I posted an earlier topic about tire/wheel sizes for my 1999 500 Scrambler 4x4. I am wanting to put bigger tires/wheels on it. Factory tire sizes are 23X7X10 fronts, 22X11X10 rears. A local Polaris dealer told me that if I put bigger tires on it, the 4 wheel drive (front) won't work properly. Mentioned the gear ratio won't be right even if I put one size bigger on front. Is this true? Has anyone out there beefed up tires on their Scrambler? What sizes? How did it affect the machine? I really need help on this one.

 

You can increase your tire size, but you have to increase the front and back the same amount or you will affect your 4wd.

 

So I can bump up to..say..26's on front and 25's on rear without hurting the "gearing"? I'm wondering how bad it will hurt the performance before I go and spend $600. Anyone out there put bigger tires on their Scrambler 4x4?

 

You wont mess up the 4wd as long as you keep that 1" difference. BUT, the scrambler was NEVER made for those bigger tires. So either way you look at it, you WILL be hurting your performance, you WILL decrease the life of the belt, and you WILL be putting more stress on the cv joints, tie rods ends, and ball joints. That is just part of bigger tires. The same goes with ANY vehical that you put larger tires on. Are you jus tlooking for more ground clearance???? I know that there are some people that have put larger tires on their scrams. But, if I recall correctly, they also installed Low range transmissions for the Xplorer. That would help out alot, especially at low speeds. Just my $.02

 

Hey Polaris Scrambler guys, am I reading this thread correctly, 23x7 up front and 22x11 in the back. Is this correct, smaller in back on a 4x4. I know Suzuki did the opposite on their KQ and Quadrunners. If so what was the purpose of this, smaller tire in back for higher speed in 2x4 mode? Just curious.AlaskaBoy.

 

23x7x10 fronts, 22x11x10 rears. Yep, back tire height is smaller. It has something to do with the gearing in 4 wheel drive, the way I understand it.

 

Good question, dont know exactly why? Maybe better handleing or cornering? But since that is the way it was set up from the factory (being that its shaft drive up from, chain in rear, can't change gear ratio up front) you have to keep that 1" differnce for the 4wd to work (engage) properly

 

BigBadScrambler,

Besides the stress on the drivetrain, you think the low end will be bogged down that bad with the bigger tires?

 

I don't know how BAD it will bog down, but yes, you will lose some bottom end. A clutch kit may be able to help with that some

 

Anyone out there have bigger than factory tires/wheels on their Scrambler? I'd like to hear from someone that has done this.