best tires for yamaha warrior 350

I put ITP Mud Lites on my Warrior 350 two seasons ago. They're great in mud and soft soil but absolutely terrible on hardpack. I'd steer clear if you do any trail riding that isn't pure muck. Also the 22x7-10 front fit fine but the rear 22x10-10 rubbed the stock chainguard a little until I trimmed it. Check your model year clearance before you drop cash.

Kenda Bear Claws are my go-to for mixed terrain. They have a nice balance of bite and longevity. On my Warrior I ran 22x7-10 front and 20x10-10 rear for better acceleration and clearance. You might be able to find them under $100 each if you catch a sale on Rocky Mountain ATV. Just keep an eye on the tread pattern direction when mounting—I messed that up once.

Don't overlook cheap tires like SunF or Duro. They're no-name but I've run SunF Pro Powers on two Warriors and they lasted 3 seasons of hard riding. The key is to keep them properly inflated—around 5-6 psi on the rear. Budget tires tend to get sidewall bubbles if you go too low. Also measure your rim width before ordering because the Warrior uses a 10x5 rear and 10x5 front, not standard.

I went with Holeshot XCRs after a buddy recommended them. They're stiff and handle well on hardpack but they're heavy. On a Warrior which already lacks top-end power you'll feel the extra unsprung weight. I dropped a tooth on the rear sprocket to compensate. Also they run narrow so they won't rub even if you go to 22 inches. But they're not cheap—I paid around $120 each.

Honestly, for a Warrior 350 you don't need super aggressive tires unless you're doing deep mud. I run Maxxis Zilla radials—22x7-10 front and 20x11-9 rear. They're lightweight and give great traction on rocks and roots. The radial construction makes them more puncture resistant than bias ply too. They're about $110 each but worth it. Just confirm the rear wheel size—the Warrior uses 9 inch rears? Actually it's 10 inch rears, so my 9 inch won't fit.

Budget hunter here: I grabbed a set of BKT ATV tires off Amazon for $65 each. They're made in India but honestly they've held up fine on my 2005 Warrior. They have a mud terraced pattern that works okay in loose dirt but slides on wet rocks. Not great on pavement either. For the price they're fine as a stopgap but don't expect long life—I got maybe 1.5 seasons out of them.

You should definitely check the wheel offset before buying any wider tires. The Warrior has a 4+3 offset stock. If you go with a wider tire like a 25x10-10 you might need a 5+2 offset wheel to clear the swingarm. I learned that after mounting a set of 25 inch Kenda Executioners—they rubbed the chain badly. Stick with 22 inch or smaller and you should be fine without spacers.

I've got a Warrior 350 that I use mainly for trail work—pulling a small drag and hauling firewood. For that I need a tire with a stiff carcass to handle loads. Carlisle AT 489s are a good work tire but they're heavy and not very aggressive. They're cheap though—around $80 each. If you're just recreational riding they're overkill. Consider what you actually use the quad for.

No one mentioned tire pressure yet. On the Warrior with 22s I run 4 psi front and 5 psi rear for soft trail riding. If you're on hardpack go up to 7-8 psi to avoid sidewall rollover. A lot of new riders ruin expensive tires by running them too low. Also get a good tire gauge—the cheap stick ones are useless. I use a digital one from Harbor Freight.

If you're on a tight budget consider looking on Facebook Marketplace for used tires. I found a set of Dunlop Duros with 80% tread for $60 total. Just check for dry rot and sidewall cracks. They're not ideal but they'll get you through a season. Warriors are old quads so parts fitment can be tricky—make sure the used tires are from an 88-05 Warrior or similar like a Blaster.

I installed Kenda Pathfinders on my Warrior and they're a decent all-rounder. Not amazing in deep mud but good on gravel, grass, and hardpack. They ride smooth on trails too. The tread pattern is directional so mind the rotation. One thing: they're bias ply and can develop flat spots if you let the quad sit for months. I'd recommend something with a more open tread if you ride in wet conditions.

I'm a mechanic that works on a lot of these old Warriors. The biggest issue I see is people buying tires that are too tall and rubbing the rear fender or the front fender on full compression. Stick to original sizes: 21x7-10 front and 20x10-10 rear. If you go taller you'll likely need a TORS eliminator or at least trim the fenders. Also inspect your rims for cracks before mounting new tires—Warrior rims are known to corrode.

Rocky Mountain ATV has a tire selector tool that asks for your make and model. Use it. I bought a set of Sedona Ripsaw tires for my Warrior based on that tool and they fit perfectly. They're a good budget option at about $85 each. They have an aggressive shoulder that hooks up in turns but the center tread is shallow—won't last long if you ride a lot of pavement.

I run GBC Dirt Commanders on my Warrior and love them. They're the best of both worlds—light enough to maintain speed but tough enough for rocky terrain. I've never had a puncture in 2 years. They're about $130 each though, so over your budget. But if you can stretch, they're worth it. Also they fit stock rims without any modifications.

I tried a set of cheapo 'MotoSport' brand tires from eBay. Absolute garbage. The rubber was so hard they never gripped, and they started cracking after one summer. You really do get what you pay for in ATV tires. I'd rather buy a good used set than new junk. Look for used ITP or Kenda tires from a reputable seller with good feedback.

One thing nobody said: check the date code on any new tires you buy. I got a 'new' pair of tires that were actually 8 years old and the rubber was hard. They were still usable but nowhere near as good as fresh compounds. The DOT code is a 4-digit number on the sidewall—first two digits are the week, last two the year. So 1723 means 17th week of 2023.

If you primarily ride in sandy loam or loose dirt, consider getting a paddle tire for the rear. I swapped to a 20x10-10 Skat-Trak Edge on my Warrior for dune trips and it transformed the quad. But for general trail riding it's useless. So think about where you ride most. A dedicated set for specific conditions is better than a compromise.

I've been running Shinko SR777 tires on my Warrior for 3 years. They're a sport touring tire—good on pavement and hardpack, terrible in mud. They last forever though. I got 4 seasons on the rear before it started cupping. They run about $100 each. Not for everyone but if you do a lot of road riding to get to trails, they're a solid choice.

I second the Maxxis Zilla recommendation but add a caveat—they run small. Your 22x7-10 will actually measure 21.5 inches tall so clearance isn't an issue. They also have a soft compound that wears fast on pavement. I got about 600 miles on the rear before it was down to half tread. If you're mostly off-road they're great but budget for more frequent replacement.

Final thought: don't cheap out and skip rim locks. On a Warrior 350 even with stock power, a low tire pressure scenario can spin the tire on the rim. I installed rim locks on both rear wheels and it saved me from a flat tire while crawling a rocky hill. They're like $15 each from Parts Unlimited and easy to install when mounting new tires.