As many have read I finally got some ITP Mudlite XTRs for the X2. I finally got this tire situation mostly straightened out. The rears were sticking out to far because the ITP Delta Steel rims stuck out 2 inches extra on each side. Can you say 52" wide quad? So, I spray painted the stock rims a nice black and took them over to a local tire store to have the old tires taken off the new rims and put on the stockers. The guy had told me $70 for doing the tires and remounting them with disposal. I went there and ended up using their floor jack to jack up each side and take off the wheels/tires. They aren't allowed to bring ATVs into their shop due to liability issues. The manager said the kid who does the ATV tires would be back after a delivery. He got back, did all the work, put new stems in both the new and old rims, and helped me get them back on the quad. I asked him, "How much?" He said, "Nothing." He insisted, so I forced $10 on him. I got it home and noticed that the right front was just slightly rubbing the end of the tie rod. After a lot of thinking I remembered people having the same situation, so I got some hardened washers to space out the right side a bit and now have a little over an 1/8th inch of space on both sides. Do you all think this will be enough? I parked with the rear uphill and most the pressure on the tire that was barely rubbing and it seemed like it still had about an 1/8th" space.

 

Well, IMO I'd ditch the washers and flip your tie rod ends, lots of people have done it, with no problems

 

When you say flip the tie rod ends, do you mean to put them on the bottom of the arm that comes on the strut? Or do you mean to swap them end to end? Thanks.

 

Congrat's on the new tires but where's the pics?

 

Skychief, I haven't taken pics with the new setup. I did take pics with the Delta Steel wheels. It looked nice but was way to wide in the back. Almost 52" wide. There are places I hope to go that are 50", so that wouldn't work. I'll try to post pics next week.

 

Did you get to do any riding with the new tires yet?

 

I mean from top to bottom, you would have to re-align the front end

 

Skychief, I just went for a ride today up in Claremont. It's been very wet so there was more than enough of a test bed for the new treads. Unbelievebly great! Didn't feel much slippage at all in the deep mud/water holes we went through. Some of them were almost headlight deep. Surprise. Yes, lots of water in the shoes. We went up a trail that between rain and skidders doing logging was a wet slippery deep muddy mess. Pulled through with no problems. If anyone is on the fence about Mudlite XTRs you don't need to be. They are fantastic.

700 Sportsman, when you say realignment is that the procedure in the basic user's manual that comes with the quad? Or is there some other part to it. I don't know how much my back will take after 50 miles of riding. It might take me a couple weeks. I want to check to see if there was any rubbing. I should be able to see it as I covered the tires with mud from top to bottom. If there is any rubbing it will show. If there isn't I'll probably leave things for now as it performed well even with the spacers. I even got the quad up to 50 without noticing any adverse effects.

 

Glad you like 'em Moose, you need to try them down here in some real mud!!!

 

I don't think that procedure is in the regular manual, but refresh my memory on what year and model X2 you have, I probably have the service manual, and can send you that info.
The only reason I say to ditch the washers is, because I have heard horror stories of them shifting, and the lug nuts coming loose, and well, you can guess what happens next