Man I just bought 2 brand new Douglass Alum Rims .160 and some Dirt Devils to Match. I put the new rims on with my Impact Wrench so they were tight. About 1/2 way through our ride, moderate trails and small jumps, the rims had come loose and started eating alum from the lug holes , I took them home after I tightend them up and re-impacted them on. I went out and the same thing happend, now the lug holes are about 1/2 and inch wide! They are TRASHED!
Why did this happen? The only thing I can imagine is that on the rear of my Sportsman 400 (2stroke) uses big 13/16 taperd type lug nuts you would find on most cars. Did these cause the shearing, was there some kind of flat type nut like on the front I should have used? I bought them from TreadDepot.com and they didnt say anything when I told them what ATV they where for? They havent responded to my email yet so any of you have any ideas?

 

Always install washers between the hub and aluminum rim, and between the aluminum rim and lug-nut. This prevents the lug-nuts from over-tightening, and de-forming the soft compound of the aluminum rim. .160 rims are alittle thin for a 4x4. Maybe try some .190's and the washer trick.

One more thing..... Install the lug-nuts back-wards when tightening. Flat side in.

 

BUMMER !!!!!!
The steel Polaris wheels DO use a nut that has a chamfer like auto lug nuts and aluminum wheels either aftermarket or Polaris DO NOT.

I had this problem with putting the aluminum Polaris wheels from my Scrambler onto my wifes Trailblazer which has steel Polaris wheels. All I did was turn the nut for the steel wheel around and put the chamfered side out and the flat side against the wheel with a large diameter flat washer.

You can try and complain to Treadepot but I don`t think you`ll get anything out of them. I hate to say it but you might have to buy new wheels. I`m not sure if they can be repaired, it might be worth looking into. Good Luck

cstark
I disagree with the washers between the hub and wheel. I believe the hole in center of the wheel is supposed to rabbet or fit tightly to the hub and the washers would prevent the wheel from doing that. I believe this is so the hub takes all the load not the studs. Please correct me if I`m wrong in this thinking.

98 Scrambler 500
00 Trailblazer 250

 

Those of us with aluminum rims are suposed to be using tapered lug nuts. I have had the nuts come loose out in the field to, so I have finally ordered a complete set of tapered lug nuts. crome to so they will look pretty.

rangerchet polaris xpedition 425 cc 5 speed.

 

I trashed a new set of ITP .190s on my first ride with them, I complained straight to ITP, and they replaced them with the new T-9s. I couldn't imagine running .160s on anything but pavement.

 

Contact Douglas direct 1-800-Race rim. Tread Depot will not do JACK!

One of my .190's/589's had a leak. Next morning, ready to ride, FLAT. Pulled my hair out trying to find it. Finally found CENTER was leaking! The weld had a bad spot. I roughened it up a bit and epoxied it. It was that or dismount the other front, and remount on the steel wheels.

I figured to use it, and have Tread Depot swap it. They told me I could either send it back, or they would SELL me some sealer! What a bunch of crap. I told them I had fixed it, but it was flawed, and I would like to exchange it. They said that I voided my warranty without even consulting Douglas! The guy at Douglas was great. He cut me a smoking deal on a special pair for the rear (4+5 I believe to get the rear narrowed a bit) which is all I really wanted. I'm sure my repair will hold, but I was not happy paying full price for second quality!