Buyers Guides

-- Testing a new tire style for the sand -- By the staff of Dirt Wheels We have something of a love-hate relationship with paddle tires. We love the traction in the sand, but unlike many UTV pilots, our whole world doesn’t revolve around the sandbox. None of our machines are reserved specifically for sand use. That means we need to keep wheels with sand paddles mounted, or change tires every time we hit the dunes. Another issue is the rattling ride you typically get from a paddle tire. CST’s new Sandblast tires have…

-- Checking out the hottest stuff for 2020 -- By the staff of Dirt Wheels Every year companies, vendors, gearheads, adventurers, drivers, riders, and racers come together in Costa Mesa, California, for the Sand Sports Super Show. The show includes everything geared towards the off-road world, but with a heavy emphasis on rides, equipment, apparel and haulers to get you to the sand. For the past few years UTVs have dominated the space and the interest. High-dollar sand cars are still prevalent, but as UTVs grow more…

-- Testing the spray on - rinse off formula -- By the staff of Dirt Wheels Maintaining our favorite machines can be tough work. Before you can get to checking all the nuts and bolts, you have to rinse off the mud and dirt. There are many different cleaning products in our industry, yet some of us still stick with corrosive household cleaners. We were looking for a cleaner that could tackle the job without harming our machine’s exterior finishes. A shipment of Ol’ Red Racing Products cleaners showed up at the office,…

-- The right accessory parts make a difference -- By the staff of Dirt Wheels Perhaps there are people who buy an off-road machine on a whim, but most of us need a reason, or even reasons, that we need or want it to justify the cost. From the moment that 4x4 quads hit the market, they have been popular with buyers. For many years the majority of reasons people had for purchasing a 4x4 quad had to do with utility. Buyers selected 4x4 quads to work on the farm, to travel to fishing holes, to carry game out of the woods…

-- Things that look good under the tree  --

-- Dexterity work gloves comfortable to drive or ride with -- “Dexterity” derives from the Latin word “dexter,” which means “skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands.” We know this because Google told us so. But gloves are an important item to wear while wrenching, riding or driving. Only certain people can ride gloveless for a long duration without getting blisters. Mere mortals need extra protection. Riding gloves are starting to go up in price and are usually built thin, which means they won’t last for an…

-- Testing a fast exhaust system at a good price -- By the staff of Dirt Wheels, photos by Kyle Duffy The throaty rumble of a four-stroke 450 engine sporting an aftermarket exhaust is addicting. It doesn’t need to be loud to sound good, and the sound alone doesn’t complete the equation. More power and more torque are what we are after, and FMF is a worthy provider of ponies. We picked up the proven PowerCore4 muffler and MegaBomb header for our 2019 Yamaha YFZ450R SE for a test day at the motocross track. THE…

-- Testing an electro-assist vehicle -- By the staff of Dirt Wheels Dirt Wheels doesn’t shy away from a challenge. Over the years we have placed some interesting machines in our magazine that may or may not be classified as ATVs or UTVs, but the title of the magazine is Dirt Wheels. Interpreted loosely, that means anything to have fun in the dirt. We like to push the envelope with new ways to enjoy off-road riding, and Yamaha came to us with a machine unlike any other that’s been in these pages. We felt it was worth…

-- Testing its insane ice retention -- By the staff of Dirt Wheels The days of heat are finally winding down here in Southern California, which means instead of 105-degree averages, we are settling into the 80–90s. Coolers are always on hand when we go testing ATVs and UTVs. Some we take with us, while others get stowed at camp. We are tough on our gear and expect a lot out of the products we test. Fortunately, Pelican builds some of the toughest coolers on the market. We wanted a cooler that could fit enough to camp…

-- Testing a light, easy and cool  UTV helmet -- By the staff of Dirt Wheels O’Neal has been in the off-road apparel market for 50 years! In that time the company has come up with a lot of helmets. At one time what was then called “full-coverage” helmets and now 3/4 or open-face were the standard in head protection. Now, of course, full-face helmets with rigid chin bars are the standard. There are still good reasons to wear a 3/4 helmet when driving a UTV or when working with a utility quad at low speeds.…

-- Testing a worthy trail accessory -- Water isn’t our favorite liquid to consume, but it is the most important and absolutely required to stay alive and keep having fun. Our favorite rides are long, all-day adventures over trails that are rarely explored and far away from camp. We require storage for tools, food and gear, with water required to stay hydrated. Ogio has a great hydration pack called Dakar with a 3-liter water bladder incorporated into it for $129.99. We picked one up and spent multiple ride days testing…

-- Widest quads with the most travel ever -- Polaris knocked the ball so far out of the park for 2020 that it must have burned up passing through the Earth’s atmosphere into the deep void of space. For starters, we have been impatiently awaiting a company to add something exciting to a handlebar machine lineup, and Polaris delivered. They introduced the 2020 Scrambler 1000 S and Sportsman XP 1000 S with an industry-first 55-inch-wide stance and the most suspension travel seen on a 4×4 quad (perhaps any production quad).…