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Gear Reductions—A Quick Guide on How Portal Lifts Work

By Kavan Wright | How-To on August 15, 2019
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GDP Portal Gear Lifts give you a lift and a gear reduction in one package, and they let you choose between a 15%, 30%, and 45% gear reduction. That’s a lot of choices! And you might have some misconceptions about what a gear reduction really does or why you’d want a small gear reduction instead of a huge gear reduction.

Never fear! We’re here to answer some common questions about this mystical force that lets your cousin ride like a pro, but leaves you getting winched out of the mud. We’ll help you understand why gear reduction is important, why you might need it, and how you can get it. Spend some time reading now, and you will be talking ratios and torque with the best of them later.

Why Should I Care about Gear Reduction Ratio?

You should care about gear reduction because it helps to create more torque.

Ah, torque.

Here’s another word most of us claim to understand, but just in case you don’t—allow us to explain it. Torque is the amount of power that your engine produces to turn your tires. Simply put, the more torque your UTV can produce, the easier your engine can turn your wheels (which leads to faster acceleration). Less torque leads to higher top speed, but slower acceleration and less power.

Do I Need More Torque?

More than likely the answer is yes, especially if you’re considering getting lifted with a set of portals. Even more simply put, if you’re going to put larger than stock tires on your machine, you definitely need more torque. How much torque you want depends on how you ride. A side-by-side that rolls off the showroom floor usually has a clutch and transmission set up for a balance of speed and power based on stock equipment. Your average ATV/UTV rider might find this completely adequate, but if you are all about hitting the trails and getting the blood pumping, you’ve probably already upgraded your machine. The list of upgrades that can potentially affect the performance of your ride is long, but we are going to focus on one of the biggest culprits: tire size.

SuperAT GDP 6" portal
This animation shows a 45% gear reduction in a 6″ GDP Portal Gear Lift. The drive gear at the top rotates quicker than the driven gear at the bottom. That slower moving gear provides a boost in torque.
Image by SuperATV

How Does Tire Size Affect My Torque?

The biggest torque killer with larger tires is the distance around the tire, or the circumference. When most riders say bigger tires, they are talking about their height from the ground. This is how tires are sold. The size of a tire = the height of the tire from the ground. But by increasing the height of a tire, you also increase the distance around the tire. If we think about the tire as a gear, it takes more force to roll a bigger tire one revolution because it needs to travel a further distance.

An Easy Way to Determine the Gear Reduction You Need

You can skip reading this next part and use this gear reduction calculator, or you can keep reading and learn something new. We suggest you keep reading.

Polaris RZR XP 1000 mudding in forest
A side-by-side with increased tire size, like this one, can experience a loss in power. This is because it requires more force to roll a full revolution. Installing one of SuperATV’s GDP Portal Gear Lifts can help to combat this issue.
Photo by SuperATV

If you marked two tires, one 25″ and one 32,” and rolled them both together for a total of one complete revolution (or the distance it takes for that mark to travel from the ground all the way around and back again), the 25″ tire would travel about 78.5 inches while the 32″ tire would roll about 100.5 inches. Trust us on this one—it’s math. (If you want to know more about the math, check out this article on determining gear ratios.) To roll that bigger tire the extra distance, your engine has to work harder because it needs to spin it more to achieve one revolution. In this example, if we figure the percent increase from 78.5 inches of travel to 100.5 inches, we find that you are losing 28% of your torque. This translates into a loss of acceleration and power.

And now, my friends, we have come full circle. If you want to make up for that loss caused by your bigger tires, you need more power. You need a gear reduction! How much reduction do you need? The simple answer—enough to replace what you lost by increasing your tire size. If you go from a 25″ tire to a 32″ tire, you would need a reduction of about 28%.

How to Choose Which Portal Gear Reduction You Need

We list the recommended gear reductions for each tire size (and the lift you’d need in addition to the portals to achieve those tire sizes) at the bottom of each of our 4″ and 6″ portal pages. These recommendations are specific to each machine and they tell you which gear reduction you’d want to choose to get back to (roughly) stock max speed.

