I was just wondering if anyone has 27x12-12 MudBugs all around on an AC500??

I'm sure I remember that someone did. I have a few questions about the performance of the AC500 with these tires:
- Do they rub anywhere?
- Any Power Loss?
- Steering harder?
- Steering clearance?
- In your opinion are they going to harm the front joints quicker?

My reason for asking: I am buying an AC500 in February and I will be putting 27" tires on it. My only decisions are 10" or 12" and MudBug or 589 (9" or 11").

Thanks in advance for your help on this.

 

The 27" Buggs actually measure around 26.4-6 somewhere in there if I remember right. So, clearance will NOT be a problem on the big 'Cat. In fact, clearance is great on the 'Cats and you could probably fit a 28" tire under there stock with no lift, though it might rub on the heat shield for the muffler with that size. I put 27" 'Claws on my 'Cat and have no problems with them rubbing anywhere. Have 12" wide in the rear, with 9.75" wide up front.

Steering with the Buggs should be easier than stock, due to the extra heavier traction. Sounds funny, but it's true. The heavier lugged tire -compared to stock- has less rubber on the ground in one particular spot, so there is less friction. Mine steers a hell of a lot easier with the 27" 'Claws compared to the stockers.

The Buggs are relatively light for their size and number of ply's (6) compared to the stock 2 ply 489's, so pulling them will not be that much of a problem. It is actually the size that will cause the most noticeable difference. My 'Claws weigh a good bit more than the Buggs, and I have only a slight noticeable loss in power while in high gear, going up hill. In low range, you can't tell a difference at all, even while towing something. That is the torque at work there.

In short, no, you won't have any trouble running the Buggs, the 'Cat will handle them just fine.

Hope that helps,

Mike

 

Cowboy,

I thought you might want to know that you own Bi/Tri-Claws and not "27" buggs".

Bear Hunter,

I have 27x12x12 Tri-CLaws all around on my Arctic Cat 500. I have them mounted on 12x7" ITP Steel wheels and I noticed a large power loss. Where I could normaly mud ride in high range 1-2nd gear, I'm now in low 1st-2nd. On hard pack I notice slight power dropage, I seem to use 4th gear alot more. Not cause it doesn't have the power, but because the larger tires changed the gearing and I am going just as fast in 4th gear(on hard pack, I like to cruise at 25 mph) with the claws that I was with the Titians , yet in the same rpm range that my ears are hearing. So, I don't notice I'm in 4th unless I look down at the gear indicator lights.

I did need front wheel spacers to stop the tires from rubbing on the shocks when turning VERY hard and to stop the claws from rubing the Ox-Lite boot guards when the suspension was at full drop and turned. I have no paint peel off from the tires rubbing the shocks. So, I don't think this is factor, BUT I noticed that the claws make a hormible poping noise(thought I had blew a CV) when they catch on the Ox-lites.

I don't recommend ITP wheels AT ALL, UNLESS you are a rcck crawler-- like Andy. They are TWICE as heavy as stock and aluminum wheels, BUT they are alot stronger. I think 27" tires will be more than enought to protect the stockers, so I want to replace my ITP's with stockers. I hope it will gain me back some power I lost when I went to this wheel/tire combo.

I think you should mount the Bugs on factory wheels and with no spacers at first, then IF you need them get them. The reason I say this is cause I think Mud Bugs are narrower than Tri-CLaws and think you can get away with out spacers IF YOU WANT.

 

First, I don't exactly understand the thing to Cowboy. He pretty much said in his post what kind of tires he had. I would figure he would know a little about Bugs as well because he was wanting them for a while before he got into the Claw idea.

Second, I don't see any power loss by switching from my stock rims to my ITP's. I've had the Claws mounted on both for a while, and I see nothing other than the advantage of the slight offset of the ITP's over the stock. As far as weight goes, ITP's are like 13lbs. each. Magnum aluminum are 7lbs. each. I should have weighed the stockers when I had the chance, but I didn't. They would fall in the middle, though I don't see them being as light as aluminum. If they are, they must be very thin. I know for a fact that the stock rims are weak. I bent the hell out of one the 4rth day I had my AC back in 98. Just ran over a rock (small one too) in the middle of the trail and bang!!! Bent the rim big time on the inside lip and popped the seal of the tire.

One advantage of steel rims though is that you can beat them back into shape which was the case here. I never had another problem with it after reshaping it with a hammer. Never leaked air either. Stock rims are good enough, but I see no downsides to the ITP's if you have a 500cc quad.

Mud Bugs are a good tire. They have a lot going for them, and if thats the style you like, I say go for it. Nobody influenced me from not getting Claws. At the time, everyone was touting on how much better Vampires were than Claws. Even if they were, I knew which one I wanted so I got it. Despite what any review says, I have the tires I want. Thats basically the best thing you can do.

 

Thanks for the info guys....I think I have decided that I will either go with MudBugs 27x10-12 on front 27x12-12 on the rear, or 589's 27x11-12 all around.

I don't think that a person can go wrong with either of these tires.....so price will probably make the decision between the two.

Thanks again!

 

Sorry about that, but I could have swarn Cowboy said he had 27" buggs in that post after saying he had 27" claws. I guess I was seeing things.

I recomend the 589s ANYDAY over the mud bugs. It's just a personal thing. The wider tires WILL be better in the mud and WILL float your front end with enought presure. The narrower tires are for trail riding and don't offer as much mud ability. So go with the 10" front for trails, 12" fronts for hard core mud.

 

Because the Mud Bugs are not actually 27in tall would that be a good tire for a 400 AC? Because you are not going to lose a much power as a true 27 inch but you gain a little more ground clearance(which is neeeded at the rear axle). And I already have the ITP Crome wheels to mount them on. Thanks for the help

Phillip

 

I would not recomend 27x12x12 ALL AROUND for the 400, but with the narrower 10" fronts I think you would easily pull them. This is cause I've seen an ac 400 pull 27" Bi/Tri-Claw Magnums will hardly any trouble, but the guy did go down to Magnum Bi-Claws all the way around for more power later on.

I've also seen this AC 400 with (believe it or not) 28x12x12 Outlaws on it. Now I ONLY HAVE THIS PICTURE TO GO BY. I've never talked to the owner of the bike(much less seen th bike itself in person) to see how it pulls the tires or if it's just for show, but I can tell by looking at it that it went in the mud. And if you are wondering how I know what kinda bike it is and what size tires, just trust me on this one. But I can explain it to you if you question me.

 

do you tell that it is a 400 because of the front bumper? The 500 has a bigger bar across the middle of it.

Phillip

 

That and the rear rack is how I can tell it's a 400. But the way to tell it has 28x12x12's all around is by looking at the tire size. It's pretty easy to tell that it's a 28", but how many people would know to look for the size of the side lug to tell that it has 12" wides all around??