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ATV Tire Size Explained: A Comprehensive Guide

By Kavan Wright | Behind The Wheel on October 14, 2020
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Your quad is a do-anything machine. ATV’s are great for getting things done and for recreation too. But now you’re looking at your tires. Maybe you’ve blown one or they’re getting bald. Or maybe you just want a more aggressive tread pattern and a bigger tire. The problem is you’re a little lost when it comes to your ATV tire size.

How big can you go? Should you go big? How do you even know what all these numbers represent?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ll answer all those answers and more in this comprehensive guide.

How Do You Read ATV Tire Sizes?

So, you’re shopping around for tires and you see one listed with a size like 26×10-12. Or, worse yet, you find something listed like 206/80R12.

What the heck does all that mean?

First, you need to figure out if you’re dealing with standard or metric ATV tire sizes.

ATV Tire Sizes: Standard Tire Sizing Chart

Standard format is much more common on ATV tires than metric. You might see a tire size written 26×10-12 or, occasionally, 26x10x12. This format is pretty straightforward. It uses three numbers to sum up the size:

  • Tire diameter in inches
  • Tire width in inches
  • Wheel diameter in inches
Infographic Explainin Metric Tire Sizing
Image by SuperATV

ATV Tire Sizes: Metric Tire Sizing Chart

If you see a tire size that looks like this: 205/80R12, you know you’re dealing with metric. The metric format is exceedingly rare for ATVs and odds are you’ll never come across it. But if you do, the letter thrown in the middle of those numbers is a dead giveaway. In metric, you always have three numbers and a letter:

  • Tire width in millimeters
  • The aspect ratio as a percent
  • A letter for construction type (usually “R” for “radial”)
  • Wheel diameter in inches

There may be other numbers and letters before and after these, but they’re not important for understanding your ATV tire size.

Infographic Explainin Metric Tire Sizing
Image by SuperATV

Breaking Down ATV Tire Sizes by the Numbers

Knowing how to read those tire sizes is just the first step. You really need to know how to use them. Is 26 inches a reasonable diameter for your quad? What kind of width do you need?

Tire Diameter Breakdown

When you’re considering replacing all of your tires, you’ll want to make sure you get something that will actually fit on your stock vehicle.

Your typical ATV tire diameter fits within a range of about 20 inches for the smallest machines to about 30 inches for your more factory mud-equipped machines.

Basically, your quad will typically fit into one of few categories:

  • Sport quads—20 to 25 inches
  • Utility quads—24 to 28 inches
  • Factory mud or rock equipped quads—27 to 30 inches

Keep in mind that you’ll want to keep within a couple inches of your stock tire size. If you go too big, you’ll start to rub on your fenders (among other issues). If you go small—well, that’s just silly.

Tire Width Breakdown

Tire width is easier to understand. Choosing the right tire width has a lot to do with your own preferences and riding style.

A wider tire tends to give you a flatter tread pattern and more grip. A narrow tire gives you a little more control.

ATV’s usually have a wider tire on the rear than on the front to get the best of both tires. A typical rear tire on a quad will be 10 to 11 inches wide while a front tire will be 7 to 8 inches wide.

But matching your tire width to your riding style isn’t the only thing you need to consider. You also need to make sure it’ll physically fit on your chosen wheel. There are two main ways to make sure it’ll fit.

  1. Check the tire manufactures wheel recommendation. They should provide a range of wheel widths that the tire is designed to work with.
  2. If you can’t find that info, the general rule of thumb is to go with a wheel that’s about two inches narrower than your tire’s width. This is a general guideline and not guaranteed to work for every tire, but our experience shows that it’s right most of the time.

Wheel Diameter Breakdown

This one is non-negotiable. You have to make sure your tire’s wheel diameter matches your actual wheel diameter.

Most off-road wheels tend to be 10 to 12 inches in diameter—which is convenient considering most off-road tires are designed to fit those wheels. That’s a good size as it gives your tire plenty of cushion between the tread and rim, which results in smoother rides and more protection for your rims.

Of course, you can end up with bigger wheels if you have bigger tires, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

Choosing the Right Size Tires for Your ATV

You don’t need any old tire. You have to choose the perfect ATV tire size for you. After all, you ride your own way and have your own needs.

We’re going to simplify ride style to three main types:

  • Work/chores
  • Trail/dune riding
  • Rocks/mud riding

For a workhorse ATV, it’s not a bad idea to stick with stock. It’ll give you the expected traction and power you need.

4 wheeler coming up muddy hill
Trail riding, like dune riding, means you want to go fast. For that, a wider, flatter tire will keep you gripping and in control. If you ride in the mud, you might want to go with something bigger and narrower along with an aggressive tread pattern.

Trails and dunes demand high traction, and you get that by going wider. You don’t necessarily need a taller tire, but a wider one will give you the grip you need.

Dominating rock gardens and taking on bounty holes is done best with a big tire. But going big isn’t as simple as just buying the biggest tire you see.

Can I Put Bigger Tires on My ATV?

The short answer is yes.

