Do I need Spacers with my new tires?

[gtilby]

I just bought a set of Mudlight XTR's for my 03 SP 700. I am keeping the stock wheels and I am having doubts now if the new tires are going to rub on the tie rods. Factory tires were 25-8-12 on the front and 25-11-12 on the rear. The size I have in the mail to me is 26-9-12 and 26-12-12. Can anyone shed any light on this. I need to order them soon if I need them or I will be waiting another week before I can ride. Thanks

[Ken]

If you kept the stock rims...my bet is, you will rub on the front tie rod end.

Steve did on his 800. The Polaris offset is near outside of the rim. The ITP offset is near the middle of the rim. It's pretty dramatic.

If it does rub....you have 3 choices.

1) Buy new steel rims and now pay for the tires to be installed. $35 * 4 * 10 or 20 for install. If you ordered the rims WITH the tires...they come mounted...saving the 10 to 20 install per tire.

2) Buy more expense aluminum rims

3) Spend $150+ on spacers. Spacers AREN'T cheap...and need to be well made and perfect balanced....so I wouldn't cut corners.


4 new steel rims with tires mounted at purchase...are cheaper than wheel spacers.

[gtilby]

Luckily I have a few ins to help with the prices on some of these expensive extras. I got a great deal on the tires and I have a friend at a tire dealership that will mount them for free. If they rub, I suppose I could just spring for the spacers but how much would it be to buy new steel rims and where could I find some? Does anyplace that sells the tires usually carry the rims too?

Gene

[oldtrucks]

The ITP Deltas (their Steel wheel) are typically +1" offset, so it widens the track of the quad 2". I know you can get the wheels through Les Schwab, but can probably find a better deal online. Try BC-offroad.com, he can get them and you will probably have them in a couple days if you're on the West Coast. They run about $40 a wheel, same as a set of spacers. Ask your tire friend or even where you bought the tires, they can probably get them as well.

[Ken]

The tires'n stuff link on the site is 42...but what I've heard about Bryan, is BC will beat that.


Highlifter.com spacers are the best...Bar none.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Highlifter.com spacers are the best...Bar none

$$$$.....

[MrBill]

BC-Offroad has a set of four 1" that I tried and did not like. He will sell them as used, nothing wrong with them when I sent them back.

P.S. 4 on 156 X 1" Highlifter

[Ken]

Highlifter.com spacers are the best...Bar none

$$$$.....

Yep. Sure..you can use cheaper ones....as long as you're ok with breakage or having your tires rotate in an eliptical or oval pattern.

[Mr. Miyagi]

having your tires rotate in an eliptical or oval pattern.

Ok..... Mr. Engineer ..... lol.

I was thinking more on the lines of getting a set of rims. Two fold.... elliminating spacers and having a spare set of rims/tires.

[Ken]

having your tires rotate in an eliptical or oval pattern.

I was thinking more on the lines of getting a set of rims. Two fold.... elliminating spacers and having a spare set of rims/tires.

I'm with you all the way on that one. It's the same cost or less to get rims over good spacers. I just thought you commenting that Highlifters were too much.

Steve got the Highlifter spacers....you can tell...they're the shit, as far as construction goes....but as you say...they were $$$$.

I guess you could always stack the wheel bolts with washers

[gtilby]

Ok, I bought new ITP rims, black powder coated and they worked great. No clearance issues at all. Thanks for the advice. Now I can't wait to go ride.

[Ken]

Sweet.


Did you have to pay to have the tires mounted??