P500 5+2 vs 4+3 w/ 27s on p520

[Tall_Vol44]

As I await black Friday sales, I'm second guessing what wheels I'm going to get for my new to me 520.

Pretty much set on 27x9x12 Kenda BC HTRs all around. Have tossed the idea of 11" all around, but I'm a big dude and drive at elevation in Colorado most of the time. So I'm concerned the power would become an issue.

There's are 50" access trails here and I need to be able to get on them... That being said, all the width blocked entrances I think I could easily get by with 52", probably get by with 53", & MAYBE Squeeze by with 54-55" at the thinnest I have personally seen.

From what I read on here, wider is better when you go up in tire diameter. Was planning on getting 1" spacers for the back to make it look the same as the front.

That being said, do I want/need 4+3 or 5+2 wheels?

It's between STI for the 4+3 and ITP at 5+2 models, not sure if one of them is better than the other. Would like opinions or facts as to why one or the other is better or worse also.

Thanks for all the knowledge dropped in advance!

 

[Admin]

 

[The Green Goat]

IIRC, factory wheels are like 6+1, or something odd like that. 5+2 will get you to ~52"+, depending on how much you inflate those tire. 4+3 will be ~54". add 2" total if you add 1" spacers. If I were you and was worried about clearing width-restricting posts and wasn't worried about flopping (which is always a concern in a p5), I'd get the 5+2 and try them out, then add as much spacer as I could. That way, you have some wiggle room.

 

[trigger]

Yeah 5+2's and 1" spacers for the rear for an equal track width. It'll be all about how it feels in the seat from there.

 

[Splorin]

Don’t rule out 26’s to help compensate for the ‘elevation’ issue. The 11’s would protect the bead a little better but toss a little more crap. Maybe ride a tad smoother too…….

 

[trigger]

Don’t rule out 26’s to help compensate for the ‘elevation’ issue. The 11’s would protect the bead a little better but toss a little more crap. Maybe ride a tad smoother too…….

11's do soften the ride but feel a little spongy on the turns. Running them at a higher psi on the front helps. Depending on brand, actual diameter, operating psi... I agree, I thought 26's were a perfect fit with stock A arms.

 

[Tall_Vol44]

11's do soften the ride but feel a little spongy on the turns. Running them at a higher psi on the front helps. Depending on brand, actual diameter, operating psi... I agree, I thought 26's were a perfect fit with stock A arms.

Do I need to worry about rubbing with 11s?
And what about 27x11?
Looking at the Kenda website, the weights are the same for 26x9 vs 27x9, as well as 26x11 vs 27x11.
So, in my mind, I want the biggest tire I can get for the same weight. I think I hit 30 mph once, & I had to try really hard on the trail system I spent a week on recently. I do have Elka stage ones ordered also if that makes a difference.

 

[The Green Goat]

Do I need to worry about rubbing with 11s?
And what about 27x11?

Depends on how they actually measure and how they're profiled (squared off vs. rounded).

I run 27x10 K9 supergrips that measure almost exactly that, but are a very square tire and they rub hard. With no 1.5" wheel spacers on the front, mine rubbed the inner well. With a 1.5" spacer, they rub on the posterior well. The 520 has an additional stick guard on the posterior wheel well that takes up some additional space as well, so there's that.

 

[trigger]

Do I need to worry about rubbing with 11s?
And what about 27x11?
Looking at the Kenda website, the weights are the same for 26x9 vs 27x9, as well as 26x11 vs 27x11.
So, in my mind, I want the biggest tire I can get for the same weight. I think I hit 30 mph once, & I had to try really hard on the trail system I spent a week on recently. I do have Elka stage ones ordered also if that makes a difference.

If you go too wide you can rub. I had 26x11 BH 2.0's on 5+2's and it was fine. Those were 26.5" actual. Threw 1" spacers on the front and it rubbed hard. I wouldn't worry about weight a whole lot, the P5's have low enough gearing to turn just about anything.

 

[Tall_Vol44]

QUOTE="The Green Goat, post: 1902020, member: 26326"]
27x10 K9 supergrips that measure almost exactly that, but are a very square tire and they rub hard
[/QUOTE]
Do you have any extra offset from your wheels? I think the HTRs have a pretty square profile. The 11s look best (to me), judging by all the pics I've seen. That being said, I'm a function over form person usually.
I'm thinking 11s and 5+2 on the front are also gonna put me out to 54" which as mentioned, might be an issue.