Here comes the long answer.

Every ATV has a theoretical maximum tire size it can fit without modifying the suspension. It’s typically about one to two inches bigger than your stock tires. So if your ATV came with a 27-inch tire, you could probably fit a 29-inch tire without too much trouble.

But what if you want to go bigger?

That takes some work. You’ll either need to invest in a lift kit or some offset A-arms. These types of kits will often tell you what the max tire size is when you have them installed.

You can’t go big without some consequences though. Namely, you’ll lose torque due to the increased diameter (big tires like a high-gear kit!) and the extra weight. The weight can also put extra strain on your clutch and shorten the life of your clutch belt.

Luckily, you can get your torque back with a transmission gear reduction or GDP Portal Gear Lift (which has a gear reduction built in).

You can also bolster your clutch with heavy-duty drive belts and eek out even more torque with a clutch kit.

So now that you’re equipped with knowledge, go equip yourself with some tires. Get the ATV tire size you want, and ride with confidence.

RELATED CONTENT: ATVs38 tires15
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96 Comments

  1. Avatar for WILLIAM HERSHEY WILLIAM HERSHEY says:
    May 9, 2021 at 3:23 pm

    HAVE A 2021 POLARIS SPORTSMAN 850 HO, PURCHASED NEW TIRES 28X9-14 AND 28X11-14. STOCK WHEELS ARE 14X6.5 AND 14X8, WILL TIRES FIT STOCK WHEELS OR DO I NEED WIDER WHEELS ? IF SO WHAT DO I NEED !

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      May 10, 2021 at 9:46 am

      Hey William! Congrats on the new setup. Sounds awesome! You should be fine running that tire size on that size wheel. Thanks for checking in!

      Reply
    • Avatar for Robert Robert says:
      October 24, 2022 at 11:16 am

      I need tires for a Kubota UTV. Current tires are 24x11x12 in rear and 24x9x12 in front. I don’t want to change wheels but am having trouble finding those tire sizes and when I do, they are a good bit more expensive than other sizes. Would I be better off changing height or width or both in order to get tires to fit these wheels?

      Reply
  2. Avatar for Jason Jason says:
    July 29, 2021 at 12:24 pm

    Hello
    Great post and thanks.
    I have a question.
    I have a 2018 Ranger 500 with race line rims and 25×10-12 tires.
    Can I take those tires off and put on 24×9-12 instead? With the same rims accept those?
    Thanks so much
    Jason

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      July 29, 2021 at 4:59 pm

      Hey Jason, thanks for checking in! Yes, you should be able to switch those out and be just fine.

      Reply
  3. Avatar for Tam Tam says:
    August 3, 2021 at 9:03 pm

    Hi great post , I have a question . I have a Polaris 330atp which has fronts 24/8/12 rears 24/11/12 . Can I put fronts 25/10/12 rear 25/11/12 without it rubbing on anything? Any information would be greatly appreciated thank you 👍

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      August 4, 2021 at 8:05 am

      Hello! It may actually be possible to bump up from a 24 to 25 with little to no rubbing but not sure if you’ll be able to go wider in the front like you’re wanting. Unfortunately, we don’t offer any kind of lift or anything for this machine, so it would be hard for us to confirm for sure. I would recommend double checking with a dealer. Thanks for checking in!

      Reply
    • Avatar for john john says:
      November 24, 2021 at 5:57 pm

      2005 polaris scrambler 500 4by4 fronts 23by8.5by10 rears 2211by10 going with 24by9by10front 24by11by10 rear will they bevok

      Reply
      • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
        November 29, 2021 at 11:36 am

        Hey, John! If you’re planning to only go up by an inch, then you should be okay. You may have a slight rub when compressed and at full turn. Thanks for checking in!

        Reply
  4. Avatar for Bob Bob says:
    August 5, 2021 at 8:15 pm

    I have a 2007 Yamaha Wolverine which comes OE with 23x8x12 & 23x10x12 can I increase the tire sizes to 26x8x12 &26x10x12 without any rubbing issues or any other type of issues?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      August 10, 2021 at 12:44 pm

      Hey Bob! If you’re running stock, it would probably rub some. If you add A-arms, you should be able to run up to 28″ tires. https://www.superatv.com/yamaha-wolverine-high-clearance-1-5-forward-offset-a-arms

      Reply
      • Avatar for Mike Rinehart Mike Rinehart says:
        June 1, 2022 at 11:03 pm

        Hi. I have an older Polaris Sportsman (2004). The rear tires are 25×11-12 but I have found better deals on 25×10-12. Will going narrower work? Most everyone seems to be going wider.

        Reply
        • Tyler Mingione says:
          June 3, 2022 at 9:28 am

          Hey Mike! It shouldn’t be a problem to go with a narrower tire as long as it’s wider than what the wheel measures. Thanks for tuning in!

