PRODUCT EVALUATION: EFX MOTORALLY 35-INCH TIRES

By the staff of Dirt Wheels

Our introduction to EFX’s MotoRally 35×15-10, 8-ply radial tires was when we mounted them on a 2022 Polaris Turbo R 4 Ultimate. The first thing you’ll notice is that these tall tires make an already tall car feel even taller. Getting in or out of the vehicle with these mounted requires effort, especially if you are under 6 feet tall. On a positive note, ground clearance is improved. When you start with a 16-inch clearance with 32-inch tires and then add 1.5 inches (half of the 3-inch tire height increase), you feel that you can drive over most rocks without running aground.

Another benefit of a larger rolling diameter The EFX MotoRally 35-inch tire is increased tire sidewall. The flexible sidewall design combined with the Turbo R’s already-supple suspension action results in a gliding sensation isolating the car from the irregularities of the trail.

The increased tire diameter also means increased tire and wheel weight. Comparing the 47.7-pound MotoRally tires to the OEM 32-inch Maxxis Fury 35.4-pound units revealed a 12.3-pound increase. This weight can be felt when the suspension is tasked with successive hits like whoops. The suspension must control the added weight and momentum, and there is a “basketball” effect. The rebound of the tire carcass is not controlled.

The tire’s shape has a more rounded ground contact area than the stock tires. This design delivers a compliant ride at normal speeds, yet remains predictable as the speeds increase. When getting heavy on the loud pedal, this rounded profile makes for a slide-happier machine.

We are not saying that this is a bad thing. The tire manufacturers’ intended “theater of usage” was desert racing, and in this environment, the machines are going flat out, and the turns are almost always deeply rutted. The OEM tires have a typically flat profile with a much more pronounced “sharp” edge at the corners. They transmit a distinctively different feeling when cornering hard, like the tire was about to “hook” and try to unsettle the car.

TESTING

We enjoyed these tires. It is big fun steering with the back end of the car, and the added rolling diameter tamed the severity of all obstacles. Puncture resistance is impressive. We had many flats with the OEM tires, but with the MotoRally tires we suffered a single slow leak we are blaming on poor line choice. We aren’t sure whether we should thank the taller knob blocks, the radial design or the material used in its 8-ply construction, but we appreciated the flat resistance.

With the tire pressures set at a recommended 22 psi front and rear, they executed admirably on hardpack and rock surfaces. Being of a closely spaced lug pattern, performance in the sand was not great under hard acceleration but was entirely acceptable for a desert tire. Tire life is good. The photos of the tires are after they had been tortured on a heavy turbo car for over 400 miles. While showing signs of use, no chunking or excessive wear was noted.

CONCLUSION

The EFX MotoRally tire is a well-balanced, high-performance, desert-oriented tire at a reasonable price point of $353 for the 35s. They cost $268 for 30-inch and $377 for 37-inch tires. The MotoRally supplies a well-mannered compliant ride while still providing a long tire life. For more information, go to www.efxtires.com.