1996 polaris sportsman 500 tire size

banditboy21 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-10-2011, 09:50 AM

hey guys does anyone know the biggest tire and wheel combo i can get on my sportsman 500

banditboy21 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-12-2011, 01:54 PM

nobody has an answer i cant believe that

banditboy21 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-14-2011, 06:25 PM

WWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW i cant believe no answers , no help no nothing im a little dissappointed with this site. what no one owns a sportsman 500 here

cwlongshot · #4 (**permalink**) 09-14-2011, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by banditboy21

WWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW I can't believe no answers, no help no nothing I'm a little disappointed with this site. What no one owns a sportsman 500 here?

Good evening, I gotta say, I for one just saw your post tonight...

It's nearly impossible to give you an answer!

When there is literally no continuity between tire manufacturers tire diameters. Some have a 28" that's closer to others 26" and others 26" tires are all of 27" .... Then there are the thousands of tread styles all have huge bearings on what fits and what hits...

THEN there is the width problems... 8" fit nearly all while 10" won/t..

THEN what rims will you be using... 8" fronts and 11" rears work with stock rims, wider will not unless you flip a TRE or bend a sway bar...

THEN no one knows the condition of your suspension... sagged springs will inhibit the max diameter...

THEN there is the ability to run such a tire... clutch kits are recommended by most when you exceed 2" of the stock size....

THEN 500 Sportsmans have been around for a LONG time... What year is yours?? Yea, it makes a difference...

SO as you can see, there is a bit more to it than

Quote:

does anyone know the biggest tire and wheel combo i can get on my sportsman 500

Having said that I would say its likely a 26" tire and most 27" tires and some 28" should fit your machine.

CW

banditboy21 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-15-2011, 01:34 PM

well thanks for the reply but i think u may have gone a little to far. i am very well aware of the variables of suspension, tire sizes and brand differences. i was looking for more along the lines of personel experinces of guys on there on quads and what they have gotten away with for example ( hi i just read your post and i have a 2000 sportsman 500 and was able to use sizes blah blah blah and the worked out fine with no rubbing or problems)

cwlongshot · #6 (**permalink**) 09-15-2011, 01:49 PM

Apologies, I was more responding to the lack of patience shown in your posts. People answer when they know or have something to offer. You post could have been missed as in my case or simply the people who did read it had nothing to add...

As for what you know or don't know is beyond my scope of knowledge. So I merely outlined what goes into sizing tires for a given machine...

I now see you have a 1996, that does limit your sizes as the wheel wells are not large tire friendly. This also further explains the lack of responses. Not allot of guys on here, still running these...

CW

banditboy21 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-15-2011, 04:03 PM

i wasnt trying to come off impatinet just frustrating cant seem to pick up tires for my quad on the cheap but seeing alot of bigger size tires for cheap. thats why i was rushing to get a reply. i must be the only one running a 96 i only have 732 miles on it and still going strong but need tires bad. i thought i would have had a reply pretty quick since it seems 96-2001 are the same machines for the most part

lod666ftw · #8 (**permalink**) 09-16-2011, 04:05 PM

I run 26" XTR's on my 2001 500 HO and it has over 10000 miles on it. My tires rub when suspension compresses in front, mind you my springs are stock and well worn! My rear rub flares with heavy load or 2 people on it!