It’s a very basic way to optimize your speed and your power/acceleration with bigger tires. But you don’t have to follow it. For example, most mud guys aren’t worried about hitting their max speed through a mud hole—they stick it in low and crawl through crazy deep mud on monster tires. They want the biggest gear reduction they can get, not the most balanced one for bigger tires. That super-high torque lets them plow through mud like it’s nothing.

The same holds true for rock crawlers. More torque is more preferable than power balanced with speed. Getting up and over huge boulders is more about pure power than speed.

With trails and dunes, a smaller, more balanced gear reduction might do just fine. With tires that are just a little bit larger than stock, the smaller gear reduction can get your power back and keep you moving as fast as possible.

I’m Sold. How Do I Reduce My Gear Ratio?

One of the best ways to reduce your gear ratio (and get a bigger gear reduction) on your UTV or ATV is to install a portal gear lift kit. Odds are if you’re thinking about bigger tires, you’re already thinking about a lift and now you should be thinking about a gear reduction—a GDP Portal Gear Lift gives you both and more.

Advantages of GDP Portal Gear Lift Kits:

1. They’re Easy to Install

Unlike a transmission kit, there isn’t a need to replace your factory gears. Instead, a portal gear lift is attached to the end of an axle at the wheel hub. The reduction and increased power come from the gears that are built into the box that operates at the wheel. This makes installation much less time consuming and accessible to all riders.

2. The Additional Power is Applied Directly to the Tire

Portals transfer the force of the engine more closely to the object being turned (the tire), so there is less stress on the axles, differential, drive shaft, and the transmission—even less than a stock machine. A transmission gear reduction, on the other hand, can cause more stress on your drivetrain components since they’re subject to even more torque than stock.

3. You Retain Factory Steering Geometry

SuperATV 8" portal diagram
SuperATV’s GDP Portal Gear Lifts (shown here) transfer engine power to the wheels using a gear-reducer mechanism, which is stored in the lift housing.
Image by SuperATV

You probably need more torque because you added bigger tires or a lift. Remember? That means you also probably put your axles to work at an angle that they aren’t used to because they are now connected to your wheel hubs from a different height than factory. This can cause a lot of stress and wear. An advantage of going with a GDP Portal Lift is that it relocates the axle centerline so you retain much of the factory steering geometry.

4. Increased Ground Clearance

Not only are you going to get more ground clearance from your bigger tires, but if you use a portal lift gear reduction, you will also get an increased height of 4, 6, or 8 inches (depending on which lift you choose). This is a big advantage that you won’t get by simply putting in a transmission gear reduction kit.

5. Higher Reduction Ratios

Finally, SuperATV GDP Portals allow a greater reduction than any transmission kit. This is really important if you have extra heavy tires or need additional torque for heavy rock crawling or climbing. The GDP 4″ Portal Gear Lift provides a 15 or 30% gear reduction, the 6″ GDP Portal Gear Lift gives a 30 or 45% gear reduction, and the 8″ GDP Portal Gear Lift comes with a 45% gear reduction. If you need a lot of torque, the only way to easily achieve it is with SuperATV portals.

Updated by Kavan Wright on 1/30/2020.

RELATED CONTENT: GDP Portal Gear Lifts30 gear reduction11
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70 Comments

  1. Avatar for Richard muir Richard muir says:
    July 12, 2020 at 4:16 pm

    I have your 4 inch gen 3 portals at 30% reduction tires are your 32x14x10 intimadators original tires where 27x14x10..how far off will my speedometer be off now say at 60mph reading.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      July 13, 2020 at 10:49 am

      Hey Richard, unfortunately, there are a lot of factors that can play into this. There are a lot of apps nowadays that can tell you your speed. We would recommend downloading this and compare that to your speedometer. Thanks for the support!

      Reply
    • Avatar for Richard Bravo Richard Bravo says:
      September 20, 2020 at 6:27 pm

      Can they be used for the street for everyday use and can a locking hub be installed

      Reply
      • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
        September 21, 2020 at 1:39 pm

        Hey Richard, thanks for tuning in! Yes, with proper maintenance, they can be used on the road as well. A locking hub cannot be installed; however, a locking differential can.

