P500 New tires/wheels/Shocks

[NorthernGuy]

Thinking of buying 26-9-12 front, 26-11-12 rear Mudlite XTR's mounted on ITP alloys. Does anyone have any info on this tire combo? Believe this will add 1inch to width but no issue there. Also curious if anyone has had shock replacement done, I understand this will lower clearance by one inch but this should be offset by the large tire size. was considering not have shocks replaced but not sure is that would be wis? Apprecizte any comments

 

[Admin]

 

[JACKAL]

@NorthernGuy Welcome to the club!

The overall width will be determined by the wheel offset you select. On the rear if you select a 5+2 offset and run the 11" wide tire it will be same as OEM width, if you use the generally standard 4+3 offset you will be 2" wider than OEM in the rear, if you use the 4+3 offset on the front you may be 3" wider than OEM as it is close to a 5+1 offset on the OEM front wheel that is only 6" wide.

The tires will be fine, I run 26x9x12 on all 4 corners no issues at all. I don't know anything about the adjustable shocks that are offered on the sticker recall, one or two have posted they like them and didn't lose much clearance.

 

[NorthernGuy]

@NorthernGuy Welcome to the club!

The overall width will be determined by the wheel offset you select. On the rear if you select a 5+2 offset and run the 11" wide tire it will be same as OEM width, if you use the generally standard 4+3 offset you will be 2" wider than OEM in the rear, if you use the 4+3 offset on the front you may be 3" wider than OEM as it is close to a 5+1 offset on the OEM front wheel that is only 6" wide.

The tires will be fine, I run 26x9x12 on all 4 corners no issues at all. I don't know anything about the adjustable shocks that are offered on the sticker recall, one or two have posted they like them and didn't lose much clearance.

Thanks for the reply and the welcome. I will check the offset before ordering.
Along the same line, any preference re radial or bias ply tires?

 

[JACKAL]

Thanks for the reply and the welcome. I will check the offset before ordering.
Along the same line, any preference re radial or bias ply tires?

10 different people will give you 12 different tire opinions. Personally I prefer 8 ply radials for durability and puncture resistance.

 

[SBuckJ]

@NorthernGuy Welcome to the club!

The overall width will be determined by the wheel offset you select. On the rear if you select a 5+2 offset and run the 11" wide tire it will be same as OEM width, if you use the generally standard 4+3 offset you will be 2" wider than OEM in the rear, if you use the 4+3 offset on the front you may be 3" wider than OEM as it is close to a 5+1 offset on the OEM front wheel that is only 6" wide.

The tires will be fine, I run 26x9x12 on all 4 corners no issues at all. I don't know anything about the adjustable shocks that are offered on the sticker recall, one or two have posted they like them and didn't lose much clearance.

Not sure I agree with ya Jackal...I have the 5+2 offset with 11" tires and I am at 53" total width. Aren't the stock rims 5+1? With the stock tires being 10" wide and the rims being 1" less offset the 5+2 rims and 11" tire will make you 3" wider

 

[JACKAL]

10 different people will give you 12 different tire opinions. Personally I prefer 8 ply radials for puncture resistance.

Not sure I agree with ya Jackal...I have the 5+2 offset with 11" tires and I am at 53" total width. Aren't the stock rims 5+1? With the stock tires being 10" wide and the rims being 1" less offset the 5+2 rims and 11" tire will make you 3" wider

With rubber your mileage may vary an inch or so.

 

[rocmar]

@NorthernGuy Welcome to the club!

The overall width will be determined by the wheel offset you select. On the rear if you select a 5+2 offset and run the 11" wide tire it will be same as OEM width, if you use the generally standard 4+3 offset you will be 2" wider than OEM in the rear, if you use the 4+3 offset on the front you may be 3" wider than OEM as it is close to a 5+1 offset on the OEM front wheel that is only 6" wide.

The tires will be fine, I run 26x9x12 on all 4 corners no issues at all. I don't know anything about the adjustable shocks that are offered on the sticker recall, one or two have posted they like them and didn't lose much clearance.