          Reply
  5. Avatar for George VanC George VanC says:
    August 14, 2021 at 7:25 pm

    Hey Tyler, I have a 2021 rzr highlifter with 14×8 inch rims on back and 14×6 on frt. Currently the factory tires ar 29.5×11 rear and 29.5×9 frt.I want to run 32x10x14 all around any issues you can see? Tried putting rear 8 inch rim on frt and inside rim hit tierod end on full turn. Thx George

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      August 18, 2021 at 11:34 am

      Hey George! You should be fine to run 10″ wide tires on 7″ wheels. We appreciate you tuning in!

      Reply
    • Avatar for Jim Freeman Jim Freeman says:
      November 20, 2022 at 8:26 pm

      Hello
      I have Honda 300 four track older model
      Stock front 23×8-11 and rear 25×12-9
      It’s been sitting for few years and I’m getting it going again but really need rear tires just get it going
      Im on budget and found someone with
      22×10-9
      Was wondering if that would be good of fit for the rear tires

      Reply
      • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
        November 21, 2022 at 10:15 am

        Thanks for reading, Jim. You really want to match the stock diameter. With the way 4WD works on that machine, you’ll end up damaging your front diff if you change the ratio between your front and rear tires. It’s just not a good idea. When looking for new tires, stick with 25″, but you can change the width without much consequence as long as it still fits on the wheel.

        Reply
  6. Avatar for Randy Randy says:
    September 20, 2021 at 11:55 pm

    Just purchased a 2022 rzr 900 trail w26″ tires I would like to go up to 27 inches but most of the manufactures
    spec list for 27″ is a 7″ wide rim where mine is 6″ wide according to Polaris spec’s. Am I stuck with finding tires
    for the 6″ rim or can I cheat up to a 27x9x12 that suggest a 7″ rim?

    Reply
    • Megan Randall says:
      September 23, 2021 at 8:39 am

      Hey Randy, thanks for checking in! In this case, we don’t recommend going against manufacturer guidance. It sounds like you’ll need to go with a tire for a 6″ rim to avoid any future issues. We hope you’re enjoying your new RZR!

      Reply
  7. Avatar for Bob M Bob M says:
    September 28, 2021 at 1:38 pm

    Choice of tubeless or inter tube for farm and woods

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      September 29, 2021 at 9:52 am

      Hey Bob! We typically only recommend running a tube in the tire if the tire is damaged or requires it. Thanks for tuning in!

      Reply
  8. Avatar for Raptory Raptory says:
    October 6, 2021 at 12:44 pm

    Hey Tyler, i have a 2017 Suzuki KingQuad 400 ASi with 25 x 8 x 12 front and 25 x 10 x 12 rear.
    Looking to buy 27 x 6 x 12 front and 27 x 10 x 12 rear.
    Any information would be greatly appreciated thank you .

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      October 7, 2021 at 10:47 am

      Thanks for checking in with us! Unfortunately, we do not offer anything for that size. I would recommend reaching out to a local dealership and seeing what they are able to offer you.

      Reply
      • Avatar for Jason Jason says:
        October 6, 2022 at 7:35 am

        I have a 2004 bombardier 400 that has 25/8/12 on the front and 25/10/12 on the back can I put 27/10/12 for the front and 27/12/12 on the back? I also have new wheel spacers I was wanting to put on

        Reply
        • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
          October 6, 2022 at 8:56 am

          Hey Jason. 27s will definitely rub, and I don’t think wheel spacers are gonna help. You’ll need to trim some serious plastic or get a lift to clear those and also run wheel spacers in the front (if your front wheels are wider than stock, they’ll bump into your tie rods when you turn). It’s doable, but not without a little extra work. Thanks for reading!

          Reply
  9. Avatar for Devery K Johnson Devery K Johnson says:
    October 12, 2021 at 1:20 pm

    I have 2021 stock 25x8x12 and 25x10x12 rims. All of the tires are Carlyle 25x10x12. Will there be any problems on the front tires being that wide? They look ok on the rims, but haven’t put on my 2015 Ranger 900 Crew yet.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      October 13, 2021 at 10:12 am

      Hey, Devery! Thanks for tuning in! You should not have any problems with this set up.

      Reply
  10. Avatar for mario mario says:
    October 18, 2021 at 12:40 pm

    hi, i have a kawasaki bruteforce 300 2021….i wanted to buy new tires…thinking of maybe kenda bearclaw….
    original tire size 22-10-10 (rear) could i put 23-10-10 or will this bug down my atv too much in mud or snow? i dont drive crazy…i just want to be able to go tru snow better then my a bit used original rear tires….

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      October 18, 2021 at 3:09 pm

      Mario, since these tires aren’t ours, we don’t have any fitment testing info. But I would assume you wouldn’t have any issues with 1 inch bigger tire. You will just want to make sure you can clear them without a lift or any other added mods. Thanks for tuning in!

      Reply
  11. Avatar for Rick Rick says:
    October 22, 2021 at 5:00 am

    Hello, I have a 2020 Can-Am with the stock 25x8x12 front and 25x10x12 rear, I want to upgrade to either a 26x9x12 & 26x11x12 or 27’s of the same, but on certain tires that I like, they only offer the 26x9x12 and 26x10x12 or 26x12x12 rears, would the 10×12 or 12×12 on rears matter, since it’s not the 2”’width difference?

