Hi All,

I have a 2002 Polaris Sportsman 500 HO in need of new rubber. After a bit of investigating it appears "ITP MudLite AT " tires may be the way to go. Unless someone has a better suggestion??

My main question is if I go with the Mudlite's and my factory tire sizes are: front - 25 - 8 - 12 / Rear - 25 - 11 -10 I see on the forums that many people go with a larger size...such as 26 inch series. Is this something you recommend?? I'm not Mr. Goodwrench and I don't want to have to start upgrading any hardware (axels, spindles, etc) on the quad to accomodate the larger size, nor do i want jeopardize performance or do anything that would deplete the life of the quad because i went with larger tires. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Does anybody have suggestions?? Should I stick with the factory sizes or go to the next size? And if so, exactly what size? I only see that people went from 25 to 26 inch...but didn't publish the exact tire size to request.
Also if i go to the next size do i need to get larger rims??? I was hoping not to have to do that.

As far as i know the 26 in tire is exactly the same size as the 25 with the extra lug, and that may be why people do upgrade to the 26

Yo could move up to a 26 with no upgrades and a very minimal power lost. The 05 and 06 models come standard with 26, however, they did gear it down a touch. I have several buddies with older sp400 and 500 that have 26 and 27 that run fine with no upgrades. Of course it's going to cut your topspend back a tad, but the benefits in the mud are worth it! The sp500 is a very powerful engine. It'll turn those 26's over like a fat kid rolling down a hill.

Thanks PPope....If I go with 26" do I need new rims and if not what size 26" do i go for....seems there are a 100 different tire sizes.

Since my originals are: front - 25 - 8 - 12 / Rear - 25 - 11 -10

Do I simply buy: 26 - 8 - 12 and 26 - 11 -10, just increase the first number? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

No, most atv tire manufactures make tires for 12" rims as they are the most popular size.

Sorry left out some,

some tires do not come in all sizes so find a brand first.
then for the front look for 26x8x12 - 26x10x12
Then for the rear look for 26x11x12-26x12x12

Any of these will fit fine...

What type of riding do you plan to do? I can help you decide what you need, if you want?

The third number is the rim size, you can put a slightly wider tire on a stock rim without any trouble

Exactly, you can go wider or taller, as long as you keep the third number (rim size) 12. I would'nt go over a 27" though. 28's and 29's really kill the 500 on performance. Again let me know what type of riding you do.

Thanks again... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Primarily i do riding on a railroad bed, dirt trails, some gravel, streams...mud when it rains, mostly : ) and snow...when it snows [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

My quad originally came with Goodyear P-Trackers...truthfully i never had much of a problem with them getting me around..only got stuck a couple of times...but their only 2 ply...in one tire i have like 4 plugs and another 2.
So I looked at forums and on-line feedback and "ITP MudLites AT" (and no i dont work for itp) seem to get a good response from people...so i thought id go with those, expecially since their 6 ply.

Mudlites are a great universal tire, however, are made of a very soft rubber compound which makes them wear quickly on hard surfaces. However, they are again a great all around tire and very lite, hence the name. If you like the mudlite, there is an exact replica of that tire that is made with a harder rubber compound that makes it last longer and it suprisingly doesn't weigh much more. They're caller Super Grip SuperLite. Look at them here......

http://www.moderntire.com/supergrip-index.html

You can get a set of 26" shipped to your door for $240


I would also reccommend you take a look at the Outlaw MST tires....

http://www.highlifter.com/store/outlawmst.html

or do a google search for outlaw mst