Hey All,
Just looking to put some new tires on the new Bear. The stock ones are only marginal in the rough stuff and not very puncture proof! I would like to put bigger tires on it as well as a more agressive tread. I ride in some deep mud from time to time (sometimes up to and over the headlights! Yes I have a winch!), but I also ride trails and hunt and ice fish with the quad also. I was thinking of some Blackwaters or XT's maybe Mudbugs,589's or Bear Claws. I am looking for a good all around tire that will also perform well in the mud. What size tires will fit on an 00 Big Bear 400 without a lift kit, and without boging it down to much? I dont want to go wider, maybe 9's or 10's wide max, but higher for more groung clearance. I am thinking about 26's or 27's x 9 x 12 all around. Does anyone have any info ?????
Thanks........Herbie

 

I wouldn't go any higher than 26's, because you will be giving up to much low end power. If it were me, I would stay with 25's. Just get a good thread design.

 

Someone please educate me on tire size. I have a Kodiak with stock tires 25x8-12 (front) 25x10-12 (rear). If I wanted to go to a 26" tire, would I need to change out my rims?

 

No, you wouldn't have to change your rims. The 25 is how tall they are. If you move to 26 and stay with the same with you won't have to change your rims. The reasons why a lot of people get different rims are: lighter weight, wider (wider the tire, the more rubber on the ground), and look nicer.

 

Thanks for the info. I thought that might be the case (same as a vehicle), but just wasn't sure about an atv. So, if I'm reading this correctly, on a 25x8-12 would be 25" high, 8" wide and 12" is the size of the rim?

 

i have a 98 big bear with 26x12x12 it turns them pretty good and you have a 400 it should pull even better, and they will allow for better floatation. ( ride hard)

 

oh yeah i forgot about the lift kit mine has one but it didnt when i first bought it and it didnt bother the tires at all