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      October 22, 2021 at 9:31 am

      Rick, you can run the same width all the way around. Thanks for hanging out with us!

      Reply
  12. Avatar for John A John A says:
    December 9, 2021 at 2:52 pm

    Hello, great article! I have an older Polaris Xplorer and need to replace the rear tires, which are 25×12-10 Dunlop KT125M. Im wondering if I should go the same size, or if there are any better size/width/make recommendations you could offer? I do mostly trail riding on some pretty rough terrain. Recently I popped my first ATV tire on some crazy roots, so I plan to replace both of the rear tires (vs. all four for now), and just want to make sure I grab the best. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      December 10, 2021 at 10:08 am

      Thanks, John! Although we don’t really work with the Xplorer, we would probably recommend sticking with the same size, mainly to avoid clearance issues. Increasing tire size can also affect clutching and overall power/performance of the ATV. If you’re after a more aggressive tire for rougher/muddier terrain, you could probably go that route, but we’d recommend sticking to the same size if possible. Thanks for tuning in with us!

      Reply
  13. Avatar for Ned Ned says:
    January 17, 2022 at 9:32 pm

    I have a Kawasaki 4010 transaxle diesel with 23×11-10s and just put a 3inch lift on it. How big a tire can I put on the 10 inch rims?

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      January 18, 2022 at 8:38 am

      Hey, Ned! It’s hard to say exactly without having the machine to confirm, but you will more than likely be able to run a tire an inch taller that the lift you have. Thanks for tuning in!

      Reply
  14. Avatar for Rob Rob says:
    January 19, 2022 at 1:52 pm

    interestingly I bought 27×9-14 and 27×11-14 tires for my 2018 Polaris Sportsman Touring 850. I pulled the wheels off and see the rear are stamped “max tire 26″ and front is 30”

    what would that matter? OEM was 26×8-14 and 26×10-14.

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      January 19, 2022 at 3:33 pm

      Hey Rob! I’m assuming it’s just saying that’s the largest size tire the machine will clear without contact when the suspension is compressed and whatnot. We appreciate you tuning in!

      Reply
  15. Avatar for Rob Rob says:
    January 19, 2022 at 6:55 pm

    I hope you’re wrong LOL. Just put 27s but they say those run small.

    And this wheels are used on other models too. So really not sure. But you may be right.

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      January 20, 2022 at 7:41 am

      Haha, I hope I’m wrong too now! Keep us posted. Thanks, Rob!

      Reply
  16. Avatar for Justin Justin says:
    January 25, 2022 at 12:09 pm

    Stock front tire is 25×8-12 and stock rear tire is 25×10-12. Want to go 26×9-12 front and 26×11-12 rear. Would that fit? Also would a 14 inch diameter fit if I wanted to go up to 27 inches?

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      January 26, 2022 at 2:02 pm

      Hey Justin, what machine are you running? And then I’m not 100% sure I understand the last question. Hopefully once we know this, we can get you helped out. Thanks for tuning in with us!

      Reply
  17. Avatar for Kevin riley Kevin riley says:
    January 29, 2022 at 10:25 pm

    I have a 2022 ranger 1000 premium When I bought it with stock 27s only goes 51mph I’m lifting it with 6 in lift and 6in gpd portals and running 37s on 22s 45% on the portals how much of my top speed should I expect to loose? Should I go with the 45 % or 60% to get a better top speed ?

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      February 1, 2022 at 10:38 am

      Hey, Kevin! Check out our GDP portal calculator to help you figure out which gear reduction is best for you: https://www.superatv.com/portal-calculator Thanks for the support!

      Reply
  18. Avatar for Mike Mike says:
    February 1, 2022 at 10:41 am

    I have a 1995 Polaris Magnum 425. It is chain drive (front and rear). Stock tires are 25x8x12 in Front. Rears are 25x12x10. I would like to put on 26 tires. Finding 26x8x12 (or 26x9x12) is not a problem. Finding 26x12x10 is way more difficult. Can I go with 26x12x12 on the Rears without risking damage to my transmission ?

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      February 2, 2022 at 3:45 pm

      Hey, Mike! Changing the tire size shouldn’t cause any issues with the transmission. You may run into an issue with the wheel offset. We don’t deal with this machine very much, but I’d say you probably need a larger offset or wheel spacers in order to clear everything. You may reach out to your local Polaris dealer to confirm. Thanks for checking in!

      Reply
  19. Avatar for Red Red says:
    February 8, 2022 at 12:04 am

    Great article! Great info!
    I have a 2018 diesel Club Car Carryall. The stocks are 25×11-12. Do you think I can move up to 27×11-12? How much more tire could I put on without any modification?

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      February 10, 2022 at 11:35 am

      Hey Red! Unfortunately, we don’t have a ton of info on this machine in particular. We’d be surprised if you could get much bigger of a tire without modifications, though. I’d reach out to your local dealership and get their thoughts. Thanks for tuning in!

