I am planning to try slightly larger then OEM tires on the Z400 using the OEM rim for improved trail ride. Before I make the unexperienced plunge, anyone out there already tried larger tires on their Z400 like 23X7X10 fronts & 22x11x10 rears?

 

What is your problem with the stock size?

 

I want a bit more clearance as my ride area is pumpkin patch and turtle head rocky trails, also clearance to add a 44 tooth sprocket, and a better ride as even 1 inch larger diameter makes a big difference on the trail then using the smaller tires primarily designed for track

 

If you go 1 inch bigger tires, you're actually only getting 1/2 inch more clearance. Why don't you just tighten up your shocks? It's cheaper! If you do go with a bigger tire, your gonna get more bounce. Then you'll have to add tire pressure to compensate for the bigger tire which only takes away the steering because you'll have under steer. If you reall want a bigger tire, your best bet is to go w/ a bigger wheel too. But for now, try adjusting your shocks all the way up (stiff)

 

quadzilla, stiffening the shocks wont give him more clearance under the axle, it seems obvious to me that he is getting hung up a lot in ruts

 

Yup thats it, I do twang the turtle heads and my Armadillo swing guard is already heavily dinged. Im not complaining, just want I tiny bit more clearance between the axle and the ground. If the tire is an inch taller, even though it sags, the sag should be relative to the OEM tire sag, so 1 inch should still be realized and I hope make a difference. An inch in the front should help rock roll over ability. But before I plung maybe someone else has tried it with success or failure

 

Its gonna forsure hurt your stability through off cambers and fast corners. As well as the heavyer tires take away some power. You can only do so much with gearing.

 

A guy I ride with put 22" on the rear of his z400, and left the front stock size..... he gained a very slight advantage in ground clearance, but he did not like the handling.

I would think going up in front size would REALLY affect handling, if the rears did.....

To be honest, if that is where you ride all the time, and cannot either groom the trails of work in an alternate line, I might look into something with IRS. You're are not going to get enough ground clearance on a SRA machine to ride somewhere that is killing a metal swing arm guard. No solid axle machine is going to give you a lot of rear ground clearance....... If you ride in a place where a lot of big 4x4 utility quads are ripping up the trails, it is hard for a sport machine to keep up if there is no alternate line. I ride a few trails like that, but there is almost always a way to walk on top of the humps to get by..... it's sketchy and easy to make a mistake, but it is possible to break those trails so that each pass is easier.....

Of course ultimately you might have to try the bigger tires to satisfy your own curiosity. There is a chance that your riding style and/or skills level is such that you can compensate for the handling changes. If a 1/2 inch of extra clearance is really worth it to you, try it. It might not work for anyone else, but it might work for you...

Also note this.... if you are on the same trails all the time, they will continue to wear down, and the 1/2 inch of clearance that is there this month, will be diminished next month.... and so on.... the extra traction you are getting will eventually tear the ground back down to the same point in comparison it is now..... just something to think about...

 

OK thanks for everyones in put. From the point of tried first hand experience it looks like I will have to be the test platform. I'm predominantly a dirt bike rider (CRF450x) and although I no longer do much berming and roostering around the trails I do like to clip along and crawl some lumpy steep areas in a light weight and nimble manor. No slow 600 pound 4x4 kidney bursting utility tank quads for me thanks. I just am looking for 2 inch more clearance on the axles not the frame. If a camber adjustment is needed I should be able to fix that. Anyway I will use the OEM rims and install Maxxis All Trak 22x11x10 on the rear which will give me 2 inch more clearance on the rear axle.

And ITP Holeshot XCT 23x7x10 on the fronts giving me 1 inch more clearance but most importantly to counter the rise in the rears.


I will post the results.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: CWO4GUNNER

OK thanks for everyones in put. From the point of tried first hand experience it looks like I will have to be the test platform. I'm predominantly a dirt bike rider (CRF450x) and although I no longer do much berming and roostering around the trails I do like to clip along and crawl some lumpy steep areas in a light weight and nimble manor. No slow 600 pound 4x4 kidney bursting utility tank quads for me thanks. I just am looking for 2 inch more clearance on the axles not the frame. If a camber adjustment is needed I should be able to fix that. Anyway I will use the OEM rims and install Maxxis All Trak 22x11x10 on the rear which will give me 2 inch more clearance on the rear axle.

And ITP Holeshot XCT 23x7x10 on the fronts giving me 1 inch more clearance but most importantly to counter the rise in the rears.

I will post the results.</end quote></div>


You only gain 1" clearance in the rear and 0.5" clearance in the front unless your old tires were 19" rear and 21" fronts