[DDMensink]

Hi everyone this is my first post and have a question about wheels and tires. I bought my '92 300 last year for the purpose of plowing my driveway and to use hunting. I will also occasionally go riding on some trails and through some mud an I'm looking to get new wheels and tires.

Right now I'm leaning towards getting ITP Delta Steel 12x7 wheels with 4+3 offset in front and 2+5 offset in rear. And I was thinking of getting Maxxis Zilla 24x8-12 for the front and 25x10-12 for the rear.

I guess I'm wondering how well this wheel and tire combination will work? Maxxis also makes a 23x8-12, would that be better for the front because of how narrow the rear wheels are compared to the tire? This is the closest to the original sizes that I could find.

Thanks for your help in advance!

 

[mac102004]

Those sizes will work fine.

 

[SteveStrick]

I thought If the bike was 4x4 you need the same height of tires front and back? Or are these older machines set up especially to run smaller tires up front?

 

[fishfiles]

Steve , they came from the factory with different tire sizes front and back , 23x8x11 front and 24x9x11 rear , the ratio from front to back is a couple of number different , I have read they did the combination of ratio and tires to make turning easier , I run the same O.D. size front and back 26x12x12 rear and 26x10x12 front with no problems , but I do run it in 2wd as much as possible by the 4x2 kick out

 

[shadetree]

Steve , they came from the factory with different tire sizes front and back , 23x8x11 front and 24x9x11 rear , the ratio from front to back is a couple of number different , I have read they did the combination of ratio and tires to make turning easier , I run the same O.D. size front and back 26x12x12 rear and 26x10x12 front with no problems , but I do run it in 2wd as much as possible by the 4x2 kick out

fish, has nothing to do with the turning ?, Honda made the trx300's have two different tire sizes to make up for the transfer case gearing, at least this is what my bud at my local Honda dealership explained to me ?.

 

[SteveStrick]

Thanks for clearing that up for me! I always thought it was just 2 wheel drives that had smaller tires on the front, learn something new every day!

 

[shadetree]

Thanks for clearing that up for me! I always thought it was just 2 wheel drives that had smaller tires on the front, learn something new every day!

tires sizes vary from 2wd to 4wd, because the 4wd models have the transfer case ( trx300 ) ( that gear box in front of the motor )..this makes it easier on the differential and tranny in the motor. there are ton of things that make 2wd and 4wd differ when ridding, steering. 2wd models steer easier than 4wd models..this is a fact !..lol.

 

[_Wilson_]

Tuned in.......

 

[fishfiles]

Steve , they came from the factory with different tire sizes front and back , 23x8x11 front and 24x9x11 rear , the ratio from front to back is a couple of number different , I have read they did the combination of ratio and tires to make turning easier , I run the same O.D. size front and back 26x12x12 rear and 26x10x12 front with no problems , but I do run it in 2wd as much as possible by the 4x2 kick out

fish, has nothing to do with the turning ?, Honda made the trx300's have two different tire sizes to make up for the transfer case gearing, at least this is what my bud at my local Honda dealership explained to me ?.

did you know that Honda had a few atv's with different ratios in the front and rear , I think you have one ! Foreman 450 2001 and up

" The Honda Rancher, 420 IRS, 300 Fourtrax and 2001+ Foreman 450 all have different final gear ratios for the front and rear "

I tried to find it , but have not yet , there is a history of Honda ATV's out there which I read and they said the ratios and tire size was different for steering improvement ----- but you can't believe every thing you read , I know I don't

I had a Ford F250 4x4 with a 1ton suspension under it from the factory and it had different ratios in the front and rear , if I am remembering right it has 4.10 in the rear and 4.09 in the front

 

[DDMensink]

Thanks for all of the responses guys! I think I'll go with the 24" up front and 25" in the rear

 

[SteveStrick]

Let us know how you like the Zillas! I'm reallu leaning towards getting a set for myself, they seem like a good choice!

 

[DDMensink]

It might be a while before I get them Steve. I would like to get them for winter and when I do, I will post pictures!

 

[hodge5]

"I had a Ford F250 4x4 with a 1ton suspension under it from the factory and it had different ratios in the front and rear , if I am remembering right it has 4.10 in the rear and 4.09 in the front"

That is because of two different axle manufacturers- Dana in the front and Sterling in the rear.
They are more than close enough to be compatible.
Tractors would be a good example- the front ratio will be different than the rear, to account for the great variation in the sizes of the front and rear tires.

I run the same diameter tires on my 99 300 FWD, and haven't noticed any driveline binding (other than in turns, no different than when the original tires were on it).

 

[shadetree]

"I had a Ford F250 4x4 with a 1ton suspension under it from the factory and it had different ratios in the front and rear , if I am remembering right it has 4.10 in the rear and 4.09 in the front"

That is because of two different axle manufacturers- Dana in the front and Sterling in the rear.
They are more than close enough to be compatible.
Tractors would be a good example- the front ratio will be different than the rear, to account for the great variation in the sizes of the front and rear tires.

I run the same diameter tires on my 99 300 FWD, and haven't noticed any driveline binding (other than in turns, no different than when the original tires were on it).

this ^^^^, is what I love about our forums here !, there are some very knowledgeable members here, its great to have so many members that are skilled in all kinds of trades or what ever ?, we all ( even me !..lol ) learn so much on here.

 

[DDMensink]

Another question. Should I consider doing a gear reduction or do you think it should be fine since I'm not going with way oversized tires?

 

[SamUK]

You'll be fine as your only going up a tyre size, IMO your fine for a couple of inches without a GR for general day to day use with the odd bit of mudding.

As for the ratios front to rear.... the front is slightly higher but has a smaller tyre to compensate, the smaller, narrower tyre WILL steer better at standstill and speed. Fitting equal sized tyres fromt and rear will, technically, make the front wheels spin slightly faster, but.... If you do drive in mud and swampy stuff, having the front end turning slightly faster WILL infact aid steering when your giving it some throttle. The ratio difference is minimal, I haven't noticed any difference when attempting to turn in mud or loose ground, I think it needs to be a slightly higher ratio to be able to notice.

All the technical jargon aside, equal sized tyres are fine to use front and rear, I doubt any of us will ever know the real reason different sizes were used front to rear, we'll all have different theories though!

 

[DDMensink]

You'll be fine as your only going up a tyre size, IMO your fine for a couple of inches without a GR for general day to day use with the odd bit of mudding.

As for the ratios front to rear.... the front is slightly higher but has a smaller tyre to compensate, the smaller, narrower tyre WILL steer better at standstill and speed. Fitting equal sized tyres fromt and rear will, technically, make the front wheels spin slightly faster, but.... If you do drive in mud and swampy stuff, having the front end turning slightly faster WILL infact aid steering when your giving it some throttle. The ratio difference is minimal, I haven't noticed any difference when attempting to turn in mud or loose ground, I think it needs to be a slightly higher ratio to be able to notice.

All the technical jargon aside, equal sized tyres are fine to use front and rear, I doubt any of us will ever know the real reason different sizes were used front to rear, we'll all have different theories though!

Thanks! I'll probably just leave that alone and just have fun!