      Reply
  20. Avatar for Rob Peters Rob Peters says:
    February 23, 2022 at 3:03 pm

    This thread has been super helpful and informative. Thank you!
    I just bought a 2022 Ranger Crew 1000 and stock tires are 26x9x12 Carlisle’s. I already have a sidewall puncture and may just upgrade all 4 of my tires and wheels.
    A local shop recommended I go with 29x10x14 wheels and tires since those are fairly common.
    Would you agree, and/or have another recommendation for wheel and tire size?
    Also, the same shop said I would NOT have to re-gear or make any other modification because my upsized tires are only a slight change. Would you also agree with this or recommend I modify to ensure optimal performance?

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      February 23, 2022 at 4:02 pm

      Hey Rob! You’re probably going to notice some rubbing on 29s at full compression and turning. You may need to go with a set of forward offset A-arms to make sure you don’t experience any clearance issues.

      Reply
  21. Avatar for Aaron Williams Aaron Williams says:
    March 8, 2022 at 8:26 pm

    I got a 2018 Polaris High lifted edition. they have 29.5×9.5×14 all the way around. i bought some tires that are 27x11x14 on the stock rim…will it fit?

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      March 9, 2022 at 8:25 am

      Hey Aaron! Yes, this should fit. Thanks for tuning in!

      Reply
  22. Avatar for Jason Edison Jason Edison says:
    March 17, 2022 at 2:31 pm

    I have a 2008 Polaris sportsman with front 25x8x12 and back 28x11x12. The 28x11x12 seems to be harder to get. Do I have any other options?

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      March 22, 2022 at 11:42 am

      Hey Jason! Typically, you don’t want to run different height tires from front to back. Different width tires is OK though. The closest thing we have is a 28x10x12 Terminator tire, but it would rub in the front unless you’ve got a lift or forward offset A-arms installed. Here’s a link to our tires if you’re interested: https://www.superatv.com/terminator-utv-atv-mud-tire I hope this helped!

      Reply
  23. Avatar for Doug Castle Doug Castle says:
    April 25, 2022 at 3:15 pm

    We bought our son a Polaris 110. It has 19x7x8 on front and 18×9.5×8 on rear. I would like to get a little more clearance by increasing diameters. Any suggestion?

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      April 25, 2022 at 4:03 pm

      Hey Doug! Unfortunately, we don’t have a ton of experience with this machine. Your best bet is going to be to contact your local Polaris dealership and see what they recommend. We could suggest a bigger tire, but we don’t have one to measure to make sure there won’t be any rubbing. We appreciate you reaching out to us!

      Reply
  24. Avatar for Tim Tim says:
    May 3, 2022 at 4:52 pm

    I have a 2002 Kawasaki Mule with 23×11.00-10 tires. Can I put 24×9-10 or 23×10-10 tires on the same rims. Thanks for any input you might have.

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      May 5, 2022 at 11:25 am

      Hey Tim! Putting those size tires on those rims shouldn’t be an issue, but I can’t say for sure or not if it’s going to rub if you go to something bigger than the OE tire. Thanks for reaching out!

      Reply
  25. Avatar for Eli Eli says:
    May 3, 2022 at 7:22 pm

    Hello
    I have a 2018 Artic Cat/Textron Alterra 700. Stock tires are 25-8-12 and 25-10-12. I want to go to a 27-9-12 and 27-11-12. Do you think that would work or do I need to keep the stock width?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      May 5, 2022 at 11:26 am

      Hey Eli, if you keep the suspension stock, going to the bigger tires is probably going to rub some. But if you go with a small lift kit, they would probably be okay. It’d be a safe bet to reach out to your local dealer to confirm for sure. We appreciate the support!

      Reply
  26. Avatar for Scott Scott says:
    May 30, 2022 at 9:31 pm

    I just got a 2014 Kawasaki Mule 4010 Trans with stock 23×11-10 tires. I know this may not be a beast on the trails, but 4 seater at a good deal is great for the family. I need new front tires anyway as they are pretty bald. Will I have any issues going to 25” tires? I’m pretty limited on tire choice due to the 10” rims, is it possible to throw 11” rims on there to open up more tire choice?

    Thanks,

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      May 31, 2022 at 11:52 am

      Hey Scott! If you go with a tire taller than 23 or wider than 11, it’s likely going to rub. If you still really want to go with a different size tire, you’ll want to replace all 4 and not just the front to keep from causing any issues. You could go to an 11″ wheel if you can find the right bolt pattern, but you’ll still want to stay with a 23″ tall and 11″ wide tire in the front. The rear tires can be slightly wider, but will still need to be more than 23″ tall. Thanks for reaching out!

