Tire Upgrade (Performance)

[GreatWhite]

Can anyone tell me if they have put new 22" tires on their machine. Interested if you noticed a significant performance improvement. Or... maybe a fellow should stick with decent bologna skins and upgrade to tracks? What would you suggest?

Terrain:
muskeg
water (lakes and swamps)
mud
gravel

Machine is a 1996 Conquest 8x8 (Heavy Duty Axles)

[1975 Argo 8x8 2-Stroker]

18" Rubber Swamp tracks, especially for the muskeg & mud, we have a set on a 2011 HDi, and it's mamzing the way it goes! In muskeg, the tires just won't have the flotation you need.

[Rock Doctor]

If I was you, I would look long and hard at the 24" Frontier Tires, they are probably the #1 upgrade you can make to your Conquest, IMHO. Will they be awesome in all terrain conditions?...........Not really, but they are a great compromise. They do fine in the Muskeg we have around here, not as good as tracks, but fine. I spend most of my time in mud and muskeg. In water, they swim GREAT (Compared to most track designs and other tire options). Rocks, well.........just about any tire does fine on rocks.


RD

[GreatWhite]

Thanks for the info guys. I forgot to mention one important factor. Snow... I would imagine with 24" tires tracks would be out of the question. I can see how the 24" could work slick though.

[Rock Doctor]

Tires in deep snow suck, unless you have a plow on the front of the machine to push the snow out of the way,lol.

[GreatWhite]

I think I have come to the conclusion that the 24" tires may be the way to go. I would imagine there would be less wear and tear on the machine as opposed to tracks. The extra clearance would be nice as well. 24" Frontier tires here in Saskatchewan are $137.00/each. I am assuming that being a rooky I am making assumptions that I need tracks when in reality I probably don't. I plan to buy a set of adair tracks in the future, but dollar for dollar I think Rock Doctors idea of 24"ers may be the way to go.

I have a few rims that need some attention. Bends from skid steering into obstacles. Anyone have any great ideas to straighten these up. I won't know for sure until the tires come off but I think it is mostly just the edge of the rim. The tires hold air half decent right now.

If I do end up buying tracks later on, are the adairs tough on tires. If I use my bald 22" will they hold up?

When driving down quad trails in the bush will this machine "without" tracks make it alot farther than a regular ATV. I hope so... I don't need to go fast just need to get down the flooded out quad trails where the moose live. I hope my expactations aren't to high??

[1975 Argo 8x8 2-Stroker]

I'm not sure about the Adair tracks, but my local argo tried them out and hated them. They said they lacked in flotation, were very heavy, hard on the machine, and they would scratch the tub if the bounched up and hit it. To me, I still think you are better with the 18" Argo swamp track, the only thing the Adair has over the Argo track is that it does not paddle in the watter, where as the adair does.

[mudbug3]

Some things to consider when comparing the Argo rubber track to the Adair tracks:

1. Adair tracks are made out of UHMW material, and this makes turning side to side a whole lot easier than rubber does. This causes less wear and stress on the axle bearings.

2. With the 14 inch Adair tracks you can add solid 4-7 inch track extensions to help with floation in deep snow, and they are ' proven' to be very comparable to a solid rubber Argo track in deep powdered snow.

3.Because the Adair track extensions pivot on the outer edge of the tracks, they turn much easier than the Argo solid rubber tracks when making turns.

I have turned my Argo 6x6 in my back yard with just the Frontier tires and then made a 90 degree turn onto the street to load it on to my trailor, and it took a whole lot more effort to make these turns than it did when I had the Adair tracks on. Not only is it easier to turn , but these tracks don,t tear up your hard like a tire does.

4. You don,t have run axle extensions like you do when running the 18 Argo rubber tracks, which have contributed to many broken axles.

5. The Adair track swim faster than either the Argo tracks or the Escargo tracks.

6. The Adair tracks were designed to minimize chain wind up ,and that is why they are made out of UHMW material ,which slides very well against a rubber tire. In contrast though ,a rubber track creates a lot of friction against a rubber tire.

7. Argo 13 plastic track weigh about 180 pounds and even more when heavily packed with mud. Argo 18 inch plastic track -approximate weight 220 pounds and more when heavily packed with mud. Argo 18 inch rubber tracks weigh about 320 pound and are more when heavily packed with mud . Escargo tracks weigh well over 400 pounds. Adair track weight in comparision weigh about 193 pounds and they don,t collect mud, rock, or snow. The Adair tracks unique open design allows these things to fall right through the track surface with out adding additional weight.

I have talked to Argo dealers, and also to people who have tried the Argo rubber tracks and compared them to the Adair tracks, and all with out exception have stated that the Adair tracks were better over all. Are you sure that your Argo dealer was'nt talking about the Escargo tracks which are very similar. But the real test is to try each track yourself and make your own ' informed ' decision.

[1975 Argo 8x8 2-Stroker]

Yes, they were talking about the Adair tracks.

I have never tried them, so I don't know myself, I sure like to try them though.

[mudbug3]

The Adair track will bounce and hit the under side of the tub if they are ' very loose '. This stems from lack of proper maintenance by the owner though.

[Noel Woods]

I think there is maintenance required for any mechanical device. Track tension, tire pressure, etc., its all key to the long life and performance of our AATVs.

I agree w/MUDBUG3 that the Adair track system is less strain on the drivetrain than an aggressive tire. My Super Swamp Fox diesel had Vampire ASX tires that were very aggressive, had alot of bite, and took a lot of power to operate. When I upgraded to the Adair track system it was like driving a smaller, more agile machine, turns were made with ease, traction never stopped, and the self-cleaning effect shed the excess weight of accumulated mud to a minimum.

My advise is to go with the Adair tracks. There is no better system out there.

[GreatWhite]

I believe my tires are 24x11x8. I thought I read somewhere that the adairs needed a 10" width? Would I have to buy new tires and adair tracks? That could be a spendy proposition. I would like the tracks though...