new x4 have questions :-)

[Zona]

Hi all. Just bought a 2020 x4 over the weekend (non-lv). This is my 1st sxs and my first post on this forum. I want to get bead locks and tires but have a few questions. I'm leaning towards 14" wheels but had a few questions.
1. Which wheel size is easier to find tire choices 14" or 15"?
2. I see the offset is different from front to back. I was hoping to have all 5 wheels and tires the same so I could rotate and change flats. How do you all prepare with a spare? Is it just a front and if the back has a flat you install the front tire spare on the back temporarily to get you home?
3. If I wanted all wheels the same size is running a spacer bad for your machine? Super atv has some nice looking spacers but again I don't know if this is a good or bad route to take.

I'm thinking SB3 14" wheels unless these aren't compatible with my machine.

 

[Admin]

 

[CID]

@Lil_Steve can post a pic of what happens when you get a rock between a wheel and suspension component. He was running 15" wheels, 14"s will be tighter. Some of us prefer not to run spacers but that's really a non issue because offset wheels will put the same leverage against the suspension as spacers do (for the most part). So, some guys run 4 front wheels with spacers on the rear, others run 6+1 fronts and 4+3 rears (me) - both will end up with similar track width F/R. I 'think' that 14" tires are more common but I didn't have any trouble finding several 15's that I want to try over the next several years.

If you're running different offsets, it's common practice to run a spare front wheel for the spare as a 'get back to the trailer' resource. Obviously, if you're running 4 front wheels, the spare will fit anywhere.

I was intending on being in Arizona last March and needed a spare rack so I bought FactoryUTV's over the bed. Covid happened, I didn't get to AZ and Dirt Road Fab finished their bed extender, tailgate, spare carrier and, since that's what I wanted, I bought it. That resulted in the ability to carry 2 spares, one front wheel and one rear. As stiffly sprung as the Talon is, that weight may be an advantage. And since I'm likely to be solo in the desert southwest, two spares might be a good idea (weight dependent, to be determined).

 

[Todd627]

Welcome from The Great Lakes State

Remember...pics or it didn't happen

#NTC

 

[NTCPrezJB]

Welcome from Canton, OH

#NTC

 

[Zona]

Oh it happened ;-)

 

[Smitty335]

Oh it happened ;-)View attachment 225974 View attachment 225975 View attachment 225976

Your Talon got the poops?

 

[Lil_Steve]

@Lil_Steve can post a pic of what happens when you get a rock between a wheel and suspension component. He was running 15" wheels, 14"s will be tighter.

I'd have to put this into the "s*** happens" category, would 14" wheels have prevented this? Maybe, who knows. I do know I've read there are some clearance issues with certain 14" wheels on the front.

Spare vs plug kit. Spare wins!

I've been in situations where plugs got me through the day. I've been in a situation where I might have needed a bunch of plugs to fill the gash in a sidewall if that's all I had. But today was a new one for me, I somehow managed to get a rock perfectly between my brake caliper and my STI HD9...

hondasxs.com

Tire choice wise there seem to be plenty of choices in both 14" and 15". If you ever decide you want to mount light truck tires then you have several choices in 15", not so much in 14"

I run 15" STI HD9 beadlock wheels, 6+1 offset up front and 4+3 offset in the back on 32" Tusk Terrabite tires. My spare is a stock front wheel with the 32" Terrabite, don't run different height tires otherwise you'll trigger an I-4wd light/code.

 

[Lil_Steve]

Hi all. Just bought a 2020 x4 over the weekend (non-lv). .

Oh congrats on your X4, and welcome from Gilbert!

 

[Zona]

Your Talon got the poops?

I usually do. Something about the woods lol. I only have 2 socks so since its a four seater there aren't enough socks for everyone.

 

[Robobrainiac]

That's where the shortage ended up. It's what gets us to pay msrp

Your Talon got the poops?

 

[CID]

Hi all. Just bought a 2020 x4 over the weekend (non-lv). This is my 1st sxs and my first post on this forum. I want to get bead locks and tires but have a few questions. I'm leaning towards 14" wheels but had a few questions.
1. Which wheel size is easier to find tire choices 14" or 15"?
2. I see the offset is different from front to back. I was hoping to have all 5 wheels and tires the same so I could rotate and change flats. How do you all prepare with a spare? Is it just a front and if the back has a flat you install the front tire spare on the back temporarily to get you home?
3. If I wanted all wheels the same size is running a spacer bad for your machine? Super atv has some nice looking spacers but again I don't know if this is a good or bad route to take.

