17.5 No No 5 5 4 Kawasaki Brute Force 750 2005 Brake KEBC Module 12.5 Yes Yes 4 2 3 Yamaha Grizzly 660 2006 Gear Ultramatic 12.5 Yes Yes 5 5 3 Yamaha Wolverine 450 2009 Gear Ultramatic 17.5 No No 4 5 3 Polaris Scrambler 4x4 4-Stroke 2002 Brake (none?) 14 No AWD 2 4 1 Polaris Sportsman 500 4x4 2000 Brake (none?) 15 Yes AWD 2 4 1

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I took this video back in 2007. Recently the trail (old railroad grade) I was riding was converted into a walking trail (obviously no more ATV riding on it) 👎 I dug up this old video and put it together since it shows the entire section and what it used to look like. The quality of the video is lacking, but this was from 18 years ago. Image stabilization didn't exist back then so I wore the camera on my helmet. (mounted to the quad was useless with all the shaking) so there is some annoying frames of me looking around. I noted any historical items from the railroad in the video. There is a section where the railroad grade is wiped out due to erosion so I had to jump off it and ride an abandoned road for a section to get around it.