I know this subject has gotten brought up many times in the past, but my application is slightly different and would appreciate all suggestions.

I would like to upgrade the stock wheel and tire package on my Rancher 4x4. My primary riding is on forest trails that can be extremely rocky. Some is hardpack with minimal rocks. MPH is on average less than 5-10 MPH due to terrain and hills.

Secondary riding will be in the winter months plowing snow. The tire should have good grip in powder or wet snow conditions.

I don't want to get a super tall tire, but it would be nice if it had a extra inch of height for more ground clearance. Also the tire should have strong sidewalls for the rocky environment in hopes it might prevent a puncture.

Wheels I prefer a heavier aluminum alloy, able to withstand rocky conditions. I try to ride safe and consider wheel placement before damage can occur. But it can happen. I like the ITP .190 series.

So please, let me know what you think a good package for me might be. Please include tire and wheel sizes.

As always, thanks in advance.

 

I assume you have the same Goodyear Trackers that came standard on my Rancher.

Trackers have proved to be excellent on extreme rocky trail conditions in the southern Appalachian of TN/NC. I continue to amaze myself as to what they are capable of climbing.

I've ridden all over the Tellico ATV area (see the winch test from the home page of this site), and they performed beautifully.

As for snow, I don't know yet, but winter's a few months off .. maybe chains?

 

Goodyear Tracker MPs were the OEM tire on my '96 Bayou 400 4x4. They provided decent, but not outstanding traction, for trail riding and plowing snow. However, they did have one very large drawback, they were not even mildly puncture resistant. I experienced 23 punctures in four years of riding.

Last year I switched to Goodyear Mudrunners just ahead of the Cochranton poker run. They are a fantastic tire in the mud and on hardpack. The also do exceptionally well in rocky terrain. I have ridden my Bayou 300 and Bayou 400 at Tasker's Gap in Virginia where the trails are nothing but rock, and the Mudrunners did just fine.

Army Man

 

The Rancher's came standard with Bridgestone Dirt Hooks. These tires aren't bad, but would like to upgrade to a taller tire with better snow performance.

 

The dirt hooks are good tires for all round use. Our last ride turned into a mud fest, this was the first time the OEM tires were sliding all over the place on the slick clay as we climbed up the trail. My wifes 2wd Recon w/Sur Traks was doing really well. The point is after market tires are usually much much better than stock one.

I am thinking about mud runners for my Rancher.

 

I think that bearclaws or sur traks would be a good choice for your rancher. Bearclaws would be a 4ply tire but sur traks are pretty durable also.

 

Well,
On my 2001 Rancher ES 4x4,I recently put SuperSwamper TSL 26x9.50x12 on front and 26x9.50x11 on rear on the factory wheels. I am really pleased with the overall ride of the TSL's. I ride up in the mountains quite often and the rides are usually over 65 miles and the TSL's ride just as smooth in the rocky terrain as the factory tires and they give excellant traction on all types of surfaces. So for your paticuliar requirements I would say that you would be quite pleased with 25" TSL's on ITP 12x7 aluminum wheels.

 

go with the ITP blakwater big wheel kit or the TSL super swampers. For your applications (rocky terrrain) I would go with the blackwaters ( not the XT's), due to the fact they are made of a soft rubber coumpound (good for rock climbing) yet the sidewalls are very strong.

 

I've got 26" Goodyear Mudrunners and I'm really impressed with them in mud, deep snow, or general riding on hardpack and I've been flat free so far.