A friend of mine was wanting to buy my Rancher take-off tires 24/8X12 fronts and 24/10X11 rears with wheels. Today he came by and said the dealer said not to use them because the 300 came with a size smaller on the front and being it is full time 4X4 they won't work. First time I have heard of a 4X4 using 2 different size tires. Told him about the 424 conversion......but can't figure out why Honda would of put two different size tires on a 4X4 in the first place.

Can he run the same size tires on that machine anyway without any problems?

I know if he would install the 424, it would not make any difference, cause the only time you would be using the 4X4 would be when the front was spining. What about dry conditions?
Thanks

 

Maybe I need to re-word this a little.

My neighbor has a Fourtrax 300 (1990-92) which has 24" tires on rear and 23" on front. He was interested in buying my 420 rancher 24" tires I took off (wheels and tires). Several people have told him it would be OK to do however his dealer says not too, that Honda built in the difference in tire size in the gear box. What are your alls thoughts and could there be any problems with running the 23's all around?
Thanks

 

This is a little known fact.....

Yes, tires have to be 1" smaller in front than back on the old 300. The reason is to make the effective gearing a little higher in back than it is in front, so that the steering won't be to heavy (back pushes a little more than the front pulls).

In later models like my Ranchers, they did the same thing by simply putting a little higher gear ratio in back than in front (check out the final drive ratios in your owner's manuals!).

 

Thanks Reconranger

That is what I pretty much figured was the case. However, would there be any ill effects to running the same size tire front to rear other than the harder than already hard steering of the full time 4X4, otherwise is there any harm to be caused by the same size tires?

Also if he installed the 424, can he now get by with running same size tires?
Thanks again

 

I wouldn't stick one of my friend's with crappy steering, just because I wanted to unload a set of tires so I could make a buck!

On the other hand, if he knows exactly what he is getting into and foolishly wants to do it anyway, then it's on him.....

 

Recommend for him to install the 424, its a fantastic upgrade anyway and you will be doing him a favour. if he installs the 424, he will only be using 4wd in slippery conditions where you will hardly notice the difference in steering as mentioned by reconranger.

He'll probably spend just as much for new tires alone as he would on a 424 and getting a smoking deal from you for your tires.

 

action450s

My thoughts exactly!

Thanks