I have a stock 2004 Scrambler 500 4x4. Does anyone know why they have two different tire sizes? he front is an inch taller than the rear. I would have thought this would mess up the 4x4. Second question I have a opp to buy wheels and tires off a 200 polaris sportsman 800. They are 26x8-12 fronts and 26x8-12 rear. Is the bolt pattern the same for both models and will running the same size in height 26", front and rear be an issue?

 

If I'm not mistaken the front and back wheels on the 800 have the same bolt pattern but the Scrambler has a different size on the back.

 

Thanks. Yes the scrambler actually only has 23" up front and 22" in the back. I wont be hard core wheeling so I am not worried about breaking axles. But I wanted to know if there is a reason the scrambler has 2 different sizes. Seems odd. But being factory it must be fine. If I went with bigger size and both the same would there be an issue?

 

The awd is set up to engage based on wheel spin and is set from the factory to the different sizes of the front/rear tires/rims. The scramblers are set up to be more of a sport quad thus the smaller, wider tires on the rear (just like racing quads). You can use any 12" rim up front with the standard Polaris 4/156 bolt pattern and must use 10" rim (I believe that's what they are) on the rear. When upgrading tires you can go up in size (height) but need to go up same amount front and rear. When I upgraded my daughter's 2010 500HO Scrambler I think I went up 2 or 3 inches front and rear without issues. She rides like a boss and has never broken an axle with the bigger tires (I've beat the snot out of it a few times too).

Hope this helps...

 

Yes it does help thanks. I will stick with 1" different tire size. But I am not sure I understand on the wheel size. Wheel diameter shouldnt matter just the overall tire height right?

 

I have the same assumption as well, as long as you are on the right tire height.

 

Wheel diameter shouldn't matter as long as the overall height doesn't change but the rear bolt pattern on the Scramblers isn't the same 4/156 pattern up front that you see on the rest of the Polaris lineup (if I remember correctly) so you wouldn't be able to buy a set of rims off, say, a Sportsman and mount the rears to your ride.

 

No the front is a 4/156 on the 2004 Scrambler. I assume the rear is the same.

 

I had a Trailblazer that used a lot of the same parts as a Scrambler and the rear lugs were a lot larger diameter than the front lugs. Even if the bolt pattern was the same you wouldn't be able to get the other size wheels on it.

 

Polaris had the 1 inch larger tire on the front until they came out with the Scrambler 850 a few years back. Now they have 14" rims with same diameter tires.