— Buyer’s Guide to the top 25 tires for the sand —
In any terrain, the proper tire setup makes a huge difference, and sand dunes are no exception. UTV-sized paddle options were limited a few short years ago, but this market has expanded tremendously to the point of having to limit this guide down to our favorite 20. Here are the top sand-tire choices for today’s high-performance UTVs—and there are even 32-inch tires for turbos!
AMS SAND KING
Ply rating: 4-ply
Sizes: Front: 30×11-14. Rear: 30×14-14
Features: The rear Sand King has 14 1-inch-tall paddles, and the front is a three-rib non-directional tread with segmented outer ribs for increased side bite.
Price(s): $149.95–$198.95
Worth knowing: These are built for the big-boy 1000cc UTVs with a light-weight design for the ultimate performance.
Contact: www.amstires.com
CST SANDBLAST
Ply rating: 2-ply
Sizes: Front: 28×10-14, 30×11-14. New: 32×10-15, 32×10-17. Rear: 28×12-14, 30×14-14. New: 32×12-15, 32×12-17
Features: The fronts feature dual-staggered knobs to maximize steering response and control, while the rear blades provide extreme power and versatility in the dunes.
Price(s): $180–$222
Worth knowing: The lightweight Sandblast provides maximum flotation and is sized for anything from a 900 to a big-horsepower Maverick X3 Turbo or even the new Wildcat XX.
Contact: www.csttires.com
DWT DOONZ
Ply rating: 4-ply/6ply
Sizes: Front: 25.5x11x12 (13.9 lb.). Rear 25.5x13x12 (15.2 lb.). 6-ply rear: 25.5x13x12 (17.2 lb.)
Features: Extremely light, straight paddle tires with specially engineered rubber compounds. Minimal weight allows for super-fast dune climbs without power loss.
Price(s): $98–$128
Worth knowing: The 6-ply HD provides superior puncture protection while only adding 2 pounds a tire. The Doonz is currently only available in a 25.5-inch-tall model for a 12-inch wheel, perfect for a Commander or RZR XP.
Contact: www.dwtracing.com or call (800) Race-Rim
EFX SAND SLINGER
Ply rating: 4-ply
Sizes: Front: 27×9-14 Smoothie or 29×11-14 Ribbed. Rear: 27×13-14 or 29×14-14
Features: Extra-wide tires with bias-ply construction and 22–25mm straight paddles on the rears and three 10mm ribs from the center to the outside of the fronts.
Price(s): $125–$195 each
Worth knowing: The Sand Slingers are relatively light tires despite the extreme width. They have been designed for optimal flotation and balanced grip.
Contact: www.efxtires.com or call (800) 734-4890
GMZ SAND STRIPPER STAGGER & HP
Ply rating: 6-ply
Sizes: Rear: 28×15-14
Features: The Stagger has 14 3/4-inch-tall partial paddles for 900cc UTVs, while the HP has 14 1.125-inch full-width paddles for high-horsepowered 1000s and turbos. Radial construction with great flotation, traction and turning ability.
Price(s): $133.95–$169.95
Worth knowing: The HP model weighs in at 24.7 pounds and the Stagger weighs 23 pounds. The three-rib front is designed to improve steering in the softest sand.
Contact: www.gmzraceproducts.com
GMZ SAND STRIPPER XL-14 & XL-HP
Ply rating: 4-ply/6-ply
Sizes: Rear: 30×15-14, 30×15-15
Features: They feature 7/8-inch paddles with a heavy-duty carcass designed to run 7–10-inch-wide, 14-inch wheel options.
Price(s): $229.95–$238.95
Worth knowing: Sand Stripper XL tires are actually 31 inches tall with 10 7/8-inch full-length paddles on the XL-14 and 16 7/8-inch-tall paddles on the six-ply HP.
Contact: www.gmzraceproducts.com
GMZ SAND STRIPPER FRONT SS-TT & XL-TT
Ply rating: 6-ply
Sizes: Front: 28×12-14, 30×15-14
Features: The front Sand tire has two ribs and inner half-paddles for turning traction.