I'm thinking SB3 14" wheels unless these aren't compatible with my machine.

obtw: welcome. The link in my sig has some Talon specific info that might get you up to speed faster.

 

[Zona]

Thanks for the welcomes and the tips so far. I was thinking of 14" so that I have a little more side wall. Regarding bead locks...the way I understand them to work is that you can run low pressures without fear of loosing the bead so easy. Lets say you are running 10lbs of air pressure. Is that low enough that will make normal wheels let loose of the bead? I guess what I'm getting at is are bead-locks a must have to run the required pressures so that the tire and buggy perform well?

 

[CID]

I ran down to 12 pounds with the stock tires and rims to help soften the fairly stiff ride in my Talon R (manual says 16) but I was always on edge in hard or off camber turns. I have a set of bead locks ready to go on - it's rocky here and I'd like to try lower pressures without being paranoid about it.

 

[Montecresto]

Lets say you are running 10lbs of air pressure. Is that low enough that will make normal wheels let loose of the bead? I guess what I'm getting at is are bead-locks a must have to run the required pressures so that the tire and buggy perform well?

Welcome to the club Zona...😊

I will say no to that, I’ve never used bead locks and have collectively 25,000 miles on five SXS’s and routinely run less than 10 PSI without ever having lost a bead.

 

[Lil_Steve]

Thanks for the welcomes and the tips so far. I was thinking of 14" so that I have a little more side wall. Regarding bead locks...the way I understand them to work is that you can run low pressures without fear of loosing the bead so easy. Lets say you are running 10lbs of air pressure. Is that low enough that will make normal wheels let loose of the bead? I guess what I'm getting at is are bead-locks a must have to run the required pressures so that the tire and buggy perform well?

10psi is my normal riding tire air pressure, even when I had the stock wheels. It's not likely you'll benefit from beadlock wheels at 10psi, I encourage you to experiment with different tire pressures to find what suits you. I will say that the stock tires did not hold up well for me in faster rocky desert conditions, especially when I tried to soften the ride by running under 10psi. If you're slow rock crawling and need flex and traction, then beadlocks make more sense.
Consider taller tires when it comes time for replacement, that will give you more sidewall without having to buy new rims. 30" tires are a popular size for both X/R Talons. You may run into tire clearance issues on the X with some 32's.

 

[jtsticks3]

I have an X4, 15" beadlocks from STI A1 and 32" mongrels. the wheels are all a 5+2 offset, so I used 1.5" spacers in the rear. rides well.

 

[Smitty335]

Welcome to the club Zona...😊

I will say no to that, I’ve never used bead locks and have collectively 25,000 miles on five SXS’s and routinely run less than 10 PSI without ever having lost a bead.

Run great tires, w/stiff side walls and you may be able to get back to camp without doing anything but slowing down, the only reason I run a outside beadlock is I carry a tube, no spare, the bead locks make it pretty easy to stuff a tube in and go. The secret is good tires with stiff side walls.

 

[Montecresto]

Run great tires, w/stiff side walls and you may be able to get back to camp without doing anything but slowing down, the only reason I run a outside beadlock is I carry a tube, no spare, the bead locks make it pretty easy to stuff a tube in and go. The secret is good tires with stiff side walls.

There’s truth to that, but a stiff sidewall also compromises ride. Speaking from my own experience on all those miles with five machines, I’ve never needed a spare. Plugs, slime (various types now) and that new BA side wall slug that I just had opportunity to use last month I think is sufficient. Only on overlanding have I carried a spare....

 

[Smitty335]

There’s truth to that, but a stiff sidewall also compromises ride. Speaking from my own experience on all those miles with five machines, I’ve never needed a spare. Plugs, slime (various types now) and that new BA side wall slug that I just had opportunity to use last month I think is sufficient. Only on overlanding have I carried a spare....

Well that's you and then there's me, HA! Seriously since I went to the same size tire all the away around, I've had no side wall splits, that was one of my issues and I will leave it as that!

 

[Montecresto]

Well that's you and then there's me, HA!

That is correct. You expressed your view and I mine and that’s what such platforms are for. A forum of ideas which helps everyone in making decisions on such things.