        Reply
  2. Avatar for George George says:
    July 23, 2020 at 8:46 am

    I have your 4″ portals and a set of your warrior 35″ tires. Portals are 30% and also IGR of 25% the latter compensates for the increased tire diameter and the portals give the torque to go through mud and a bit of rock crawling. I am using Honda Talon 1000X OEM wheels with 1.5″ spacers in the front and 2″ spacers in the rear to allow enough clearance between the portal plate and the wheel. If move to the 6″ or * GDP portals will it increase the width? Thanks and the current combination is killer just looking for a bit more height and considering a little bump in torque going to 45% on the taller portals. This would also leave room for even larger tires in the future.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      July 24, 2020 at 9:18 am

      Hi George! First off, it sounds like you’re making some pretty great aftermarket choices. 🙂 As far as your question goes, going to 6″ portals will not increase the width. Our 6″ portals have the same width as our 4″ portals installed. You would keep the same width, gain 2″ of height, and would need 18″ wheels or larger to clear the portals. Thanks for the support!

      Reply
  3. Avatar for Ron Ron says:
    September 4, 2020 at 7:39 pm

    Question; I have a 2020 Polaris S 1000 and I’m considering putting on 4 ” portals . If I also install 1.5 ” wheel spacers will that give me enough room without changing my stock 12″ wheels ?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      September 8, 2020 at 3:30 pm

      Hey Ron, unfortunately it will not work. 14″ minimum wheel size is required for the 4″ portals. Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  4. Avatar for Dana R Dana R says:
    September 26, 2020 at 1:35 pm

    I have a 2019 Polaris Ranger 1000 XP Crew High Lifter Edition, we installed your 6” big lift last year. We are running 38” Outlaw 3’s on 22” rims. We are continually breaking stuff, so obviously we need to add portals. I am just trying to figure out which portals we need? The Ranger HL edition comes with 15% gear reduction so i’m not sure if i need 30% more or if i need to go with 45%? Can you help??

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      September 28, 2020 at 9:55 am

      Hey Dana, with your setup and tires, I’d suggest 45% gear reduction. We do have a dedicated portal technical support team in office if you’d like to reach out for more advice: 855-743-3427. Thanks for the support!

      Reply
    • Avatar for Jason Glenn Barfield Jason Glenn Barfield says:
      December 29, 2020 at 5:02 pm

      I have can am defender max hd8 can I run 6″ portals with 40 inch tires and be ok or do I need to stay with 37’s

      Reply
      • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
        December 30, 2020 at 9:40 am

        Hey Jason, thanks for reaching out! The 37’s will not rub if you install the 6″ lift with the 6″ portals. However, if you only add forward offset A-arms instead of the lift, you could only run up to a 34. Unfortunately, there isn’t a combination that we currently offer where we could recommend running a 40″ tire without rubbing. We appreciate the support!

        Reply
  5. Avatar for Shawn Mahoney Shawn Mahoney says:
    October 13, 2020 at 11:26 pm

    Hi, I have a 2018 Polaris XPT 4 with 4” portals / 30% reduction. Trans clutch and motor are stock. What I am noticing is that I am not putting any load on my turbo at all. The problem with that is I’m building heat in the engine and turbo. The machine will tackle any obstacle in Moab without going over 4000 rpms. The machine will reach higher rpms and when I do hit the gas harder my engine temps drop.

    What can I do to mitigate this?
    Clutch kit – Add weight to the primary, lighter primary spring?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      October 15, 2020 at 2:01 pm

      Hey Shawn, thanks for tuning in! I’d recommend a Rev1 ECU Tuner that will kick the fan on at a lower temperature. Check out our tuners here: https://www.superatv.com/polaris-rzr-xp-turbo-hand-held-ecu-tuner Feel free to give our customer service team a call if you have more questions, 855-743-3427!

