You probably won't find knobbies for a 15" rim.

I've been looking for dual sport and the smallest is 16"

My project for the winter is to 'supemoto' my 07 out a little. going to put on longer shocks, a high front fender, hand guards and see how it looks.

I have taken mine off road. Nothing too severe, but the weight makes it manageable. Again, I don't ride like I used to, and extreme stuff is definitely out. But easing down a trail is not hard on a Savage!

Back in the '70's I had a '72 Pinto, snazzy special edition red white and blue.  Had wide four spoke wheels, white enamel centers, chrome rims, sporting BR70-13 Bridgestone street tires.  Twin CB whips off the rear corners.  Took it through what is now the Hungry Valley Off Road Recreation Area, across a creek and up a jeep trail climbing a mountain.  Got the strangest looks from the dirt bikers and jeep drivers.  Several miles in I asked one of the bikers if the road went through -- he said no.  YUK!!  Make a u-turn and go on back down.  About 10 years or so ago we were camping around Great Basin Nat. Momument, went for a drive, ended up going down a road marked "high clearance vehicles only" in a '78 Ford LTD.

Just 'cause we haven't got the ground clearance of a dirt bike doesn't mean we can't put on dirt tires and go playing.  All you have to do is make sure you avoid high centering.

Rocks? Whatcha talkin bout Willis
...little rocks get stuck in the where now!?  
...What, who, huh?! hello.

Yup, I know ALL about that.  



Band is fine 5,000mi later, I'll keep you
posted IF it snaps, but I doubt it.



Look: "nasty" got new shoes!

When I put 12.5" Progressive shocks on the back of mine it jacked it up noticeably, improving ground clearance.
I have seen tires in ad's with a block-type tread, made for vintage bikes, that might do well for dirt roads.

Lancer; when you put on the 12.5" rears; did it force the seat to slant to far forward? I've put spacers on the front of my seat and it made a big difference. Now I'm worried longer shocks will negate that benefit too much.
The extra ground clearance should work great for gravel roads and dirt path now and then. I'm not doing this to my bike to ride in the dirt. I've got a YZ250 for that. But it seems you can do almost anything to a Savage/S40 so I thought I'd give this a try. In my minds eye, it looks as good as a BMW, weighs half as much, cost a third of what a BMW does and there won't be a dozen of them looking exactly the same every square mile.