Paddle Tire Science - Every thing you need to know about paddle tires

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Paddle Tire Science - How Many Paddles to Run and What Size Tire:

For detailed tire brand and type comparison, please
clike here: http://www.dunercentral.com/forums/w...ing-style.html

Because everyone asks, "How many paddles should i run?" or "What size rim
should i run?" or all questions like these, i figured it would be good to put a
thread together for paddle tire guide.

In selecting a paddle tire, many things account to what you should buy.

But before we get into all of that, i want to explain one thing......V Paddles VS
straight paddles.

The general consensus of people that go to the dunes and want a lightweight
paddle, that hooks up and allows them to take off out of holes without
digging holes of their own, cruise the bowls at top speeds and occasionally
drag race.....is the straight paddle. You might hear, they do not turn easy or
spin like the V paddles, but in general, a guy with a straight paddle just has
to learn how to turn the straight paddles or spin cookies with them. Mostly all
V paddle brands are heavy and worthless IMO. So this whole rant below will
be talking about straight paddles. V paddles may be better for the ten year
old daughter on the 250ex because this will allow her to turn easier, at the
sacrifice of getting stuck more and not hooking up. Im sure you get the point,
straight paddles are simply....the cats meow.

Going back to the top, there are many factors in selecting your paddle.

(In no particular order)

1) Tire size
2) Paddle Count
3) Rim Size
4) Paddle Height
5) Rim Width
6) Rim Weight/ Thickness
7) Swingarm Length
8) Weight of rider
9) Power of machine
10) Gearing
11) Paddle Brand
12) Special Cuts/Buffs

Disclaimer- All the below information is based on a straight paddle design and
a Honda 450 based machine and therefore has no revelence to V paddle
designs.

1) Probably one of the most commonly asked questions, Tire size. Ahh tire
size. Well.....there are many types of tire sizes, but i think they can all be
factored into two categories:

A- Hillshooting Paddles B- Play paddles.

A-The hillshooter paddles are usually the 22 inch tall tires that are 10-11
inches wide or the 21x12 tire so common today. These make great drag
racing and hillshooting tires giving you more ground clearance and most of the
time these two paddle sizes have a round shape to the paddle which is very
desirable in drag races. This is because a round paddle seems to bite more off
the launch and baloon slightly at higher speeds making your top speed
higher. These paddles usually require a lower gearing than stock. These
paddles can also be a very versatile paddle for all conditions, they can dune
and do everything the smaller paddles will with a little more work, but shine
at the drag strip. It all depends on what you are looking for.

B- Play paddles are usually a 20x10 or 20x11 tire that is generally easier to
dune and play around on. Depending on the tire carcass and rim size, these
paddles can be shaped into a round profile like the above tires, but usually
have a more flat paddle profile to them. This usually allows the rider to sit on
top and do a little more spinning which is desirable in some locations. There
are many more factors that go into how the tire reacts.

2) I would say this is the most often asked question of all,"How many
paddles?"

First off i would like to establish there is usually a difference between the
number of paddles the california/ Nevada duners choose VS us Oregon
Duners. Usually up here in oregon we run about 2 paddles more. Not saying
this is correct, just stating this is usually what happens.

How many paddles to put on your tire is mainly affected by the weight of the
rider, the type of riding you do, and the power of the machine. A good start in
oregon is an 8 paddle. Good start in cali is a 6 paddle.

The more paddles, the more you will wheelie off the bottom end, The lesser
paddle count, the more you will spin off the bottom.

Imagine a paddle tire, with 16 paddles on a 22 inch tire, the paddles will be
the only part of the tire touching the ground. There will be no sand contact
between the area between the paddle and the sand. This causes the tire to
float on top and spin equalling less traction. When 7 paddles are put on a 22
inch tire, this allows the tire carcass to sit on the sand and when the tire
spins the paddle grabs the sand, usually equaling in more top end traction.

Review: More paddles- More bottom end launch traction
Less Paddles- More top end acceleration/Hook Up

Finding that perfect number seems to be a problem for most. keep reading for
more tips on choosing the paddle count.

3) Rim size- The most underestimated factor in choosing a paddle

Paddles come in two common sizes 8in and 10 in.

8 Inch rim is a more drag type rim that allows the tire to swell more during
acceleration and for the tire to flex more during takeoff. 8 Inch rims usually
make a more rounded tire profile.