      Reply
  6. Avatar for Mike Danburg Mike Danburg says:
    November 10, 2020 at 9:39 am

    I have a 2017 can am mav turbo ds, 72″ with 33″ tires on 15″ rims, will 15% reduction work on these rims and set up, will I need a lift and will I remain at 72″? Thanks, Mike.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      November 10, 2020 at 2:12 pm

      Hey Mike, if you’re talking about adding portals with 15% gear reduction, it will depend on the wheel offset and will add about 9″ to the width. Feel free to give us a call at 855-743-3427 for any portal tech support!

      Reply
    • Avatar for Rick Shinpaugh Rick Shinpaugh says:
      March 12, 2021 at 4:50 pm

      I have Krx trail edition w/ outer bead lock 15″ stock wheels, will i need spacers for 4″ portals

      Reply
      • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
        March 12, 2021 at 4:57 pm

        Nope, you won’t need the spacers. Thanks for the support!

        Reply
  7. Avatar for Tony Tony says:
    December 14, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    Hello i currently have a 2014 rzr800s with 4″ gen 1 15% reduction portals and runing 35″ motohavoks would like to go with 6″ portals for the extra 2″ and also bigger and stronger than gen1 but idk what size reduction i should get 30% or 45% im also runing a muddrr clutch kit from epi idk if that makes a difference but reving about 4,000 rpm going 5 to 15mph my average speed

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      December 18, 2020 at 11:33 am

      Hey Tony! It’s a personal preference, really. If you want a little more speed out of the gate, go with more reduction. If you’d rather have a little higher top end speed, less reduction. But it will also pull better with less reduction, and the clutch kit SHOULD help offset some of that top end loss. Check out our portal calculator to get estimated speeds: https://www.superatv.com/portal-calculator Thanks for the support!

      Reply
      • Avatar for Victor Andrade Victor Andrade says:
        June 4, 2021 at 10:23 pm

        I just purchased some 6” portals for my 2010 rzr 800 and wondering if wheels off of a can am will fit the portals

        Reply
        • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
          June 7, 2021 at 10:58 am

          Hey Victor! You can make it the correct bolt pattern for sure. However, the wheel size will more than likely not work because the 6″ portals require an 18″ wheel or larger with no more than 5″ back spacing. Feel free to reach out to us at 855-743-3427 for anymore technical help!

          Reply
  8. Avatar for Mitchel Brooks Mitchel Brooks says:
    December 15, 2020 at 12:20 pm

    I have a 2000 2020 want razor XP pro ultimate was wondering if I put 4″ portals on would it be OK to run them in 30 fives in the dunes and what is guessing top speed with the foreign portals with 35XT Warrior tires

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      December 18, 2020 at 11:45 am

      Hey Mitchel, yes – you should be able to run 35s. Check out our portal calculator to get estimated speeds: https://www.superatv.com/portal-calculator Thanks for tuning in!

      Reply
  9. Avatar for Zach Breakey Zach Breakey says:
    January 17, 2021 at 7:55 pm

    I have a Honda Pioneer with 3” lift and 1.5 A-arms. I’m currently running a 30” BKT. I’m going to purchase the 6” portals and run a 35” tire.
    I’m looking for a good all around ride. Mud, trail and top speed. What gear reduction do you recommend? The 30 or 45?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      January 18, 2021 at 11:54 am

      Hey Zach! Sounds like a great setup! I would probably recommend 30%; however, we have a portal calculator to help with this because it does really depend on your personal preference. Check it out: https://www.superatv.com/portal-calculator Thank you for the continued support!

      Reply
  10. Avatar for Roc Roc says:
    February 2, 2021 at 9:20 am

    I have a 2012 canam commander 1000 with a super ATV 6 inch lift and I want to add 6inch portals and already have 18 s for my rim size I think the tires are 33 can I use the 6 inch portals with this set up

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      February 3, 2021 at 2:43 pm

      Thanks for tuning in! Unfortunately, the GDP portal gear lifts are not directly compatible with the SATV Commander 6″ suspension lift kits. We have seen customers fabricate kits to make the combination work, but it’s not something that we offer or recommend due to the added stress to the Commander frames.

