Yep, I agree and will add a disclaimer... I'm not "recommending" this, just passing it along for those who might want to try it under reasonable conditions. I know it sure helped my stock 489's from the previous ride under similar conditions. The only time I need to go low on the pressure is in snow. The mountain we ride is pretty steep getting to the top, and the road is packed down snow during the hunting season. When I get my new wheels and Horns, it probably won't be as critical.

Even the one who passed the info to me said that with the heavier Polaris quads, you want to be careful how low you go.

 

Yeah,it can make the handling not so great,but as long as you are aware of that no big deal. Biggest concern I would have would be unseating a bead in the middle of nowhere. Could be real fun to re-seat on the machine,if not impossible. Especially without a high volume air compressor.
That's when you'd appreciate a set of beadlock wheels.

 

There are a lot of variables to driving in snow such as the type of snow itself. Some snow is very dry and light which is very easy to drive in, on the ohher hand there is the heavy wet snow that compacts very easily and is alot more difficult to drive in. Then there is the deep snow that is melting rapidly and turning to slush, it will throw you around all over the road or trail you are on causing a severe lack of control.
You have to keep all of these diferent conditions in mind when adjusting the tire air pressure!
Example; you don't want to "float" over slush with under inflated tires!
Drive safe![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Whoops... already responded to this one. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Mongrol

Wide tires would work as well as wide tracks if they had the same floatation area on the snow. </end quote></div>

Isn't this why lowering the pressure helps? Of course, nothing would beat the tracks.

 

Went for a ride in 3 inches of fresh dry snow on frozen ground. The traction is terrible, but gives huge power slides.

I think they will do better in wetter snow. I went down to 2 psi and nothing changed. It really has too much power for these tires. They are light, short, narrow, and no bars on the tread.

I have to disagree somewhat with rancher.....I would want lower psi and a flatter tire on wet snow, only if it is deep. It's easy to float on wet snow, but also easy to high center. For fast paced groomed snowy trails, these tires won't cut it. Bighorns or similar are needed. Something with a bar type tread and a flatter profile. I saw a picture of an XP with bighorns and I really liked how the 26x11x14's had a nice flat profile on the tread. Maybe had some to do with the 8" wide wheels on the rear, but these AT tires like Terra Cross's, bighorns, and some of the GBC tires have nice tread for snow.

I'll see how these do in deeper snow, unless I find a wheel I like. Then I will be swapping them out.

 

Yea, I had a closer look at the Terriblethons [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] that come on the XP's. Pretty lousy tread pattern for any situation if you ask me. I would prefer my stock 489's to those tires... and the 489's really suck in snow. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

I also agree on the power thing. Throttle control seems to be important when driving in slippery conditions, and with all the low end grunt that the 850 seems to have, it's probably harder to control... I guess?

 

nice new word DCT lol

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Roofer

Went for a ride in 3 inches of fresh dry snow on frozen ground. The traction is terrible, but gives huge power slides.



I think they will do better in wetter snow. I went down to 2 psi and nothing changed. It really has too much power for these tires. They are light, short, narrow, and no bars on the tread.



I have to disagree somewhat with rancher.....I would want lower psi and a flatter tire on wet snow, only if it is deep. It's easy to float on wet snow, but also easy to high center. For fast paced groomed snowy trails, these tires won't cut it. Bighorns or similar are needed. Something with a bar type tread and a flatter profile. I saw a picture of an XP with bighorns and I really liked how the 26x11x14's had a nice flat profile on the tread. Maybe had some to do with the 8" wide wheels on the rear, but these AT tires like Terra Cross's, bighorns, and some of the GBC tires have nice tread for snow.



I'll see how these do in deeper snow, unless I find a wheel I like. Then I will be swapping them out.</end quote></div>


Deep wet snow, yes lowering psi is ok, but three or four in. of SLUSH is a whole different thing ( This usually only happens in the spring. Snow that is so wet that it is translusent.)[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: rancher55

Deep wet snow, yes lowering psi is ok, but three or four in. of SLUSH is a whole different thing ( This usually only happens in the spring. Snow that is so wet that it is translusent.)[IMG][/IMG]</end quote></div>


Yep..alot like mud..lowering pressure doesn't do much in that situation.


<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DCT

Terriblethons

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>

You heard it here first folks,lol
DCT I think you just coined a new term.
Very Nice! I think it just might stick.