The Little Hammer With A BIG Punch
EFX Tires MotoHammer – 27-9x14R
Story By: Brandon Bunch
Photos By: Brandon Bunch & Kyle Callen
The EFX Tires MotoHammer came out as one of our favorites in the 32” Tire Test we did last year, so when it came time to upgrade the rubber on our Can-Am Maverick Sport, the fact that it’s also available in a 27-inch option made the decision a no-brainer. While we’ve found you can fit a 30-inch tire on the Sport with no clearance issues, the smaller tire size better retains the quick handling and responsive nature that this machine possesses. Paired up with a set of 14×7 MSA M37 Brute Beadlock wheels, the full package is lightweight and looks downright race-spec.
I’ve put a lot of hard miles on this wheel and tire set-up now, and whether it was in the soft terrain of the Cinder Hills OHV area, or the hard-packed rocky desert here in Lake Havasu, the little MotoHammers always deliver grippy and predictable traction. EFX markets the MotoHammer as their premier hard pack terrain tire, but I definitely feel that it performs just as well in the soft stuff. While I didn’t attempt the infamous Hundred Dollar Hill out in the Cinders (I don’t think the Sport would make it, even with paddles), I did attack a few hills that are just as big, if not bigger than Oldsmobile Hill in Glamis, and had no issues carrying speed all the way to the top.
Down in the Cinder flats and at the ridiculously fun berm track, the MotoHammer really shined. Running the berm track fast is a massive challenge for just about any car, with its huge bowl corners combined with the hard pack base and loose gravel surface causing havoc should you make a tiny mistake. Momentum is the name of the game here, and there was comfort in knowing I could throw the Maverick Sport from corner to corner with some-times too much speed, and not have the tires break loose sending me over the berm and into the trees.
Even losing two inches of sidewall flex, going from the stock 27in Maxxis Bighorns on 12-inch wheels to the 27in MotoHammers on 14-inch wheels, the ride comfort with the EFX Tire was equal to if not better than before. Riding across the choppy ruts out in the Cinders did not beat us to death, and the tires provide good compliance and consistent traction when bouncing over the rock strewn hard pack trails in the desert.
With comfort and confidence, the EFX Tires MotoHammers are a blast to drive on, no matter the terrain. I’ve picked poor lines tagging sharp embedded rocks, and with seemingly hours of drifting around and beating on these tires, they are holding up phenomenally well all things considered. Head over to efxtires.com for more info on these tires, and be sure to check out their full lineup!