      Reply
    • Avatar for heath heath says:
      February 20, 2021 at 11:31 pm

      I have 2016 terxy4 800 im running 35’s on 20’s with a 6″ lift but not sure if a 4″ portal will be enough !! Should id go 4″ or 6″ portals ?

      Reply
      • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
        February 22, 2021 at 1:22 pm

        Hello! Thanks for tuning in. Both the 4″ and 6″ portals would give you enough clearance for those tires. If you’re wanting to know if it’s enough as far as gear reduction goes, that comes down more to personal preference and ride type. If you’re sticking with the 35’s, I would go with the 30%. If you’re wanting to go to a bigger tire or if your main riding is crawling, then you could consider the 6″ with a 45% reduction. If you need any more help, give us a call at 855-743-3427 and our portal support team will get you figured out!

        Reply
  11. Avatar for Joshua Lange Joshua Lange says:
    March 12, 2021 at 1:27 am

    I have a 2020 can am x3 xmr turbo. I ordered 6” portals with the 30% reduction. I plan on running 40x24x8.5 BKTs. Will i have any issue as far as reduction wise? Should i go to a lower reduction?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      March 12, 2021 at 4:41 pm

      Thanks for reaching out! To answer your question, it will depend on what you’re wanting out of the machine and where you ride the most. Typically, with that size of tire, you’d want more reduction. Check out this link to get an idea of where you would be speed wise. https://www.superatv.com/portal-calculator Thank you for the support!

      Reply
  12. Avatar for Ronney lee Biskner Ronney lee Biskner says:
    March 12, 2021 at 6:44 am

    if i buy 4″ portals 15% reduction can i buy gears to change to 30%

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      March 12, 2021 at 4:46 pm

      Hey Ronney, thanks for checking in! Unfortunately, this is not an option since they are different boxes. Feel free to give our portal support team a call at 855-743-3427 for any questions!

      Reply
  13. Avatar for Edward Santa Maria Edward Santa Maria says:
    March 21, 2021 at 12:34 pm

    What is the estimated time on putting 4″ portal kit on a teryx4?? Thanks..

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      March 22, 2021 at 3:55 pm

      Depending on the mechanic ability, it could take anywhere from 3-5 hours. Thanks for tuning in!

      Reply
  14. Avatar for George K George K says:
    April 23, 2021 at 11:10 am

    I have a 2018 Maverick X3 XMR Turbo R (72″ model). The engine, clutch and suspension are stock. I have flashed the ECU to lower the fan temp with the Dynojet PV3. Since then I have added GDP portals at 30% reduction and 35″ Motohavoks. I’m not sure what the stock gear ratio is on the XMR’s but I’ve now added 30% more reduction so I’m sure it’s due to the higher RPMS it is now running but now it is running a bit hotter than I would like. When in the mud (mostly clay) it’s not unusual to see 210-215°F. I was wondering if I should make adjustments or upgrade the stock clutch or maybe add a second radiator to help with this. With the added dear reduction I operate in Hi most of the time as well since Lo is extremely Lo

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      April 26, 2021 at 12:01 pm

      Hey George, we appreciate you reaching out! Your question is a hard one. There could be any combination of issues. You could have air in the system, dirt or mud in the radiator, or you could even just have a plugged-up air filter. Unfortunately, we do not currently offer clutches or radiators for this machine, so it’s hard for us to pinpoint the exact issue.

      Reply
  15. Avatar for Dylan Brinson Dylan Brinson says:
    April 25, 2021 at 5:42 pm

    I have a Polaris sportsman 850 with 31” out laws and im thinking of install portals on it i do a combination of trail riding and mud riding and was wondering which gear reduction i should go with the 15% or the 30% i rarely get the bike above speeds of 30 mph since I enjoy just cruising

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      April 26, 2021 at 12:22 pm

      Hi Dylan! You really can’t go wrong either way. Something that might help you make the decision is our portal calculator. It’ll give you an idea of where you’ll be speed wise. Check it out: https://www.superatv.com/portal-calculator Thanks for the support!

