We think that a local tire shop is a decent choice for your purchase. The positive is that you can develop a relationship with your local tire shop and of course they will be able to mount the tires as well. This is a big bonus as mounting tires isn’t exactly easy. The downside will be that the selection of paddle tires is likely going to be pretty slim. Also, the cost of buying your tires from a local shop is that the price is likely going to be higher than if you purchased them elsewhere.

A local motorcycle shop is perhaps a better choice. They are going to understand the needs of the dune rider and will be very educated in the world of paddle tires. More than likely they are also riders so they can give you some first hand reviews of the different types, sizes, and models of tires available. We have visited some shops though they couldn’t mount the tires for us. This is a big downside because then you are going to have to figure out where to get them mounted. Also, you are going to have to pay for them to be put on the rims so that increases the overall price of the purchase.

Our favorite place to buy paddle tires is on the internet. This offers several distinct advantages over the other choices. First of course is selection. Do you want a large pair of v-shaped paddle tires? You can find them on the internet en masse. Also, the price is likely going to be much better than anywhere else because the online retailer has a lower overhead and also there is quite a bit of competition. One other consideration that many people don’t think about is that there wouldn’t be any sales tax on an internet purchase.  Overall the purchase of your set of tires would likely be best if made on the internet.

When looking for a set of tires for the sand you have many choices.  There are models in all shapes and sizes.  You can actually see a few different versions at the top of this page. One important consideration would be the depth of your paddle scoop.  When making this decision you will need to understand that the bigger the paddle, the more horsepower your vehicle must have. It takes a lot of grunt to be able to move a set of sand tires so you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of horsepower on tap. If you have a quad or ATV you will likely want to have an aftermarket exhaust pipe and a high flow air filter. With these upgrades you can ensure that you are good to go.

Another consideration will be the shape of the scoops on your paddle tires. There are tires that have a v shape or others that have straight scoops much like a ladder. Most of the riders I know prefer the v-shaped tires but the choice is really up to you. We have found in our test that the v-shaped versions really dig down into the dirt and provide “bite” so that you can gain traction. One thing is for sure, whichever shape you choose they will definitely be better than regular hardpack dirt tires. You can almost be sure you will never get stuck in the sand whereas with regular tires you can almost certainly become stuck on every ride.

When buying a set of tires you should also consider buying a set of matching rims. The reason for this is simple… Every time you change from your paddle to your hardpack tires you won’t have to remove them from the rim and remount. With a fresh set of tires already mounted on a new set of rims, you are able to just change tires very quickly. This will allow you more riding time which we all want!

One word of caution for your set of paddle tires is that you will never want to use them on anything except for soft dune like sand. Why? Simple, they will wear down excessively on regular hardpack dirt roads and you will ruin them. Not to mention that it will be a very uncomfortable ride with the bouncing of the sand scoops!