Thoughts on wheels???

[Middlefork Miner]

I'm close to getting my engine/tranny mount done & have been looking/pondering what route to go with wheels/tires. I have 6 old Argo 8" wheels & runamucks in various stages of dry rot (a few hold air)...as much as I'd like to save a little money & use the wheels I have, I just can't see an economic upside to using them...one reason being the limited selection of tires at what I consider outrageous prices...Right now I'm thinking 12" wheels & 25-26" tires are probably the way to go...maybe some kind of package deal I could work out like this??? Mud Lite Bigfoot Kit, ATV Bigfoot Kits, ATV Tires and Wheels, ATV Mud Tires, ITP Mud Light Tires, 4 Wheeler Tires, Four Wheeler Rims, from Tires-n-Stuff.com
This is a ground up build, so I'm not limited in tire size or wheel dimensions...YET.
Once a decision is made & I get my paws on them, I'll be able to start figuring out axle length & wheel spacing...keeping in mind economics WWYD???

Tom

ETA... if I could find some inexpensive 9" rims, that would work too, because at $36 a tire for 25x11.5x9's I could afford to stockpile a couple sets...

[Middlefork Miner]

Nobody???
Well I emailed Matt at Mudd Ox & haven't gotten a reply so I'm just gonna figure he doesn't want the business...In the meantime I've been looking on line at the ITP SS 212's & have a question about offset... Wouldn't a negative offset be best? Shorter axle being better??? I've seen some pretty good deals advertised on ebay & before I call anybody to try & finagle some kind of deal for eight of them, some input would be appreciated...thanks.

Tom

[Dan67]

From everything I have heard, the ITP Mud Lite tires don't swim period.

[Middlefork Miner]

From everything I have heard, the ITP Mud Lite tires don't swim period.

Yeah I know, I've been reading most threads & done a LOT of searching...The link was just intended to be an example...albeit it a bad one..
I'm actually eyeballing the CST Ancla in 26-11.00-12 & am more interested in everybodys opinion on the offset of the wheels...I've been looking at pics of the ITP rims & they look like they have their version of the k rim...There are a couple dealers on ebay that I'm probably gonna call & see what kind of price I can get on them, but would like to hear some opinions...

[cclingma]

I sure don't have any answers but I do have thoughts. I have 12" wheels and find the selection of good swimmers/Mudd/riding tires is very limited in 26". I too am very interested in some reasonably priced 9" wheels and just fit them with the leftover Rawhides. I've not seen a economically priced set of wheels yet and I'm interested in the Mud Ox ones as well.

[Middlefork Miner]

Here's a link for some 9"ers ITP Steel Wheels I went ahead & ordered the ITP delta steel 12" wheels with the 2+5 offset & the Ancla 26" tires...Those cheap goodyears might be nice now but who knows when the supply will dry up...that & I believe they are only three ply versus six for the Ancla...I came real close to going with the ASX vampires but will wait & see how the Anclas do...

[Stonewall]

...I came real close to going with the ASX vampires but will wait & see how the Anclas do...

You made a good choice! I have a set of the 26" anclas on my Honda Rancher, and I love them. The only way I've gotten it stuck is by high-centering it. They have such good traction that I hardly use 4wd. My dad has a Honda Foreman with the TSL Vampires, and mine with the Anclas will go in 2wd where his won't go with 4wd. I can't wait to hear how well they swim, if I ever get a Hustler 980 I'd like to try them on it.

[Middlefork Miner]

I received 2 of them today & have to say that I'm impressed...I didn't get any wheels yet, so I won't know how exactly they'll sit when mounted with a little air in them, but they look as though they'll have fairly significant sidewall cleats...only time will tell if they'll swim...
The vampires I was thinking of getting, were the ASX's...

[Stonewall]

The difference in TSL and ASX vampires is the tread depth I think. The TSLs don't have the sidewall tread that the ASXs have, but the lugs are significantly deeper, and spaced further apart.

[Noel Woods]

In the gallery section I have photos of both the TSLs and ASXs. The ASX has the side lug that will help to power you out of the mud and they help in the water, but good luck finding any. I must have got one of the last set of six about 18 months ago. I contacted the factory and they still say that production is coming back on line, but it will be months before they have them back in stock.
Both of these tires are very aggressive, and it will take some grunt to turn them. For a six wheeler at least 20+HP is needed for a set of 26x13x12's, and they will take a toll on bearings, chains and sprockets. When I bought mine, tires and wheels cost me about $1100 with shipping. I think it would be a better bet to get some Adair tracks and use smaller tires and wheels, which will gear the machine down a bit as well.

[mightymaxIV]

Middlefork Miner:

If you go to the trails ride section a watch the river run videos of the old Argo Bigfoot with 22" tires and Adair tracks you will see a machine that was unstoppable in mud-a machine that totally out performed another Bigfoot with vampires. Noel is right, if your going to spend a lot of money on tires why not get a set of tracks and 22" tires that will run circles around a Bigfoot with tires.

[Middlefork Miner]

Middlefork Miner:

If you go to the trails ride section a watch the river run videos of the old Argo Bigfoot with 22" tires and Adair tracks you will see a machine that was unstoppable in mud-a machine that totally out performed another Bigfoot with vampires. Noel is right, if your going to spend a lot of money on tires why not get a set of tracks and 22" tires that will run circles around a Bigfoot with tires.

I know Noel is right, I've watched the videos & if possible, I'd like a set of those Adair tracks. The thing I have a problem with is getting "gouged" on tires that are probably worth about half of what they are going for... Argo Outdoor Sports | Argo Parts - Tires & Rims - Tires it's the reason I went with the 12" wheel. Yeah, I know I could have gone with the 9" wheel & those 3 ply rawhides, BUT ....how long is the supply gonna last??? When the time comes (next winter) when I'll possibly be able to afford a set, I'll contact Adair argo & see if they can build me a set...if not, I'll work on building my own...
I had to make a decision on the wheels & tires because progress on the build was getting to the point of stalling out...(two weekends with no progress)