      Reply
  16. Avatar for Rick Dolan Rick Dolan says:
    April 27, 2021 at 7:54 pm

    I have a Polaris General with a 24% gear reduction in the transmission. I currently have 32″s and looking at 4 inch portals. Since the transmission is done, what gear reduction do you recommend, 15% or 30%? Would never go larger than a 35 inch tires. Also, how far does the portals push the tires out per side. Thank you

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      April 28, 2021 at 8:27 am

      Hey Rick! For gear reduction recommendations, it really depends on what kind of riding you’re going to be doing the most. Check out our portal calculator to help you make the decision: https://www.superatv.com/portal-calculator. Lastly, the portals will push out 4″ per side. We appreciate the support, and thanks for checking in with us!

      Reply
  17. Avatar for Cashen TA Cashen TA says:
    May 3, 2021 at 2:07 pm

    I have a 2018 Polaris Ranger Crew 900 with an 8″ lift, 15″ rim, and 35″ tires and im looking to go with the 6″ portal gears. Can I run spacers in order to keep the 15″ wheels I have on now? Also, what would my ideal tire size be for a total of 14″ lift?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      May 3, 2021 at 4:44 pm

      Thanks for checking in! Unfortunately, we wouldn’t recommend the number of spacers you would need for clearance. With our 6″ suspension lift and 6″ portal gear lift, you would be able to clear a 38″ tire with no contact.

      Reply
  18. Avatar for Andy C Andy C says:
    May 15, 2021 at 6:31 am

    I have a 2018 ranger xp 1000 looking to install 2 inch forward A arms 6^ portals on 33 what gear ratio would I use
    Then if you wanted to use 35s will the gear ratio be the same

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      May 17, 2021 at 11:35 am

      Hey Andy! What gear ratio you use is all going to depend on what kind of riding you do the most. Or are you more interested in figuring out what tire size would get you back close to stock? Check out our portal calculator as it may be helpful in figuring out what you’re after: https://www.superatv.com/portal-calculator

      Reply
  19. Avatar for Darius Martin Darius Martin says:
    July 4, 2021 at 9:33 pm

    I have a 2016 Rzr 1000 Turbo, I have two sets of wheels/tires. The stocks and an aftermarket mud set ( 35 inch tire and 20 inch wheel) I love the way it runs and the speed it produces. I like to trail ride and the occasional mud hole along the way. I don”t plan on mud Bogging but I do like to hit a hole here and there so my question is. With a 6inch portal and my mud set… 35 inch tire with a 20 inch wheel, am i going to loose my top end speed?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      July 7, 2021 at 11:15 am

      Hey Darius! If you choose to go with the 30% gear reduction on our 6″ GDP portal gear lift, you should balance out your top end speed by running 35″ tires at a decent amount, while increasing your acceleration speed. You can also help improve top end with a clutch kit and/or ECU tuning. Here is a link to our portal calculator that should give you a better idea of where you would be at speed wise with each gear reduction option as well as tire size. https://www.superatv.com/portal-calculator Thanks for the support!

      Reply
  20. Avatar for Jimmy N Jimmy N says:
    July 13, 2021 at 5:15 pm

    I have a 2021 Polaris general XP four deluxe will a 4 inch portal keep my 33” tires from rubbing the bike

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      July 14, 2021 at 2:20 pm

      Hey Jimmy! We have to be careful about recommendations like this because each machine will be a little different due to shock/spring wear. So if there is any type of contact at full shock compression or turn, we have to say it doesn’t fit. I will say that we’ve got some offset arms that are in the works that should help with this, but we’re still a couple months out ETA wise. Feel free to check back in with us!

      Reply
  21. Avatar for Alex Mulroy Alex Mulroy says:
    August 6, 2021 at 12:13 pm

    Have 4 inch portals with 32 inch juggernauts on my maverick xmr. Speedo says 82 mph but GPS said 51mph. What’s the gear ratio?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      August 10, 2021 at 12:53 pm

      Hey Alex, thanks for checking in! It’s hard to say for sure without more information, but based off what you’ve said, it sounds like you’ve got a 30% portal. Feel free to call in at 855-743-3427 to confirm.

