I did not have then on over the winter. As far as hill climbs...it would climb anything I put in front of it. They do bit big time, sometimes it was hard to keep the front end down on hills. When we went to Hatfield & McCoys this spring they did well. I went up everything I wanted too. My buddy went up some hills on my Scrambler that I would not try. I have my limits.....he don't. He has no fear. I have a wife and 2 kids I have some fear.