Just got back from riding with my new vamps. I replaced my 24X9X11 (F) and 25X9.5X11 (R) vamps with 25X9.5X11 (F) and 25X12X11 (R). I was amazed at the diffrence that the larger tires make. I am sure that the longer lugs on the new tires helped, but the width in the rear is where the beef is.

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Shane

'97 Honda 300 4X - Vamped, Locked, & Lifted

 

That surprise me. I thought the taller tire made mor of a difference.

 

Shane, I like the wide rear tires because of the flotation, I still dont think my front floats. I got the lift kit for christmas, it makes the ride a lot smoother and it looks like a 4-wheeler again instead of a bike with extra large balloon tires on the rear! I'm not but about 130 dollars from getting the high perf. kit. I hope it is a big help.

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Matt Sibley

1999 Honda 300 4x4 Vampires and 2500 lb. winch

 

Shane,

Did you have trouble turning the 25 and 26 combo? What engine mods do you have?

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Matt Sibley

1999 Honda 300 4x4 Vampires and 2500 lb. winch

 

Boner,
If I had gone taller, it may have helped in ground clearance, but altered my gear ratio again. I did go with a taller 25" tire in the front, it gave me about 1/2" more ground clearance.

Matt,

I put 25's all the way around. The Kawi 300 that I ride with has 26's on all four corners. He said that they drined the power quite a bit. Although, he was able to go through some holes that he used to have to be winched out of. Turning the tires in 1st is no big deal. If I hit the hole with a little momentum in second, I can usually keep the tires turning (not fast though) until I can get through a 7-9ft. run.

I have : 1.Vampire tires 2.K&N filter 3.Filterskins Outerwears 3.Dynnojet kit 4.Supertrapp muffler and header pipe 5.ATV Locker's front locker 6.Highlifter lift kit 7.Warn 2000# winch 8.Wal-mart $12.00 come-a-long 9.****** block 10.Savant stick stoppers 11.Cycle country floor boards

I think that is all, I'll have to think on it. By the way, the listings above are in no specific order of importance.

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Shane

'97 Honda 300 4X - Vamped, Locked, & Lifted

 

Just an FYI....I have a 97 300 4x4 with 26x12x11 rear (7psi)and 25x9x11 front (15psi) vampires with a lift and Highlifter performance kit. I did lose some power with the big tires but I don't have any trouble turning them. There have been a few gooey places where the tires just wouldn't turn anymore, but I was experiencing the same problems on my Grizzly and Foreman, it was the type of mud we were in not the bikes. I have had this combination on the 300 for over a year and it gets ridden every weekend by one of my friends and rarely experiences any situations where there is not enough power. Also, out of all my bikes the 300 will float the front end up the easiest when crossing in 3 or 4 feet of water. My Grizzly is the second easiest but it has 27x12x12 vamps all the way around with about 20 psi, so it better float! The trick is to get in to deep enough water, start out slow and then lay on the gas. The front will pop up pretty quick.

 

I have a norkel that goes over the bars about 7 inches when i get in deep water the fron end goes up automatically all the time and is hard to keep down. i also have vamps and a lift kit 24-9-11 F and 25-12-11 R i have a super trapp silencer and headpipe and a DG full skid plat and Cycle country cv boot guards. I do not like my 9 inch front vamps they always seem to just barry the front end and then i'm stuck i traded them for a day for 25-10-12 blackwaters on itp steel wheels it made alot of difference in the mud because of the size and i got alot more flowtation. i never thought that a blackwater they say a bad mud tire would perform li with vamps on the rear.

Shane West do you think the locker is good for muddin and hill climbing and rocks? is it a whole lot harder to steer? what do you think about it?

 

Mud,

I think that the locker is a great investment. I would rank it behind only a good set of mud tires. It does increase the difficulty of steering, but not to the point that it is unbearable. The trick is to have a little forward or rearward motion before you begin to turn the wheels.

It will surely help your hill climbing and getting up across deep ruts. Oh yeah, after you install it the Polaris crew can't brag any more about being the only ones with "true" 4WD (just kiddng, I love you all).

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Shane

'97 Honda 300 4X - Vamped, Locked, & Lifted

 

I have to agree with Shane here. I have a 450S with a locker in the front and 27x12x12 Vamps all the way around. If you're into mud riding or hill climbing it is the hot setup by far. Now as far as steering goes, it is a bear to turn when it's on plain grass or any kind of hard pack (at slow speeds). I alsofind it more difficult when backing up in these conditions, but the pay off for me is in the mud. I love it and will not even consider going back to 3 wheel drive !

"LOCK 'EM AND LEAVE 'EM!!!"
SwampMonster

1999 Foreman 450S Locked, Lifted, Vamped, and Snorkeled

 

Just another opinion. I went from a 12" on the back to a 9.5". Now run 25x9.5x12 vampires on my lifted 300 4x4.
I found that with everyone running 12" tires meant that after 2 or 3 people had gone first, the ruts were wide enough that the 12" width did not have any advantage. I am a believer in height being more important to my riding. Having 1" more of ground clearance seems to help me nore than a little wider tire. Also, the ride quality over rocks and stumps is better on the narrower tire. Less tire weight also took less power away from my relatively small 300. I can turn the 9.5's very well.