My bike has the factory 12 inch steel wheels on it now, along with the 26 PXT tires, however, I am planning to go to a 26 or 27 inch 589s. With this being said, I am wondering if aluminum wheels are lighter than the stock steel wheels? Does anyone have experience with this?

 

Steel is stronger, aluminum is lighter. Although steel is stronger you wont find much but the most extreme conditions can affect aluminum anyway. If you plan to ride on big rocks i would go with steel just in case, but other wise aluminum is the better choice

 

No rocks, and not worried about damaging them. My main question is, is there a major weight difference in steel and aluminum wheels for atvs? I mean how noticable is the weight diff. from one to the other?

 

alum. maybe be 2 or3 lbs. lighter then steel

 

 

Did a little research myself tonight. Here's what I found.....

26/11/12 (stock PXT tires) weight= 28.4 lbs
26/12/12 (589's tires ) weight = 32.0 lbs
27/12/12 (mudlite) weight = 27.8 lbs

It seems i can move to a size taller and a size wider and still come out with a tire lighter than my stockers. Now, how do the mudlites do in the mud and trails?

 

2 weeks ago I bought 26" SwampFoxes and put them on my factory stock black rims. I battled with buying aftermarket black alum. rims for 1 year. I finally threw out that idea and went w/my factory rims. I figured a couple hundered dollars wasnt worth 20 lbs. I wanted black because I hunt w/my quad and the alum rims would show more when I park it in a bush or tree than black ones, even though the ITP type 7 rims are awesome!

 

The mudlites work great in mud and trails. If you get them get the Mudlite with the deep lugs. The only thing about mudlites is they wear quick if you ride on rodes or gravel. Where I am I ride alot of roads to get to trails and they do not wear very good. But they work great in the mud.

 

okidude,

I agree with you on the alum. rim price thing. I too like the black, but I am not concerned with a few extra pounds on the rims, so I'll be sticking with my stock rims. I am just contemplating the tires now. Anyone know how the mudlites wear in relation to the stock PXT tires that come on the 05's? The PXT seem soft to me, but I have no experience with the mudlites.

 

A friend of mine has 28" mudlite XLs. Great for mud ,according to him trail riding is kinda rough .
The mudlite XTR radials look like they would be better suited for trail riding as well as mud.
http://www.tiresnstuff.com/atvBigfootKits-mudLite.html