      Reply
  27. Avatar for Kenneth Hemmings Kenneth Hemmings says:
    June 9, 2022 at 11:13 am

    2015 Polaris Sportsman 1000CC Pursuit edition with worn out stock tires F 26X8X14 R 26X11X14. Have a set of Executioners F 28X9X14 R 28X11X14 on the watchlist. Is a 2 inch increase in diameter too much? Will they rub on the wheel wells?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      June 15, 2022 at 10:30 am

      Hey Kenneth, thanks for the question. A 2″ tire increase on a 2015 Sportsman XP 1000 is pushing it. It’s possible that you could fit them without rubbing, but it’s likely that you’ve lost some tire clearance due to the age of your machine. An ATV’s max tire size is also really sensitive to the weight you put on the machine. The more any upgrades, cargo, and riders weigh, the smaller your max tire size will be. There’s also a good chance that your 28″ tires will run a little smaller once installed, and if that’s the case, you’re less likely to have issues with rubbing.

      You’ll have to take all that stuff into account and make an educated guess. We’ve seen people run 28″ tires OK and we’ve seen people have a bad time with rubbing. And if it rubs, it’ll be the rear tires rubbing on the back of your footwell. If it rubs, a little trimming there can be an acceptable solution for some, so consider that as well.

      Sorry I couldn’t give you a straight answer on this one, but hopefully that helps!

      Reply
  28. Avatar for Amy Amy says:
    July 12, 2022 at 12:04 pm

    I have a Polaris Ranger with 25x10x12 on the front and 25x11x25 on the rear and they need to be replaced. I’m finding package deals for the same rear tire but a 25x8x12 for the front…will this be ok…Will it drive different? We use this for mainly garden and yard work what would the best tire tread be to not tear up the yard…..thank you

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      July 14, 2022 at 10:47 am

      Hey Amy. I’m guessing you’ve got a 12×6 wheel in the front. The 25x8x12 will fit, but going with a narrower tire will cause you to tear up your yard more. You’ll want to try to stick with a 10″ wide tire for that setup so that you can run a lower tire pressure and get a larger contact patch, all of which will prevent it from digging into your turf.

      Honestly, getting new wheels with a new set of tires will save you a lot frustration. I’d recommend putting the same 14×7 inch wheels like ours in all four corners of your machine.

      There are a gazillion tires out there designed to fit 14″ wheels, and you’ll be able to get dirt cheap deals with whatever tread pattern you want. And you can keep a spare tire on hand that will fit both the front and rear if you have a blow out.

      When it comes to gentle tire treads, the Maxis Bighorn is a good choice. Our AT Warrior Tires are great for that too, plus you’ll have better traction if you spend any time on roads or gravel paths. There are tons of 14″ tire options out there though, and any tire with short, tightly packed lugs will suit you well. I’m not sure what exactly what Ranger you have, so you’ll need to find out maximum tire diameter you can fit on your specific machine before you go this route.

      Thanks for reading!

      Reply
      • Avatar for Richard Treat Richard Treat says:
        September 28, 2022 at 12:57 pm

        Hi Kavan,
        This is a great forum and I need your advice. I have a 2006 Polaris 700 XP Ranger UTV. It came with Carlisle 26 x 8R x 12 in the front and 26 x 10R x 12 in the rear. After a bad puncture in the front, I’m thinking of getting some used tires and wheels: 26 x 8 x 14 for the front and 26 x 10 x 14 for the rear. Will this be OK to make the change? Also, what if I only changed out the front tires and wheels with the 26 x 8 14 and left the original 26 x 10R x 12 tires and wheels in the rear. Would that work? Thanks for answering my two questions!

        Reply
        • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
          October 3, 2022 at 10:10 am

          Hey Richard! Either of those setups would work for you. But there are a couple things you should consider.

          First, if the “new” set of tires is in considerably better shape or has a significantly different tread pattern than the original set, it’s probably worth changing all four. The uneven grip levels could make it a challenge to drive in certain conditions.

          Second, your original 26 x 10R x 12 will give you a slightly smoother ride than a 26 x 10 x 14. That’s just because there’s more space between the wheel and the ground. In practice, the difference is only slight.

          If you’ve got a good deal on a whole new set, I’d say go for it. You can always hang onto your original set for spares and try swapping out the rears to see what feels best to you.

          Thanks for reading!

          Reply
          • Avatar for Rich Treat Rich Treat says:
            October 3, 2022 at 11:19 am

            Thanks for such an expert and professional opinion. You raised some issues I hadn’t even considered. This has been a big help, Kavan so thank you very much!

          • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
            October 5, 2022 at 8:17 am

            No problem Rich. Let us know if you have any other questions.

  29. Avatar for Wilma Wilma says:
    July 14, 2022 at 4:19 pm

    what a great forum! We have an old 1999 honda 400ex in need of tires and new wheels. The tires are 21×7.00-10 and AT 22×11-8
    I’d appreciate just being told what size tires and wheels to purchase 🙂 Our girls just use it for fun around the property.
    thank you!

    Reply
  30. Avatar for Carter Carter says:
    August 8, 2022 at 4:34 pm

    I have a Honda Recon 250 with 22x9x10 and 22×7-11 would I be able to get 24s? All I want to know is the biggest possible tire I can get without a lift kit or anything and without having to get new rims and just using the stock rims?