      Reply
  22. Avatar for Steve Shalaby Steve Shalaby says:
    September 22, 2021 at 10:25 pm

    Tyler first I’d like to start by saying what an incredibly well written article. Your advice to other riders above has completely convinced me that these portals are the only way to go. Ok, so here’s my situation: Tomorrow I’m buying a 2019 RZR XP 4 1000 HighLifter. Currently sits on 29.5” tires on a 14” rim. Based on height restrictions in my garage, I think the max height I’ll be able to go with, will be the 4” portal with a new set of 18 or 20” rims on 35” mud tires. My question, is how much gear reduction should I go with? Also, do you think the dual idlers are substantiated for a novice trail rider like myself? Or is the added strength more suited for hardcore muddies and rock crawlers? Appreciate your help!

    Reply
    • Megan Randall says:
      September 23, 2021 at 9:34 am

      Hey there, Steve! With 35″ tires, we recommend a 30% gear reduction. You’ll need the extra torque to turn those big ol’ tires! And when it comes to the dual idler option, we absolutely recommend it! Dual idlers are a no-brainer in almost any situation, and well worth the investment. It sounds like you’re going to have a pretty sweet setup! Thank you for reading!

      Reply
    • Avatar for Steve Steve says:
      November 22, 2021 at 12:18 am

      I have a 2021 Polaris general Xp 4 1000, and i’m going with 15”X10”X32” tires with a 4” portal lift
      And 15% reduction. Is this a good set up for high speed trail riding and slight rock climbing
      Here in the desert terrain?

      Reply
      • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
        November 22, 2021 at 10:47 am

        Hey Steve! Between 32″ and 35″ tires at 15% reduction is a good setup. You can also take a look at this link to give you an idea on top speed: https://www.superatv.com/portal-calculator Thanks for tuning in with us!

        Reply
  23. Avatar for Nick Thompson Nick Thompson says:
    October 4, 2021 at 4:57 pm

    im ordering 18″ STI HD Beadlock wheels for 17 x3 on 6″ portals. will a 6+1 rim work

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      October 5, 2021 at 3:20 pm

      Hey Nick! The wheel requirements for this are: 1) 18″ or larger wheel, 2) 18″ wheels cannot exceed 4-1/2 backspacing, and 3) 20″ and larger wheels cannot exceed 5″ backspacing. Thanks for checking in with us!

      Reply
  24. Avatar for Eric Eric says:
    March 27, 2022 at 2:38 pm

    I have a 2010 polaris rzr 800s I am installing your 5″ suspension conversion kit high clearance whats the biggest size tire that would fit and what size rim would i need for your 6″ gear reduction lift for trail and rock crawling oh and what % reduction do you recommend.

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      March 28, 2022 at 8:42 am

      Hey Eric. Based on what you’ve told us about what you’ve got installed, with the conversion kit and portals, you will max out at 34s with no rub. You could possibly go a little bigger but it will most likely rub in a turn with the shock compressed. If you’re running a 34 or bigger and rock crawling, your best bet would probably be 45% gear reduction. Check out our portal calculator to help you figure out what’s best for you: https://www.superatv.com/portal-calculator Thanks for the support!

      Reply
  25. Avatar for Gage Gage says:
    April 6, 2022 at 8:44 am

    Hey I have a 2021 Polaris general, with yalls 3 inch bracket lift.. I’m soon gonna get some 6” or 8” portals, what would my max size tire be for 6s or 8s with the small lift?

    Reply
    • Tyler Mingione says:
      April 6, 2022 at 3:36 pm

      Hey Gage! Assuming you’ve got the non-XP version, with the 3″ lift, you’ll be able to run up to 30s without rubbing on 6″ portals. With 8″ portals, you’re looking at up to 35″ tires. If you want to go bigger than that, you can always look at adding some A-arms on top of the lift. We offer recommendations at the bottom of every portal page description, helping you figure out what suspension/tire size you can get. If you press “Read More” on the description tab, you’ll see this at the bottom: https://www.superatv.com/polaris-general-8-inch-portal-gear-lift We also have a portal calculator that helps you figure out what you need: https://www.superatv.com/portal-calculator Thanks for the support, and feel free to give us a call with any other portal questions at 855-743-3427.

