I realize big tires hurt reliability on all machines to some extent but was wondering how big you can go without hurting reliability too much, and I am talking in the 1000's of miles. Do not want axle driveline trouble in the future.

 

It is tough to know... trail vs. Mud tire ? a larger trail tire will not have the excess vibration and weight of a mud tire. Every brand has a different definition of 26 inches tall or 12 inches wide~! It also has to do with weight... some 27's weigh less then some 25's...
I think the best way to go with tires is figure out what sort of driving your going to be doing... and pick the one that handles 90% of your situations well... if you drive on tires made for 10% of your driving, you will likely be upset at the downsides of that choice. Increased wear on drive components and vibration on hard pack, no traction on solid ice, power loss... and leaving deep ruts are the downsides of a large mud tire. Plus side... means that you get to throw pancake size chunks of mud at your buddies at the hole! And the tires won't slick over in clay or gumbo as easily. I've known a lot of guys who bought mud tires and quickly sold them.
I have 589's.. but I just moved from the badlands and river bottoms(clay, gumbo and sand) to the mountains(snow,creeks and boulders)... in the mountains on boulders and wet rocks mud tires stink... so with my relocation...I might switch tires to fit the terrain I ride in! It just depends on where you drive! The tires will do more harm then good if they don't fit your driving habits.

 

It will be all swamp, and mud the popular tires around here are Mud Bug, Executioner, Mud Lite. Mostly slow speed mud slogging. But have seen Axle problems on some brands with 27" just wondering if one could expect any problems with 27" executioners in close to abuse situations.

 

I think the KQ axles are quite stout, no real reports of many breaking. I think I've only heard of 1 in the whole year. So I would't hesitate to put 27's on...not for the conditions you mentioned, 28's and up... you got to pay to play with those big boys. I've heard the bugs might be a great choice in the list of tires you mentioned... they are light and are really well liked by everyone I know that has had them. You should do well with those. I like the looks of the executioners...but don't know a soul that has ever used them...so can't help you there.

 

I have a few hundred miles on my 26" 589's. They are quite heavier than the stock rims/tires- but thats OK, it feels really awesome now. I've had zero trouble so far....

 

You're soon going to have a choice, they're bringing out a 700 EFI Cat, has the KQ motor, big GC, and 4.0:1 gearing, you'll turn any tire out there with it.

 

hi all i have 14" w/27" xtr's and i have put 1679 miles on these and the are awsome...i ride every weekend and snow, rocks, sand,and lots of mud....

 

A friend of mine has a KQ and is considering XTRs. He has some pretty long stretches of pavement that he rides and while he would like something a bit more aggressive than the ATRs he runs now he is concerned about how well they do on pavement and on gravel as far as that goes.

Anyone here with XTRs have any experience with them on pavement/hard surface/high speeds and on gravel?