Price(s): $200.95–$229.95
Worth knowing: The TT stands for “traction tire,” and the inside lateral ribs generate forward traction as well as better braking and quicker stops.
Contact: www.gmzraceproducts.com
ITP DUNE STAR
Ply rating: 2-ply
Sizes: Front: 26×9-12 w/ front cupping ridges (13 lb.). Rear” 26×11-12 (16.1 lb.)
Features: The aggressive rears are designed as dual-depth paddles for abundant straight-line traction. They feature a lightweight, super-flexible carcass for exceptional flotation and a comfortable ride.
Price(s): $116–$128
Worth knowing: The 26-inch size is perfect for smaller UTVs as well as larger 4×4 ATV applications.
Contact: www.itptires.com
ITP SAND STAR
Ply rating: 2-ply
Sizes: Front: 26×9-12. Rear:
26×11-12
Features: The front uses a dual-rib design for unmatched steering control, while the rear uses 30mm main paddles and eight mini scoops for traction and acceleration.
Price(s): $115–$116
Worth knowing: These tires are very light at 14.2 pounds for the front and 17.1 pounds for the 26×11-12 rears.
Contact: www.itptires.com
PRO ARMOR DUNE
Ply rating: 8-ply
Sizes: Front: 28×9-14. Rear:
28×11-14
Features: Three-rib front directional tire for steering precision and 12-paddle rear for UTVs up to 900cc.
Price(s): $129.99–$149.99
Worth knowing: One of the only eight-ply UTV paddle tires in existence. These are tough tires.
Contact: www.proarmor.com
PRO ARMOR SAND
Ply rating: 4-ply
Sizes: Front: 30×11-14. Rear:
30×14-14
Features: The three-rib fronts add turning precision, while the 16-paddle (12.8mm-tall) rears provide forward bite for 1000s and turbos.
Price(s): $149.99–$179.99
Worth knowing: These carry an impressive load rating of over 1200 pounds up front and 1100 pounds for the rears.
Contact: www.proarmor.com or www.polaris.com
QUADBOSS QBT346 SAND
Ply rating: 6-ply
Sizes: Front: 28×10-14, 30×11-14. Rear: 28×13-14, 30×14-14
Features: Front QBT346s sport a center solid rib and two outer rows of knobs with spiderweb traction lugs extending to the sidewalls. Rear 28-inch QBT346s sport 13 7/8-inch-tall paddles, while 30-inch 346s have 14 paddles. Rears also have spiderweb traction enhancers.
Price(s): $115.95–$175.95
Worth knowing: The staggered paddle design creates traction and helps with cornering capabilities. These are also tough tires and perfect for root-infested sand in Oregon and Arizona.
Contact: www.quadboss.com
SEDONA DUNATIK
Ply rating: 2-ply fronts, 4-ply rears
Sizes: Front: 28×12-14, 29×12-14. Rear: 28×13-14, 29×14-14
Features: Three-rib fronts have a load rating of 885–910 pounds, while rears have 14 1-inch-tall full-length
paddles for high-performance UTVs.
Price(s): $139.95–$198.95
Worth knowing: These ultra-lightweight sand tires are available from the WPS catalog and just about every dirt bike shop in the country.
Contact: www.sedonatires.com
SKAT-TRAK EXTREME
Ply rating: 2-ply
Sizes: Rear: 26×12.5×12/14 or 30x11x14 for the 1000s
Features: Based on Skat-Trak’s most popular paddle tire, the Hauler, the Extreme features an 1/8-inch-thicker paddle base for a more sure-footed grip with larger, heavier and higher-horsepowered machines.
Price(s): $185–$324
Worth knowing: Some of the
trickiest, best-performing rear paddle tires on the market, the Extremes
feature 7/8-inch by 11-inch-wide paddles and can be custom-ordered with any quantity of paddles to properly match your machine.