    Reply
  31. Avatar for PeteWalker PeteWalker says:
    August 23, 2022 at 2:28 pm

    Hi folks. My Yamaha Kodiak 450 came originally with 25×8-12 tires in front and 25×10-12 in the rear. It is a 2WD/4WD atv. I want to put 26×9-12 on the front and 27×9-12 on the rear. In 2WD I know there will be no issue. In 4WD when all four wheels are pulling would there be an issue due to the size difference?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      August 25, 2022 at 3:54 pm

      Hey Pete. Mismatching tires is a bad idea for the exact reason you’ve noted. It’ll make your 4wd work overtime since your front wheels will always be turning faster than your rear wheels. And you’re likely to blow up your differential every time you engage or disengage it.

      Reply
  32. Avatar for Joe Joe says:
    August 24, 2022 at 5:35 pm

    I have a Polaris Ranger 1000. On it I have 26. 9. 12 tires and rims. Can I use a 26 8 14 tire/rim as a spare.?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      August 25, 2022 at 3:59 pm

      Hey Joe, you shouldn’t have any big issues using that tire as a spare to get back to your garage. You wouldn’t want to run it long term, as the weight difference would put uneven stresses on your diff and transmission (I’d avoid using 4wd if I had it installed on the front) but in a pinch, you should be good. The difference in width could make handling weird if you have them on the front too.

      Reply
  33. Avatar for Justin Jenkins Justin Jenkins says:
    September 27, 2022 at 11:54 pm

    I have a 2019 Brute Force 750i EPS. Stock tires are 25x8x12 in front and 25x10x12 in rear. Was thinking of going 26x9x12 all the way around. Any issues? Dumb? BTW I am new the the ATV world.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      September 28, 2022 at 9:05 am

      Hey Justin. Welcome to ATV town. The stock tires on an ATV are generally the max tire size possible without rubbing. If you go up to 29″, they will probably rub on your footwells when you hit bumps, but that’s nothing a little trimming can’t help with. The fronts could rub when turning hard too, and that’s a little tougher to trim for.

      When you add an inch to a tire, it only gets half an inch closer to your fenders and footwells, so any interference you run into would be fairly minor even if you didn’t trim anything. Still, the sound of tires rubbing on plastic and the smell of burning rubber every time you hit a big enough bump isn’t something I’d be satisfied with personally.

      The only other thing you need to watch out for is the width on the rear. I don’t know the width of the stock rear rims, but with 10″ wide tires, I’d guess it’s 8″ wide. If I’m right, that should work with the 9″ wide tires you’re looking at, but their profile will be a bit different and you’ll have to be diligent about keeping the tire pressure high.

      It’s definitely doable! And it ain’t dumb if it works! Good luck!

      Reply
  34. Avatar for Greg Pritty Greg Pritty says:
    October 5, 2022 at 3:58 pm

    Hi Folks, I have a 2016 Polaris 570 Sportsman Touring SP and I recently put a set of Sedona Rip-Saws on it, 26X9R14’s on the front and 27x11R14’s on the rear and the rears now rub when I twoup with a passenger. The Powersports dealer that sold me them said having the 27’s on the rear should be no problem for it, but that is just not the case. What would you recommend to eliminate the rubbing? Would a set of tire spacers work? And could anyone recommend some if you believe that would eliminate the rubbing. The rears are spec’d for 26x11R14’s so I only went up 1” from stock.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      October 6, 2022 at 8:59 am

      Hey Greg. Yep, ATVs are pretty much maxed out from the factory. Depending on where it rubs on your setup, you could replace your footwells with something like this to give you more clearance: https://www.wildboaratvparts.com/cart/sportsman-450-570-floorboards. They would definitely work.

      But it sounds like you’re really close to getting them to fit. You might just want to trim a little bit of the plastic that’s rubbing and call it a day. That’s faster and cheaper (apart from a potential hit to the resale value).

      Either way, adding wheel spacers will probably not help unless it only rubs on the inside of the wheel.

      Thanks for reading!

      Reply
      • Avatar for Greg Pritty Greg Pritty says:
        October 6, 2022 at 9:44 am

        Hey Kavan, it is actually only rubbing on the inside of the rear tires, so I am going to add the wheel spacers on the rears and see it that does the trick! Thanks again for the advice!

        Reply
  35. Avatar for Shaun Shaun says:
    October 13, 2022 at 4:03 pm

    I have a 2015 Polaris Sportsman 850 with 26×10-14 on the rear and 26×8-14 on the front. They’re kind of hard to come by. Would I be able to put 26×11-14 on the rear and 26×9-14s on the front without needing new rims?

