I am in the process of buying a set of douglas wheels for my scrambler 500. My question is about the wheel spacing. My stock front wheels are 10" with 3.7 + 2.2 spacing. I'm looking at a set of douglas wheels that are 10" with 3.0 + 2.0 spacing. How will this spacing change my total width of my atv? Will it be narrower or wider? I will be keeping the stock tire size of 23x7x10 on the front.

Also the same applies to the rear. My stock wheels are 10" with 3.0 + 5.5 spacing. I'm looking at a set of douglas wheels that are 10" with 3.0 + 6.0 spacing. How will this affect my total rear width of my atv while using the same size tire on the rear of 22x11x10?

Thanks for any help anyone can give as I don't understand wheel spacing.

 

Hi there!

Welcome to the forum!!!

I'm not too sure of the spec of Douglas wheels, but maybe this will give you some insight to "spacing"...

There are three ways of "spacing" your wheels. In order of potential cash outlay...

Firstly, you can buy a spacer from dealers that would bolt on to the hub, then the wheel would be fastened onto said spacer. You would buy these in pairs of various widths, either as a set for front or rear. Aluminium or Glass Re-inforced Polymer, GRP is +- 35% lighter than the Ally. Stronger too.

Secondly, you could look at replacing your rims with ones that have a greater off-set. This would mean that the plate onto which the hub is fastened, is not in the centre of the rim. To get an idea of what i mean. have a look at your front rim, the centre-piece is off-set so that the braking system is inside the rim. Try flipping the rim and bolting back onto the hub. Get the idea? DON'T ride like this, the valve will foul on the brakes. From what I understand, this is what you're looking at buying. Ask the supplier for better detail, find a dealer near to you that can demonstrate various options.

Thirdly, by replacing your front suspention A-arms and rear axle with extended ones.

There are pro's & con's to any conversion...

Warrantee could be voided.
Increasing front track width ( by means of off-set rims or spacers) will increase turning circle. This due to the pivot point of steering and centre line of rim being shifted apart.
Will bike still fit onto your trailer once spaced?
Increasing the front track width will make the front suspension softer by virtue of altered geometry.
Bike will be good for straight-line stability and looks.

If you do trail riding, think twice...

Look around and chat to other people with these kits on, it'll cost you nothing.

Regards from a beautiful & sunny South Africa!!

Benjamin.

 

Ok I think I understand the spacing situation after reading up on it last night on the net. So since my stock rear wheels are a 10"x8.5" wheel with 3.0 + 5.5 spacing and I went to a douglas 10"x9" wheel with 3.0 + 6.0 spacing then the 4wheeler would be 1/2" wider per side in the rear. So 1" total increase in rear track width. Ok would that be a good thing to have the rear an inch wider than stock? How would that affect the driving of the quad? I just took a measurement of the width of the scrambler with stock wheels and tires on it. Front measured 44" wide and the rear measured 45" wide. So the rear is already 1" wider than the front from the factory. Would it be bad to have it 2" wider in the rear?

 

Alot depends on how the quad is used. On the track or on the sand, an increase in width is better, and more stable. If you do mostly woods riding, then wider is a negative. Its harder to get the back end to slide out, and it tends to cause understeer, also it puts you on a different track...which when going thru mud is good, but when trying to fit between rocks or trees isnt.

 

I went ahead and ordered the 10x9 with 3.0 + 6.0 spacing. Which in turn is 1/2" wider per side than stock. I figured I wouldn't mind having the track width a little closer to the race quads that I ride with. And I might make some spacers for the front to make the quad the same width on the front as the rear. I already get covered in mud from the lack of fender coverage on the front so I really won't be making it any worse.