My 27" Mudzillas are being bid on ebay right now. ( Wow, nice plug to run up the bids [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] ) I have a few questions for the tire savy guys. First, the facts. I have a Sportsman 800 that these 27's with stock steel wheels and spacers were on, and I plan on moving up to 28 Mudzilla's with Aluminum wheels with rim offset and no spacers. Here is the questionable part! (I did my homework on these weight factors) The 28" combo will be about 5lbs lighter per wheel in the front and about 2lbs lighter in the rear than what I have now. Remember my scenarios (27" tire on steel rims) and (28" tires on aluminum rims)

Is the weight that I will shed, enough to override the taller tire in mud hole performance? Believe it or not sometimes the 800 bogged down in 4X4 and in low gear. The 28's should make it bog more, but I am spinning less weight which should help it out! Plus I will be shedding the weight of the spacers. I know, I know it is minimal, but every little bit helps!

Ok, lets hear it!

 

Why do you want to go even bigger???? I believe you are going to have problems cleaning your tires in thick mud (spinning is going to be hard)

 

your 5 pounds lighter on each of the 4 tires will allow your drive train to spin up faster and will help you get going. but in my opinion Mudzilla's arnt the very best tire you can get for the money. the ITP Mudlites while being very light (lighter than the Mudzillas) have a really nice tread pattern. the only thing to be said si that hte mudlites rubber is a bit on the softer side and will wear quicker. i belive the Mudlites are featured all the way up to a 30" size tire, but once you get that high you could start looking at Interco Super Swampers haha.

both are fantastic tires, but the ITP Mudlites get my vote. The Cheveron tread pattern is excellent.

also when choosing, if you decide to go for the ITP Mudlites, is Belted or Radial. radials will give you a better ride and flex more for harder pack, but the Belted tires (standard Mudlites) are a really point and shoot tire. i myself would stick with the 27" tire, its a good standpoint and not too big. the 28" tire is alot of tire to throw around, and with the sportsman's already heavy steering, it will make it that much more difficult.

goodluck with your decision.




oh, you should also really look at getting a clutch kit, like a heel clicker or something.

 

well, you already know that i have 27" m.lite xtr's. having the radials to me is well worth the fact that they handle so much better and do not have any vibrating of its cousin the mudlite bias. the reg. lites are a good tire and are like the the mudwiser by pierrle but they dont do any better or clean any better in the deep mud and they also ride hard and vibrate. if your looking for a solid mud tire i would say the itp 589's are still one of the best. now as for going to 28" tires i didnt my self beause w/ bigger tires you put that much more stress on the drive train. since i destroyed my front cv joint when i first got it w/ my 26" on i knew that even bigger tires w/ that much torch if something fects something is going to break. in my own 2 cents stay w/ the 27", but go w/ the lighter alum. rims. oh, and far as tough goes i have a huge dent in the back side of 1 w/ no air leak or bad effect.

 

I appreciate your time and opinions. It is hard for me to try new things, because my buddies with the modded quads don't have SP's. Good point about the exrta heavy steering!

 

Instigator, if it helps any, i owned a 05 Sportsman 800 for 11 months and i know how it worked like the back of my hand. when my PXT's wore out i got mudlites and they were fantastic. once again, their only fault was the softer quicker wearing rubber, which unfortunately for me with all the street driving i did, wore out really very quickly (my PXT's only lasted 700 miles)

with your point of not being able to try anything knew, ITP has been in the tire busines for a while and they are a well reputable company for ATV's. ITP also offers the 14" aluminum wheel.

goodluck with your buy

 

When I said, try something new, I meant something that me my buddies haven't tried yet! I really like the Zilla's, they are good on hard pack and pull great in the mud. I have a laptop in my service truck with internet, and I stared all day(about 4 hrs) at the Outlaw pic. They look like they would be descent on hard pack. The hard pack ride is important to me, as I have stated before, that is most of my riding. Except of course [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] when we come across a hole!

 

I agree with the idea of sticking with the 27's. Static weight loss in the amount you are anticipating will not result in a dynamic gain that overcomes the loss in ratio with a taller tire especially since you are already experiencing a bog due to the higher ratio. The weight loss with the same diameter tire should be better for your riding.

 

both guys i know with the zilla's say they will never buy them again, too rough on the trails. I have mud lites on both quads and love them. as for the power issue, have you done anything to the exhaust or intake on the 800? mine will catwalk in high gear, never have had problems in the skeg[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

 

Well, I really enjoy the Zilla's. Matter of preference, I ordered the 28X8 for thr front and 28X12 fore the rear with the Type 4 ITP's. If it is too much tire than I will do the H/C kit. I'll have to wait and see.

I've done no engine mods, except for the K&N, which I have yet to ride with it in!