Johnny Angal’s decision to switch to ITP UltraCross R Spec tires helped transform the durability of the UTV Inc. desert-racing program. The team reportedly logged more than 2,000 racing miles on its 30-inch tires while earning multiple podium finishes, including a victory in the 2014 SCORE Baja 1000.
Angal, driver of the No. 1921 UTV Inc. Polaris RZR XP 4 1000, began searching for a more durable tire after flats repeatedly disrupted the team’s early races. He paid attention to the tires being used by successful competitors and eventually selected the 8-ply radial ITP UltraCross R Spec.
That change became an important part of the team’s desert-racing program.
A Tire Change After Costly Race Flats
According to Angal, the team suffered three flats during its first race with another tire brand. It then purchased another set of tires and 15-inch wheels for the Baja 500, only to experience another major failure while running near the front.
Watching the competitors the team had recently passed drive back by convinced Angal that outright speed meant little without tire durability. He began looking closely at what the podium finishers were using.
“I wanted something that would finish a race.”
Johnny Angal
The team chose the ITP UltraCross R Spec, and Angal credited the tires with helping UTV Inc. win the 2014 SCORE Baja 1000’s Class 1900 division.
More Than 2,000 Miles of Desert Racing
Angal believed strongly enough in the tires that the team reportedly used the same pair of front UltraCross R Specs in six races. Those tires accumulated more than 2,000 miles across harsh desert terrain before being retired.
During that run, ITP-equipped UTV Inc. race vehicles earned podium finishes at events including:
- 2014 SCORE Baja 1000
- SCORE Baja 500
- SCORE San Felipe 250
- Best in the Desert Parker 250
Angal reported only one tread puncture during the team’s races on the UltraCross R Spec. Other tire impacts came when the RZR struck hidden rocks or obstacles at race speed—conditions that could damage far more than a tire.
Durability Created More Racing-Line Options
Tire confidence also changed the way Angal approached traffic on the racecourse. During one event, the team became stuck behind two competitors while running through approximately two feet of silt.
Instead of remaining in the existing line, Angal accelerated across untracked desert covered with sagebrush and rocks. The unconventional route allowed the RZR to pass both competitors without a tire problem and continue to a podium finish.
That experience demonstrated an important advantage of a durable desert tire: it can give a driver more freedom to select a fast line instead of always choosing the route least likely to cause a puncture.
Why the Team Reused Its Race Tires
UTV Inc. did not automatically install a new set of tires before every race. Angal said the team continued using its UltraCross R Specs because it had not noticed a meaningful reduction in traction or reliability.
The tires continued to provide predictable cornering and forward traction in deep silt, even after accumulating substantial race mileage. That combination of wear life and puncture resistance made the tire especially valuable in long-distance events where avoiding downtime can be more important than saving a few pounds of rotating weight.
ITP UltraCross R Spec Construction
ITP developed the UltraCross R Spec for desert racing and other demanding off-road terrain. Its principal features include:
- 8-ply-rated radial construction
- ITP Tough Tread rubber compound
- Multi-surface, non-directional tread pattern
- Computer-designed tread layout
- Deep rim guard for added wheel-lip protection
- Made-in-the-USA construction
The square-profile tread and non-directional design are intended to provide consistent traction across hardpack, rocks, ruts and loose desert surfaces. The heavy-duty carcass increases puncture resistance, although larger UltraCross sizes also add more rotating and unsprung weight than a typical stock UTV tire.
ITP initially expanded the UltraCross R Spec range in 2015 following its success in desert racing. Read the original 2015 UltraCross R Spec size announcement.
2015 ITP UltraCross R Spec Sizes
The expanded 2015 lineup included the following sizes:
- 27x10R-12
- 27x10R-14
- 28x10R-12
- 28x10R-14
- 29x9R-14
- 29x11R-14
- 29x10R-15
- 30x10R-15
- 32x10R-15
- 23×10.00-12 golf-cart version
Editor’s note: This list reflects the sizes announced in 2015. ITP has since revised and expanded the available UltraCross R Spec lineup. Confirm current sizes, load ratings and availability directly with the manufacturer before purchasing.
UltraCross R Spec Remains Available
The UltraCross R Spec remains part of ITP’s tire lineup. Current versions retain the 8-ply radial construction, Tough Tread compound and non-directional tread concept that established the tire’s reputation in desert racing.
Current specifications and available sizes can be found on the official ITP UltraCross R Spec product page.
UTV Guide UltraCross R Spec Testing
UTV Guide later conducted its own long-term evaluation of the larger version of this tire. Our 32-inch ITP UltraCross R Spec review covers tread wear, handling, tire weight and performance after more than 600 miles of mixed desert, sand and rocky terrain.
Angal’s racing results remain an early and especially punishing demonstration of the UltraCross R Spec’s intended purpose: completing long desert races without allowing tire failures to decide the outcome.
