Replacement Wheels Questions

[jrp]

I've been browsing some of the tire/wheel web sites recommended here, getting prepped to buy a full set of replacements for my 2010 XP. I've narrowed the tires down to either Maxxis BigHorn or GBC Grim Reaper, which fit my riding areas, and not looking to make any major size changes, so 26x9x14 & 26x11x14.
My questions are on selecting the proper wheels. First off the tire mfg recommend 14x8 wheels for the rear tires, but many of the popular after market wheels only offer 14x7. What's the down side of using 14x7 where they recommend 14x8? The other question is about the wheel "offset", which I'm a bit confused about what it is and how it impacts my wheel selection. I see some of the wheel vendors refer to offset in numerical terms, others refer to it as shallow front vs deep rear. Then in the footnotes, I see references to independent rear suspensions not needing the "deep" rear wheels. could someone help clarify this wheel offset issue, in relation to selecting wheels for a 2010 Polaris XP EPS

thanks

[cc1999]

Offset is one of the most important factors. Most if not all aftermarket wheels will have a different offset compared to your factory offset.
Your OEM wheels will have like a 1"outside an for example the rear is a 7" backside.

The most common aftermarket wheels for your Polaris will be offered in a 5" back side 2" front side otherwise reffered to a 5/2 offset. Some may offer a 4/3 offset.

The 5/2 offset will move your wheels out 1" compared to the 7/1 oem offset. So basicly your machine will be 1" wider per side, 2"s wider overall.

also you will notice that because of the added width, that your machine will be more stable, but it will allso likley put the outer edge of tire out past the fenders, so be prepaired to notice a little bit more trail ending up on you and the bike, if you know what I mean.

Outside of a Polaris dealer you will not be able to find a wheel in the factory offset.
Now if it is important to you to run the factory offset, but still want a differnt style rim than what came with your machine. Look around the Polaris website, at all the differnt XP models, both 2009 and 2010. Every wheel you find on an XP reguardless of model, can be ordered through the dealers parts department. They are not as cheap as some of the aftermarket rims, but they will have the OEM offset. For example I have the black steel wheels from the 2010 550 X2 on one of my standard 850 XPs. Be sure and look at the LE models, those always have special wheel variations on them. The 2010 LE Crimson red 850 has black accented wheels where the regular 850 wheel does not.

Also if I may offer a bit of tire advise, I too am a huge Bighorn fan, I have them on every machine I own. Just be sure and stick with the original Bighorns. I have herd several complaints about the bighorn IIs not wearing as well, and not having near the puncture resistance that the original bigorns have proven to have over the years. Yes the IIs are lighter weight, but there is reason for that and a down side to there taking that weight out of the tires. Best advise is to just go with the original Big Horns, those are the ones there reputation was built on.

[eatmydust]

just my 2 cents.
cc1999 is right. If you go with the bighorns get the originals. I just bought a set and love them. If you look it up on Maxxis site, the II's are only 2# lighter than the original, thats nothing.