Older Argo 6x6 tires and tracks

[magnm01]

Sorry if this topic has already been covered but I have to ask for some information. I'm relatively new to the 6x6 world but love it so far. I'm not sure what year my Argo is but I have to guess 1980 or before. It has the ohv 16hp motor if that helps. Anyway the machine came with newer tires that are v-tread something like a ditch witch would have. They have no sidewall flex to them at all unless the are aired down to nothing. Then the tires slip on the rims since I have no way to bead lock them. The bigger issue I see is that when I put the tracks on this year the original Argo tracks appear to be made for a rounded profile tire. The new tires are very square. It seems to work alright but I'm fearing that it is very hard on the tracks trying to fit a square peg in a round hole kind of deal. A long winded story for hopefully a short answer. What kind of tires do I need and where can I buy them? I know it orignally came with runamucks(sp). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Mike

[jpswift1]

I don't know what size tires are able to fit with tracks since I don't know all that much about Argos, but I believe 21x11x8's should work just fine. What brand of tires are the V-tread style ones that you have on there now? Goodyear Rawhides would do the trick, or the Carlisle brand ones should work for you as well. Unfortunately both of these companies have discontinued the V-tread style pattern. Try posting an ad in the wanted section of the site for some tires if yours won't work for you. Post up some pictures of the ones you have on there now and we'll tell you if they'll work or not.

[Obsessed]

A long answer to your short question...

you probably need a standard 22x10x8" runamuk tire or similiar (21x11x8 was the older version but nearly identical)...they are typically mounted on a 8x7 rim with a 5/4.5" bolt pattern...you could look at a couple of different tires...kenda snow mad 22x10x8...or carlies field trax 22.5x10x8 (which actually fits the newer style argo plastic tracks a lot better than the older style)....Argo also builds a excellent new direct replacement 22x10x8 tire for the old runamuk (which would probably be the best long term investment for the machine if you ever want to run it without the tracks) but might be cost prohibitive on an older machine...newer rims will have a small ridge formed into the lip of the rim to help hold the tire bead in place at lower pressures and offer a simpler solution to a more complex bead locking wheel...

a few years ago, you could probably have picked up a used set of cheap factory runamuk 22" tires and wheels for almost nothing, as most people considered them pretty disposable and valued the upgraded 25" goodyear rawhide III on 9x10 rims more than the stock setup, but today they are no longer made and are still perfect for running different tracks options and swim well without tracks, so it seems that they are now expensive and pretty hard to come by...

if your 6x6 is new enough to have the 5 bolt lug pattern on the axle, then it will be much easier to get the correct tire and wheel for the machine and tracks...the right set of tires and wheels, will let you run a lower pressure for better ride and lower maintance costs on both the machine and your tracks...keep in mind that most offbrand tires will be almost completely worthless for the machines original intended purpose if and when they are used without the tracks, and your new investment will unfortunately probably reduce the overall value of the machine when you resell it (if the new owner knows much about amphibious atvs)...

In my opinion... a lot of older machines with brand new incorrect tires just end up being the next persons problem later and actually end up giving a pretty poor first impression to a new owner/driver of what our sport is really all about and can really missrepresents the actual capabilities of most of our machines...your decision now might make the deciding difference for someone else who is considering joining our sport....food for thought

best of luck