8 Inch rims are a bear to turn in soft sand. They want to bite instead of slide
on top. Yes they can be turned on a dime, but requires a lot more work and
practice and still will never sling around quite like a 10 inch rim.

10 inch rims are a better play size. They allow the tire to turn side to side fairly
easy and more float on top compared to an 8 inch rim. They usually produce a
flatter tire profile, and during drag racing tend to spin a lot more than an 8
inch rim.

4) Paddle height- The skat trak tire is about the only tire you can choose the
paddle height on. I am not sure if you can choose padla brats without paying
big bucks for totally custom tires.

Skat trak come in 3 general paddle configurations
Glider- Short paddle
Hauler- Taller paddle
Extreme- Same height as hauler just thicker at the base.

The gliders are only mentioned because they seem to be a good fat mans tire.
They usually require 2-3 more paddles to have proper hook up but work well
for fat guys. Also can make a very good drag tire for lightweights as well.

The hauler paddle is great for drag racing no doubt. They are tall enough to
grab a lot of sand and thin enough at the base to flex when grabbing sand.
This equals great traction.

The extremes are the same as the hauler, just thicker. Usually last longer and
hold up a little better, but do not perform as well at the drags. They are dang
close to the haulers, but the extremes just dont have the flex and you will find
yourself lugging every once in a while if you are overpaddled with extremes.

5) Rim width

Very straight forward. The wider the rim, the flatter the tire, the skinnier the
rim, the rounder the tire.

Pretty much explains itself. I have seen up to 10 inch wide rims and as little as
6 inch wide rims.

Again, the flatter will manuever better and the rounder will drag and climb better.

6) Rim thickness
Speaking in just plain ole douglas rims or ITP t-9 plain aluminum rims,
The .125 or blue labels are a drag racers tire. These will usually bend when
jumped mediumly or hit against any obstacle.

The .160 or black labels are a happy medium
And the .190 or red labels are the thickest heaviest rim but usually by far the
strongest.

7) Swingarm Length-Only added in because it can change the way paddles
react.

Usually the longer the swingarm, the more the paddles spin because the
weight of the bike is farther away from the tires. Just something to think
about and factor in when choosing.

8) Weight of rider- Also changes way paddles react. Another thing to factor in.

Usually the heavier guys like the smaller paddle counts or gliders, the
lightweights favor the more paddles or extremes/Haulers. Just for obvious
reasons, more weight= More hook up= less paddle for best take off and vice
versa.

9) Power of machine is simple.

On a stock like bike, you will want less paddle so you are not lugging down.
The more power, the more paddles you can handle to a certain extent.

10) Gearing

Gearing should always be figured out once you buy the paddles.
BUT- the lower the gearing, the more you will spin you paddles.
The taller the gearing- the harder time you will have spinning a taller tire or a
tire with more paddles unless you have the power of course

11) The two main paddle brands are

Skat Trak- A non radial tire (Usually cheap nobbie tire like kenda dominator)
that is buffed down to a few plys and the paddles are vulcanized onto the
tire. That is why most will say kenda or some other thing on the side. 2 ply
Tire

Padla Brats- A molded tire that usually are light weight and a good tire for a
molded tire. They make a good play tire but are not the best for drag. 4 Ply
tire. Only offered in a 6 and 9 paddle

Both brands make great tires.
My preference is the Skat trak. I feel the brats are overpriced.

12) Both brands above can be specially cut or buffed to create a super light
tire. This usually is only used for drag racing/ Hillshooting because the tire can
easily pop.

Brats are shaven down and referred to as "comp Cut" and the skat traks are
usually Buffed down another layer and reffered to as "Bead to bead buff"

These tires are very expensive and i would only reccomend this for strictly
drag/ Hillshooter quads because of how easy they can pop. I wouldnt want a
450 dollar set of tires popping on my trying to go up a treeshot.JMO

OVERVIEW

If your a guy who likes to screw around and dune without caring about drag
racing a 20x10x10 tire is for you. You pick the paddles.

If you like to drag some-A lot a 22x11x8 or 21x12x8 is the tire for you.

I dont think anyone on here can ever tell you what tire you will like the best. I
just hope that this will help you better choose the tire you want.