Since I seem to be the tire fanatic here, I'll throw out my latest findings.
My buddy and I are planning on taking the KLX and his XR650L out and doing some ice riding on the lakes this winter. He studded his worn out Trakmaster rear and ordered a new front and rear set to stud should the worn one disintegrate. He used 1/2" long Kold Kutter ice screws, I'm going to go with the 1/2" Pro Golds as the Kold Kutters are a bit harder to find and Dennis Kirk has the Pro Golds in stock (link to ice screws). The issue I ran into is that my worn out Trakmaster doesn't have enough meat left in the center ***** to hold the studs without poking the tube. My Kenda 776F front has NO center ***** left so thats out as well. I "could" stud the outter edges of the TM and my front Mich. AC-10, or just stud the front and rear AC-10's but I'm not interested in ruining a $130 set of tires, even if they are nothing special, just the cost issue....
So anyway, while snooping around Dennis Kirk I stumbled onto these tires:




They are offroad only GBC dirtsharks in 80/100/21 and 100/100/18 (links to front and rear tires) @ $27.99 for the front and $40.99 for the rear and $18.99 for 250 of the screws its incredibly cheap to try playing on the ice and snow covered trails! I haven't placed an order for them as of yet because being X-mas time and all I'm kinda trying to, you know, get stuff for other people, but man its so tempting to hit the buy it now button as we've got about 6" of snow presently over top of a nice ice crust from last week's freezing rain.

Anyway just thought I'd share the info on some dirt cheap tires and ice screws.

 

Press the button! PRESS THE BUTTON!!! The economy needs a boost. That's what I tell myself, anyway. Works for me.

 

You sir are a bad influence


Although I did get a quarterly profit sharing bonus from the office. Put it in my savings account/get an apartment account......but then again tax time is right around the corner and could replenish it.....


Dammit Brian![:'(]

 

Just curious, do you have to stud all the ***** or alternate the pattern. I would love to try that up country on the lake as it is 18 in thick. Would love to shock the snowmobiles!

 

From what I've read it depends on what you want to do. If its mainly trails, use the studs lightly so you have more rubber in contact with the ground. Ice only, some guys run 3 studs per ****! I'm going to go kinda light with them I think, at least initially.

 

Brian works for a credit card company!

 

Hey, if you want it bad enough, you find a way.

 

Actually I think Brian owns a credit card company!

 

I have my stock tires in a corner of the garage and was thinking about this too. Here's a photo and a link: http://nctr.net/Maintenance%20&%20Mods/Curt's%20ice%20screws.htm

 

Brrrrrr! Isn't that what they make snowmobiles for?!