Treating your ATV to some new rubber or just wondering what difference a wider tire might make? Well, you’re in the right place.
The width of an ATV tire will affect speed, handling, and component wear. An ATV can usually handle one size larger than stock tires. Two sizes bigger or more may cause damage and safety concerns.
In this post, you’ll learn how wider tires affect your ATV handling and how they can damage critical components.
It should be noted, most ATV manufacturers don’t recommend using any size tires other than those fitted from factory. Fitting larger tires therefore may void your warranty, check your owner’s manual before fitting larger boots.
How Is Ride Affected?
Putting a wider tire on your ATV is one of the fastest ways to enhance its handling. But how will it ride? With new wider rubber fitted to your ATV, it will feel like a different bike. You’ll immediately notice a heavier steering feeling. At take-off, the bike will feel a little heavier, almost sluggish, especially on hard surfaces.
Likely, at this point, you won’t be impressed, but then you’ll hit the loose.
On the loose, you’ll notice more grip and stability. Braking will be more efficient. You’ll brake later, carrying more speed through the corners.
Your cornering speeds will increase as you’ll feel more confident and the fun meter will likely read “FULL.”
Pros & Cons of Wider Tires
Wider tires offer you a mix of good and bad, and it will depend on how you use your ATV. Generally, wider tires are better suited to lower-speed loose/wet twisty tracks, and narrower tires are better for higher-speed sealed surface road work.
Some of the advantages of wider tires include:
- Cost – Inexpensive way to transform both the looks and performance of your bike.
- Funometer – More is usually more fun when it comes to outdoor kit, and that includes wider tires.
- Greater stability – Your ATV will have a wider track and that’s great for cornering stability. A wider track equals higher cornering speed.
- Greater traction – A wider tire makes a larger surface contact patch and that translates into greater traction.
The disadvantage of wider tires include:
- Less power – It takes more energy to move a larger mass, and wider tires are bigger.
- Less torque – The larger contact patch increases resistance which soaks more engine power.
- Slower top speed – More mass is less when it comes to top speed.
- Gas mileage – Engine will use more gas because it’s working a little harder.
- Wear & tear – Your suspension, steering, and driveline components won’t last quite as long.
Tire Size
Moving higher by one or maybe two tire sizes from stock is OK, but more than that risks problems. ATV suspension, steering, and driveline components are engineered to take specific loads.
Increasing the tire size increases stress loads, and components could fail.
Most at risk are suspension, steering, and wheel bearing failures. Oversized tires can load suspension ball joints and bushings to breaking points and cause wheel bearings to collapse. With all that traction, it’s not uncommon for a 1/2 shaft to break or, worse, broken differential or transmission.
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- About the Author
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John Cunningham is a technical writer here at ATVfixed.com. He’s a Red Seal Qualified Service Technician with over twenty-five years experience. He’s worked on all types of mechanical equipment, from cars and trucks to ATVs and Dirt bikes.