      Reply
  26. Avatar for chris chris says:
    May 11, 2022 at 10:00 pm

    i have a 2021 2 seater rzr highlifter edition i believe it states on the website it has a 55 percent lower gearing im looking to add 40 in tires on 24 rim and want to go with the 8in portal. all thats offered is 70 percent gears. will that be to much reduction for this set up

    Reply
  27. Avatar for CD Harris CD Harris says:
    September 5, 2022 at 10:47 pm

    I have a kawasaki MX mule 2022, are yall making portals for this machine or are there some in the works for this machine

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      September 6, 2022 at 10:07 am

      It looks like we don’t have Pro-MX portals on our list yet. That doesn’t mean we won’t make them, but it does mean that it’ll be a long while before they’re available if we do. Thanks for checking in!

      Reply
  28. Avatar for Jason abradley Jason abradley says:
    September 12, 2022 at 2:30 pm

    I have a 2022 RZR 1000XP4 at the moment it is completely stock
    I am wanting to go 37x20s. Which Portal setup would be best for Trail and Mud Riding? Also any other Mods I may need to fit these rims and tires? What Offset for Rims?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      September 12, 2022 at 3:33 pm

      Hey Jason, if I were you, I would go with 6″ portals and a 30% gear reduction (or 45% if you want a little more oomph. 30% will get you close to stock feel even with bigger tires). To fit 37″ tires you’ll need to add 1.5″ A-arms. They’ll still probably rub when you hit big bumps, but they’ll get the job done. For that setup, you just need to make sure you have 5″ or less of backspacing.

      You could also get 30% 4″ portals with 1.5 offset A-arms and a 3-5″ lift kit to fit 37s. The wheel backspacing for this setup is the same.

      Either way, it should be an awesome setup.

      Reply
  29. Avatar for Bob mahaffey Bob mahaffey says:
    September 28, 2022 at 1:04 pm

    I have a 2022 mule pro FX I am looking at these portals for a slight lift for ground clearance. I do not extreme mud this as it it is a tool around the place but we also like to go to the river. I am looking at 15% reduction would this be ideal for a SXS that is mostly used too pull a trailer, a sprayer, bee hive equipment, and yet go on a mild trail?

    Reply
  30. Avatar for VooDuuChild VooDuuChild says:
    October 4, 2022 at 5:37 am

    I’m currently running a 64 inch Can Am X3 XMR with 32 inch XTR370s on System 3 14 inch beadlocks.. There is currently no issue with power, even though the tires are heavy, still stock clutching and only 120 hp. I want to run 35s with 4 inch portals (stock suspension otherwise), but I would like to retain similar feel currently and am worried 30% would be too much and am really leaning to the 15%. It does appear that 35s on 15% would be slightly lower geared than I am now, but with 35s. Seems like it would be about perfect. I may end up with more power later as well, so that is a consideration. I ride almost exclusively mountainous terrain of the PacNW, tight, steep, rocky, rutted and muddy and the machine is a straight animal as is. I can’t imagine the places it will go on 35s and portals…but I wanna find out. Thanks for any input!
    Cheers

    Reply
    • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
      October 5, 2022 at 11:24 am

      Sounds like you have a solid plan. There is a lot of personal preference when it comes to choosing your gear reduction, but I talked to a few guys here about your setup and riding terrain and they said they would go with the 30% reduction. Upgrading to 35s and adding a 15% gear reduction at the same time will make it feel more like you’re running your stock 30″ tires, so if that’s what you’re after, your plan is spot on.

      However, you will notice a big improvement with 35s and a 30% gear reduction. And unless you spend a lot of time near your machine’s top speed in dunes or something, there’s really no downside to jumping up to 30%. It just gives you more low-end torque. If you get a tune or upgrade your clutch down the line, you’ll be happy you went with 30% for sure.

      Like I said, it’s a personal preference. We know lots of folks on both sides of the coin that have loved them. I will say that 30% with 35s is probably the more popular choice though. Either way, I’m sure you’re going to love it.

      Reply

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