Contact: www.skat-trak.com
SKAT-TRAK GLIDER
Ply rating: 2-ply
Sizes: Rear: 26×12.5×14 or 30x11x14 for 1000s
Features: The Glider features a 5/8-inch-tall paddle for a little more wheelspin on lower-horsepowered machines.
Price(s): $227–$311
Worth knowing: This tire can be custom ordered in many sizes and paddle-count configurations.
Contact: www.skat-trak.com
SKAT-TRAK RUFF BUFF
Ply rating: 2-ply
Sizes: Front: 26×12.5-14, 30×10-14, 30×11-14
Features: The Ruff Buff leaves a surface similar to a rough, 80-grit sandpaper. This provides additional front-tire bite for 4WD UTV applications.
Price(s): $138–$223
Worth knowing: The Skat-Trak Ruff Buff tires are lightweight smoothies that offer great flotation.
Contact: www.skat-trak.com
STI SAND DRIFTER
Ply rating: 6-ply (28-inch), 4-ply (30-inch)
Sizes: Front: 28×10-14 (19 lb.), 30×11-14 (23 lb.). Rear: 28×13-14 (26 lb.), 30×13-14 (29 lb.)
Features: A high-flotation tri-rib front, and the rear features 14 1-inch-tall paddles for maximum power transfer and forward acceleration.
Price(s): $129-$189
Worth knowing: Reinforced lower sidewalls minimize tire roll and allow for low-psi operation and maximum flotation.
Contact: www.stipowersports.com
STU RAZOR BLASTER
Ply rating: 4-ply
Sizes: Front: 28×14
Features: A biased rudder design that can be run forwards or backwards for more or less positive
steering control.
Price(s): $189
Worth knowing: The biased rudder design was adapted from boating and airplane steering theory.
Contact: www.fullertonsandsports.com
STU TRIBUTE & BLACKBIRD
Ply rating: 4-ply
Sizes: Front: 31×10-15. Rear:
30×14-15
Features: A razorback tire designed to be used with 4WD UTV applications. The Tribute features multiple offset ridges to increase side bite and mini paddles for better acceleration. The 31×15 Blackbird rear is designed to be the ultimate tire for the RZR XP Turbo or Maverick X3.
Price(s): $234.95–$419.00
Worth knowing: The mini paddles come in both directions, making it non-directional; however, removing one side or the other is recommended for maximum performance.
Contact: www.fullertonsandsports.com
STU BLASTER COMP Cut By Fullerton Sand Sports
Ply rating: 4-ply
Sizes: Rear: 28-14 #1 or #2 paddle
Features: These tires are completely tuned to your vehicle and riding style/preferences.
Price(s): $323, plus additional cost for competition cut
Worth knowing: While probably the best-performing tire on the market, the Comp Cut is less puncture-resistant and should avoid areas with rocks, sticks or debris.
Contact: www.fullertonsandsports.com or call (714) 484-5996
SYSTEM 3 DS340 DUNE SPORT
Ply Rating: 4 Ply
Sizes: Front: 29×11-14 Rear: 29×13-14
Features: System 3 DS340 rears feature 14 22mm paddles for excellent traction, maximum power transfer and acceleration. The front tire’s dual rib design provides sure cornering with minimum drag.
Prices start at: $159.99 (front) $205.99 (rear)
You should know: The DS340’s size and weight is perfect for turbo and non turbo sport UTVs.
Contact: www.system3offroad.com
Sand Sports SXS
Exclusive rubber compound is designed to reduce “paddle shock” on the clutches, axles and drive belts. Engineered to securely fit safety beads and beadlocks of most buggy, UTV and SXS wheels. Optimized paddle and cross section designed for the ultimate in sand performance. Rear sizes start at $340 and include 30/13-14, 30/13-15 and 32/13-15.
Front tires start at $235 (30/11-14, 30/11-15, 32/11-15) and feature reversible bi-directional tread pattern that allows you the choice of climbing “pull” or front end stability for high speed carving.
Contact: www.fullertonsandsports.com