Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/551693
www.PowersportsBusiness.com ATV/UTV Powersports Business • August 17, 2015 • 33 STI Tire & Wheel has unveiled its all-new Sand Wedge tires, deliver- ing a new high-per- formance standard for UTV handling and con- trol in the sand dunes. The tires are designed and devel- oped to allow today's large UTVs to float over rough dune sections, and to make the most of their power. The massive Sand Wedge tires measure 30 inches tall and are the largest sand tires made for popular 14-inch wheels. With a wide profile and flexible 4-ply carcass, they provide maximum flotation and ride comfort. Each of the 12 "scoop" paddles on the rear mea- sures 1 inch tall; their reinforcing ribs handle the power of big-bore UTVs. The front Sand Wedge tires use a centered tri-rib design to give unmatched handling and steering control. The front tire (30/11-14) retails for $172.85, and the rear tire (30/14-14) retails for $205.40. They're available now. TOPPEREXLIFT INCREASES SPACE UNDER TRUCK CAPS A.R.E. Accessories, a leading fiberglass truck cap and tonneau cover manufacturer, now offers an innovative way to create an enclosed camping setup and increase the space under fiberglass truck caps. The TopperEZLift, distributed by A.R.E., is a functional and easy to operate topper lift- ing system that can raise and lower any A.R.E. fiberglass truck cap in just 30 seconds with the push of a button. Powered by the vehicle's 12-volt battery and drawing just five to eight amps, the Top- perEZLift adds 17.5 inches of additional height and provides added space for comfortable camping and allows easy cargo access without removing the cap. Made in the U.S. and designed to fit all pickup makes and models, the system can raise up to 900 pounds and allows the cap to seal firmly back down onto the truck bed upon lowering. Self-locking actuators secure the topper in place, raised or lowered, and the kit includes mounting brackets, hard- ware and a control box with all required wir- ing and cable ties. Camper tent packages are available and sold separately. The tent option is con- structed of durable ripstop nylon fabric in a choice of outdoor patterns and solid colors and features Velcro attachments and two screened side windows. PSB DIGEST STI Sand Wedge tires target dune riders A.R.E. Accessories has released its TopperEZLift, which is powered the vehicle's 12-volt battery. STI Tire & Wheel's Sand Wedge Tires provide maximum flotation and comfort. "When you go out and break a plastic rack, the machine's down, and that's time and money for these users," Hollins said. With the movement of the air filter to a location below the seat (as is the case with the Grizzly), the top storage compartment has a capacity of 9 pounds. Of course, the Grizzly and the Kodiak 700 share the same all-new engine. When comparing the 2016 Kodiak 700 with the now-out-of-production Grizzly 550, power and torque both increase in the Kodiak 700 by 30 percent. And the Kodiak 700 is $1,000 cheaper than the non-EPS Grizzly 550 was. "Do farmers and ranchers need this much power? Not really, but we can change the feel- ing in the machine for them," Hollins said. "We can give them a more relaxed feeling and we can give the capacity of still towing and haul- ing that equipment but at a much less stressful, much easier pace. If you have a 350 or 450 and you're trying to go across a field, towing a trailer, you're maxing that thing out. You're get- ting from Point A to Point B, but you're putting the maximum amount of stress on that vehicle. With the Kodiak 700, you bring that stress level down, so you're not putting that maximum 100 percent level into it, and you're still getting the job done." With the available power, Yamaha was able to change the clutch weighting and engage- ment ratios of the CVT, compared to the same Grizzly engine. The 2016 Grizzly weight is 18 grams; the Kodiak is 30 grams. "Grizzly is much more aggressive and sporty and fun. Kodiak is completely the oppo- site. It's very relaxed now," Hollins said. "The engine RPMs come way down, and the settings are very comfortable. It's still a 700 and you can still tow the trailer and do all those things, but the everyday B2B work being done with these machines is much easier for the rider now. Hav- ing this big bore motor and being able to utilize the clutching to bring those RPMs down, you also bring down the exhaust tone and exhaust noise, so the entire machine becomes a lot more subdued and relaxed." The Kodiak 700 also features full-length skid plates, with a 3-piece removable design, and a lever-activated 4WD function on the handlebar that offers simple operation. Impres- sively, fully independent suspension is part of the package, too. Another important feature to the ag/work end-user is a new sealed wet rear brake. Its maintenance-free design allows for no brake fade due to water or mud. In fact, it's designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle, and is yet another checkmark for the "time is money" department. The Kodiak 700 EPS targets a mix of the work and hunting buyer. The EPS model includes a new handlebar light that follows the handlebar movement. A new digital meter includes a fuel gauge, speedometer, odometer, dual trip meters, clock, 4WD status, gear posi- tion and EPS warning. KYB suspension is pro- vided to maximize all-day comfort. A 2-inch receiver hitch is part of the EPS package also. Finally, the EPS SE package is offered in car- bon metallic paint, and has push button 2WD, 4WD and Diff Lock. Special edition cast alumi- num wheels are part of the SE package also. "The base engine and base chassis are simi- lar between Grizzly and Kodiak, but we've taken them in two totally different directions and it allows us to cover price point, model fea- tures and customer requirements for the entire lineup," Hollins said. "Dealers didn't have this opportunity in the past." PSB KODIAK CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32