The best vinyl for ATV Decals, Graphics & Stickers

It’s a great market for any printing shop: quad owners want to personalize their machines. ATVs, Karts, MX bikes, and Side by Sides are covered with low-energy plastic, and most vinyl decals will peel right off. But CONVEX was made especially for plastics! The flexible vinyl combined with our specialty adhesives keep graphics wrinkle-free and secure. CONVEX vinyls are premium products specifically developed for the application, have a good shelf life, and have stood the test of time. We even have Combo Kits (media plus laminate) that can save you significant money.

Things to consider when choosing vinyl for ATV decals:

  • What kind of riders are you providing graphics to? Weekend warriors (like hunters and occasional riders)? Racers who practice a lot?
  • Is there going to be abrasion against the graphics?
  • Are you installing the graphics, or is an inexperienced end-user going to install the graphics?

The base vinyl for ATV decals should have an aggressive adhesive, but not just any adhesive. The wrong adhesive will cause an unfavorable reaction with the vinyl. The incompatibilty weakens the adhesive over time and causes it to lift off. It can also shrink the vinyl and leave adhesive goo on your printing and cutting equipment. Furthermore, the ooze will be along the edges of your graphic, and will collect dirt.

Base Media:

CONVEX High-Bond, Pitbull, and MotoWrap all have aggressive adhesive for plastic. Pitbull and High-Bond both have 2 mils of adhesive, which is good for textured surfaces. Be advised that Pitbull will not come off. It is for permanent applications to plastic and powder paint. The High-Bond is easy to get off when you want to replace graphics if you chill the plastics (just throw it in a freezer and it will come off easier).

MotoWrap is less expensive because it has thinner adhesive. The adhesive is soft and stays tacky even in the cold. Soft adhesive that is thick will ooze out the edges, and we don’t want that! Because of this feature, MotoWrap is a great all-season product, and is a better choice over CONVEX High-Bond for winter applications to plastic.

Laminates:

For laminates, keep in mind that the thicker the overall combination, the less supple and flexible it will be. Soft vinyl such as CONVEX Laminate is better at hiding scuffs and scratches than hard vinyl.

Pro-Shield laminate is very tough, hard material. It is the choice of MX riders who constantly rub against the plastics with their boots and knee braces. ATV riders don’t have to worry about shrouds, but they may still want an extra-thick laminate for protection from branches and brush along the trail. When applying Pro-Shield you may want to use heat in order to soften it up while applying it. As described by one of our customers using a heat gun “It’s like putty in my hands. And when it cools, it’s like a hard shell.”

Convex vinyl for atvs is conformable with an aggressive adhesive for plastics

Recommended media/laminate combinations for ATV stickers, graphics, and decals:

• CONVEX High-Bond or MotoWrap base films with:

• Pro-Shield Laminate 7 or 12 mil (glossy finish), and 7 mil Matte.

• Pro-Shield 12 mil Laminate is our most popular selection for professionals.

• Stubbl Laminate is for traction. Stubbl is 18 mils with a deeply embossed texture.

Other FAQs:

Are there particular laminates that I should use with particular base films?

• All laminates listed on this website are formulated to work with all our base films.

There are certain plastic parts on the vehicles where decals won’t stick (like gas tanks). What can I do?

• Vinyl will not stick to plastic gas tanks for very long. Plastic is porous and under pressure, so the petroleum will penetrate the plastic. The vapors are forced through the sides of the tank into the adhesive. Eventually that will cause the adhesive to release. The appearance is called “blistering.” You can push it back down for a while (or clear-coat the tank) before putting gas in it.

• Another option is to buy an aluminum tank if one is available.

There are plastic parts that are not gas tanks, but my decals won’t stick. Is there a solution?

• Make sure that the plastic is clean. Silicone from the original mold is commonly found on new plastic.

• There is also a plastic with wax in it. It is called “Thermal Plastic Olefin.” We have a product called Pitbull, which is specifically made to adhere to TPO plastic.