i have a 550xp and the tires a terrible, just picked it up in october and playing in the snow on christmas. The bike pushes very hard when turning and in a foot of snow should be way better then it is.

I dont want to be stuck all the time and be pulled out. thats imberassing.

What should a person be running for snow and mud, I dont want a bigger tire just better tread pattern.

 

I'm running Swamplites, they seem to do fairly well in deep snow as far as I can tell.

 

There are two choices for tires on a XP......

1. Any aftermarket tire seems to be too wide in the rear and will hit the sway bar using the stock wheels unless you have spacers.
2. Buy 14" aftermarket rims and tires that are available for the previous years sportsmans and Rzr's, and also get metric lugs. This will widen the Xp to roughly 52-53 inches.

I got an email from ITP, and there are no plans to make wheels specifically for the XP.

 

Well, I forgot the 3rd choice.......That is the new 25x10x14 Terracross tires from ITP. They will fit using the stock rims without spacers.

 

I think the Maxxis "Zilla's" in 26" might fit without spacers... not sure though. Also not sure how they would be in snow either. Should be better than the "Terriblethons"... and looks like they would be decent in mud.

I think going down a size in tires might cause some clutching issues just like going up a size... just a guess????

 

I want to keep the stock rims and dont want spacers, so maybe mudlites, or maxis bighornes from the polaris web site. what do you think.

 

4th choice remove the sway bar and run pretty much whatever you want on the back with stock wheels....

 

just wondering if thats my only options cause it seems like the rears are a big concern for clearence.

 

I'll say this with the experience I have in the snow. These tires along with bighorns are probably the best you will find.
Although anything with 10" wide rear tires and 800 lbs. will sink in any snow.

Rancher says he was in a 2 ft drift of "wet" snow. That will stop any atv and you will be high centered. Especially with narrow tires on a heavy machine.

smilenbob, the way you describe the tires weakness's, you should look into Mudbugs. Either 26's or 28's. Another may be Outlaw MST's. They both dig through the snow really good. Only problem is they are not available in 14's.
One good choice may be swamplites and go as big as possible. I have read that they are heavy, but they may be the best choice.

I'm going to try bighorns and see if this thing will float at all.

When we go to mud......I will totally agree with the "terriblethon" thing.

The 14's really limit us right now.

 

I just hope the "terriblethons" are better than the Dunlop's that came on my 2005 King Quad. They had to be the worse tires put on an ATV from the factory. I replaced them with some Bounty Hunter Radials, what a difference. Hope the factory tires on the XP work well with my riding style.