I've posted here before about getting new tires for my 2004 SP700, and it's looking like the Bighorns are going to be my choice. They're not the lightest but reliability in the mountains is way higher on my list than off-the-line or top speed performance, and I've never heard anybody fault the Bighorns for toughness, traction, or reliability.

Unfortunately, Maxxis doesn't make the Bighorns in my precise tire sizes. My SP700 has 25x8/12 fronts and 25x11/12 rears. Bighorns tend to run large for the stated diameter so I don't dare go above their 25 inch diameter tires. In 25's they have my front size but the only rear size is 10 inches across, not 11 (25x10/12). Given that their diameter runs a bit large, it's possible that their width does too and they may be the same width as my existing tires. But will going narrower on the rear yield any problems? These are 6 ply tires so their sidewalls are certainly strong, but if I load up the rear rack or towing hitch I might have some weight back there.

1) Has anyone measured the width of an 11 inch wide Bighorn? What is its REAL width?

2) Will there be any problems going ~10% narrower on my rear tires?

Thanks!

 

go w/ a 12" wide instead. narrow tires are going to be less stable but it wouldnt hurt anything.

 

The Bighorns don't come in a 25x12 size. To go wider than 10 inches I have to go up to 26 inch diameter, which given their "larger than advertised" sizing sounds risky.

 

I wouldn't be worried about running a 26" tire on a 700. I have 27s on my 500 and I'm lookin at getting 28s

 

But would you run 27 (Bighorn 26's actually measure 27) inch tires that are ALSO an inch wider?

 

If I could make it fit in my truck I'd be running 12" wide tires front and rear LOL Seriously I think an inch wider in the rear would be ok. Maybe measure the side clearance between the tire and anti-sway bar and see how much room you have.

 

the only thing about the tire size to worry about is whether they willrub up front or not. 1" taller or wider in back doesnt matter and the 06's stock have 26" tires already.

 

I just put a set of bighorns on a rubicon at work. 25x8x12s and 25x10x12s. I'll try to measure them up and get back with you tomorow. By the way, what tires do you have now? Carlisle badlands or goodyear rawhides? I'll measure vs those as we have sportsmans in the shop with both.

 

Mine came with the Goodyear Rawhides.

It would be AWESOME if you could a side-by-side measurement comparison. Seriously, thank you in advance for doing that. I'm really concerned about mail ordering the wrong size of tire and being "stuck" with it.