    Thanks,

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      October 17, 2022 at 9:23 am

      Hey Shaun. That should be just fine. It’ll change the profile of your tire a little bit to make them slightly stouter. The difference should be really small though. Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  36. Avatar for Mike Mike says:
    October 21, 2022 at 2:55 pm

    was looking to go bigger on my 2015 polaris 570 sportsman efi – has 8×25-12 front and 10×25-12 stock – dont want to lift and dont want any rub but open to 4 +3 wheels if that will allow me to fit 27×9-12 and 27×11-12, otherwise found 26×8-12 and 26×10-12 that im hoping would require nothing else.

    anyone think the 27’s would work with wheels and if not are the 26’s a safe bet? OR WOULD YOU RECCOMMEND SOMETHING ELSE

    Thanks,

    Mike

    Reply
  37. Avatar for Mike G Mike G says:
    October 26, 2022 at 1:18 pm

    I have 2022 honda pioneer 700-4 w/ 25×10-12’s, how much taller of a tire can I go with on these stock wheels and not rub on chasis?
    thanks, Mike

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      October 27, 2022 at 2:27 pm

      Hey Mike. You should be able to fit 26-inch tires on your 700. You might even be able to fit 27s if they run a little short or you keep them a little flat. Probably better to go with 26 though. Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  38. Avatar for joe don joe don says:
    November 13, 2022 at 12:54 am

    no, there is no real standard for wheel/tire sizes. “normal” car tire sizes, example 205/60-16 is not “metric” car tire size. it is just one of the ways manufacturers tell the tire size. that size has millimeters, percents and alson inches. metric value in that kind of information is only that width. there is none real standard for tire sizes. and yes, should be. it should be full metric because it is international and scientific standard and it should have also have speed-limits, weight-limits and so on.. maybe a “footprint” type also. it would very well fasten everybody’s searchs for right tires they want.

    Reply
  39. Avatar for Eric G Bolt Eric G Bolt says:
    November 26, 2022 at 12:40 pm

    Polaris ranger 570 full size with 26x9r-11r-12 r want to go with 28’s will there be a problem also 2.5” lift

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      November 28, 2022 at 1:41 pm

      Hey Eric. That’ll be close, but the 28s should fit with a 2.5″ lift On a Ranger XP 570 based on our measurements with our own 3″ lift. It depends a little bit on what kind of lift you have too. A spring spacer lift won’t give you the same tire clearance as a bracket life, so keep that in mind.

      Reply
  40. Avatar for Wayne Penney Wayne Penney says:
    December 2, 2022 at 3:04 am

    Hello, I have a 2016 polaris 570 xp atv. it has 27x9x14 tires on all 4 rims, can i replace the rear tires with 27 x11x14 tires?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      December 5, 2022 at 8:30 am

      Hey Wayne. Putting a wider tire on should be OK. It’ll change the profile of your tire some and cause it to balloon out on the sides a little more. But you shouldn’t notice any change to your ride in general. Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  41. Avatar for Greg Bunting Greg Bunting says:
    December 15, 2022 at 12:22 am

    I have a 2003 Artic Cat 300 4×4 ATV. The original 19 year old tires are still on the machine! It has 24x9x12 on the front and 25x10x12 on the rear. The front tires need replacement. The rear tires are in reasonably good shape (3/8 tread, no cracks or tears). I would like to move the rear tires to the front. Than buy new 26x10x12 or 27x10x12 to go on the rear. Will this plan work? The extra ground clearce would be nice in the snow.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      December 22, 2022 at 11:34 am

      Hey Greg, Changing the front and rear tire sizes can get pretty tricky. It will affect the performance of your four-wheel drive to some extent, and that’s why I’d recommend going with 26″ tires in the rear to keep the front-to-rear ratio as similar to stock as possible.

      That’s all assuming those tire sizes will fit at all on your machine. I think you’re gonna need some spring spacers to fit those tires or else you could trim some plastic (it’s usually the footwells that get in the way first). Good luck! Sometimes you need a little on these projects!

      Reply
  42. Avatar for Steve Steve says:
    December 20, 2022 at 6:34 am

    Good day! I have a 2014 canam outlander and want a better tire for plowing. My issue is stock is 26 x 8 R12 (front) and 26×10 R12 (Rear). My supplier however does not give me much of an option for this particular tire. I don’t care (have a desire) in going bigger, but not sure, I think I would be ok by going 1″ smaller in width for the rear. so I would be running 26 x 9 x 12 all the way around the bike. Am I ok with this?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      December 22, 2022 at 11:38 am

      That should be fine, Steve, as long as the wheel is narrow enough to accept a 1″ narrower tires and seal the bead. I left my 2014 Outlander in my other pants, so I’m not sure what wheel width that comes with, but I don’t foresee any issues as long it’s 8 or fewer inches wide. Good question!

      Reply
  43. Avatar for Joel Richardson Joel Richardson says:
    January 1, 2023 at 9:50 am

    I’ve got stock carlisle trail wolf 25-8-12 front and 25-11-12 rear tires on my 2016 canam outlander 570 L. I assume I can go up a size to 26-9-12 front and 26-11-12 rear . Is that correct? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      January 4, 2023 at 1:54 pm

      Hey Joel, you shouldn’t break anything as long as they don’t rub. ATVs tend to run pretty dang close to their max tire size with stock tires, so 1″ bigger could rub on your footwells if you don’t trim them or get a small lift or something. Every ATV is a little different, so your results may very, but everything else about that setup looks good to me. Good luck!

      Reply

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