Excellent advice....
Jackal

 

[rocmar]

Thinking of buying 26-9-12 front, 26-11-12 rear Mudlite XTR's mounted on ITP alloys. Does anyone have any info on this tire combo? Believe this will add 1inch to width but no issue there. Also curious if anyone has had shock replacement done, I understand this will lower clearance by one inch but this should be offset by the large tire size. was considering not have shocks replaced but not sure is that would be wis? Apprecizte any comments

The reviews I've seen on the replacement
shocks...aren't worth it.
but also a 26" tire ...ain't 26"
With 8 psi.either

 

[rocmar]

Thinking of buying 26-9-12 front, 26-11-12 rear Mudlite XTR's mounted on ITP alloys. Does anyone have any info on this tire combo? Believe this will add 1inch to width but no issue there. Also curious if anyone has had shock replacement done, I understand this will lower clearance by one inch but this should be offset by the large tire size. was considering not have shocks replaced but not sure is that would be wis? Apprecizte any comments

I would go same size tire
on all corners

 

[JACKAL]

Not sure I agree with ya Jackal...I have the 5+2 offset with 11" tires and I am at 53" total width. Aren't the stock rims 5+1? With the stock tires being 10" wide and the rims being 1" less offset the 5+2 rims and 11" tire will make you 3" wider

@SBuckJ after re-reading your post I can see why you disagree, I am referring to 9" wide tires on all four corners and you mention 10" & 11" wide tires, of course two 10" or 11" wide tires will measure wider than two 9" wide tires on identical wheels mounted on the machine. The 10" would be 1" wider overall and the 11" would be 2" wider overall (machine width at the tire sidewall) compared to the 9" wide tires I am commenting about. So I agree apples and oranges are a different fruit.

 

[NorthernGuy]

Thinking of buying 26-9-12 front, 26-11-12 rear Mudlite XTR's mounted on ITP alloys. Does anyone have any info on this tire combo? Believe this will add 1inch to width but no issue there. Also curious if anyone has had shock replacement done, I understand this will lower clearance by one inch but this should be offset by the large tire size. was considering not have shocks replaced but not sure is that would be wis? Apprecizte any comments

 

[NorthernGuy]

Okay--so ended up buying Bighorn 2.0 radials,26"/ 9" front and 26/11" rears, mounted on ITP Alloys with 5+2 offset. Also had the new shocks mounted at the same time. By the way, the new shocks have pre-load adjustment at all 4 corners.
Measured the height with the bike on the trailer from bottom of frame and shows 9.75" stock and 10" after shocks and tires. Stock measurement from outside of tirewalls, stock 48 5/8 front, now 53 1/2, rear stock 48 7/8, now 54 1/2.
Like the ride, tracks straight at higher speeds on gravel road, will have to wait till hunting season to see how they perform in swampy rocky etc. terrain.
Will try to figure out how to post pics. Thanks for all the advise, hope this helps.

 

[joeymt33]

Okay--so ended up buying Bighorn 2.0 radials,26"/ 9" front and 26/11" rears, mounted on ITP Alloys with 5+2 offset. Also had the new shocks mounted at the same time. By the way, the new shocks have pre-load adjustment at all 4 corners.
Measured the height with the bike on the trailer from bottom of frame and shows 9.75" stock and 10" after shocks and tires. Stock measurement from outside of tirewalls, stock 48 5/8 front, now 53 1/2, rear stock 48 7/8, now 54 1/2.
Like the ride, tracks straight at higher speeds on gravel road, will have to wait till hunting season to see how they perform in swampy rocky etc. terrain.
Will try to figure out how to post pics. Thanks for all the advise, hope this helps.

That's interesting measurements. You gained only a quarter of an inch after going up two inches in tire size? Maybe those shock are quite a bit lower.

Sorry if I missed part of an earlier conversation.

 

[NorthernGuy]

The recall letter from Honda re shocks advised that the replacement suspension would lower the ground clearance from 9.6 inches to 8.5 inches. Going from 24" tires to 26" tires would increase ground clearance by approximately 1"

 

[pFive]

I did not know there was a shock recall? I am unsure if I would want to reduce the ground clearance, but if they allow the suspension to work it might be worth looking into.

 

[NorthernGuy]

I gather the recall was issued to certain 2015 500's. I suspect that if your front shocks have preload adjustment that you have the latest shock/spring combo? Best to check with your dealer.