How to size atv tires


25-8-12 ATV Tires

25-8-12 ATV Tires
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ITP Terracross R/T XD Radial ATV Tires

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$139.00

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ITP Mud Lite XTR Radial ATV Tires

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ITP Mud Lite AT ATV Tires

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Maxxis Bighorn Radial Atv Tires

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Kenda Bear Claw Atv Tires

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Kenda Executioner Atv Tires

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ITP Mud Lite XL ATV Tires

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Carlisle Trail Wolf ATV Tires

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$91.00

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Interco Swamp Lite ATV Tires

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$79.00

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Super Grip Super Light AT Atv Tires

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$84.00

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Super Grip Super Light DL Atv Tires

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$92.00

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Super Grip Shredder Atv Tires

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$125.00

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GBC Dirt Devil ATV Tires

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$78.00

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Carlisle 489 AT Atv Tires

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$119.00

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GBC Dirt Commander ATV Tires

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$131.00

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Maxxis Zilla Atv Tires

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$112. 00

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GBC Grim Reaper Radial ATV Tires

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Interco Reptile Radial Atv Tires

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Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 Radial Atv Tires

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CST Ancla ATV Tires

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CST Abuzz ATV Tires

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Maxxis Ceros Radial Atv Tires

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Carlisle All Trail Turf Tires

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Kenda Pathfinder ATV Tires

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Set of 25" GBC Dirt Devil ATV Tires, Fronts & Rears

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$350.00

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GBC Afterburn Street Force ATV Tires, D.O.T.

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Kenda Road Go ATV Tires

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Kenda Speed Racer ATV Tires

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ITP Mayhem ATV Tires

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Kenda Bear Claw HTR ATV Tires

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Interco Black Mamba Lite ATV Tires

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STI Roctane XD Radial ATV Tires

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CST Clincher Radial Tires

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RP Spartan 12-Ply Run Flat Tires

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CST Behemoth Radial ATV Tires, CU07 & CU08

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Maxxis Mud Bug ATV Tires, M961 & M962

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Duro Power Grip Radial ATV Tires

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$125.00

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DWT Moapa Run Flat 12 Ply ATV Tires

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CST Wild Thang ATV Tires, CU05 & CU06

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Douglas Moapa ATV Tires, 6 Ply

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How to Read the Numbers, With Examples

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When replacing the tires on your ATV, you must choose from a wide range of tire sizes. In this post, you’ll find information about the most common ATV tire sizes, a few real-life examples, how to read ATV tire sizes, and how you can be confident you choose the right size for your ATV.

How Do You Read ATV Tire Sizes?

ATV tire sizes are indicated on the tire sidewall and are typically given in one of two different sizing formats.

  • Imperial (inches): 27X10R12 or 27X10-12
  • Metric (mm + inches): 215/80R14 or 215/80-14

Out of the two, the imperial format in inches is most common in ATV tires. Metric sizing is more common in car tires, but now and then, you’ll stumble across an ATV tire with metric sizing.  

ATV tire measurements are always with a tire that is inflated to the recommended tire pressure.

The easiest way to tell you’re dealing with a metric tire size is the dash “/” separating the first and second number rather than a hyphen “-“.

Another giveaway is the larger numbers. 100 millimeters equals 25.4 inches, so the numbers on a metric-sized tire are much higher than on a standard-sized tire.

  • To convert from mm to inches, you divide by 25.4.
  • To Convert from inches to mm, you multiply by 25.4

How to Read Standard Imperial ATV Tire Sizes

The three numbers in the standard imperial tire sizing format represent three critical tire dimensions.

  • First number: The overall tire height in inches when inflated.
  • Second number: The overall tire width in inches when inflated.
  • Third number: The wheel or rim diameter in inches.

For example, a 26X11-14 size tire is 26 inches high and 11 inches wide and will mount to a wheel or rim that is 14 inches in diameter.

A Letter “R” between the second and third numbers indicates a radial construction tire, while a hyphen “-” indicates a bias ply tire.

How to Read Metric ATV Tire Sizes

The metric tire size format is not as self-explanatory as the standard imperial format. To make matters worse, it doesn’t only use millimeters but also inches, percentages, and letters. 

Luckily you are much less likely to come across a metric-sized ATV tire. If you do, here is how to know what size it is.

  • First number: The overall tire width in millimeters when inflated.
  • Second number: The sidewall height as a percentage of the tire width.
  • Third number: The wheel or rim diameter in inches.

For example, a 215/80-14 size tire is 215mm wide, has a sidewall height of 172mm (80% of 215mm), and will mount to a wheel or rim that is 14 inches in diameter.

A Letter “R” between the second and third numbers indicates a radial construction tire, while a hyphen “-” indicates a bias ply tire.

What Size Are ATV Tires?

An average ATV tire is 25 to 27 inches tall and 7 to 10 inches wide, with a wheel diameter of 10 to 12 inches. Sport quad tires are usually slightly smaller than average, while mud tires are generally larger than standard tires. 

In everyday speech, ATV tires are often referred to only by the tire’s outer diameter. Typical tires sizes can be categorized by ATV type :

  • Recreation and utility: 24 to 28 inches.
  • Sport and racing: 20 to 25 inches
  • Mudding and rock crawling: 27 to 32 inches or more

Note that the front tires are usually one or two inches narrower than the rear tires. 

Related: Why Do ATVs Have Smaller Front Tires? 9 Good Reasons

ATV Brand and ModelFront Tire SizeRear Tire Size
Polaris Sportsman 45025X8-1225X10-12
Polaris Sportsman 100027X9-1427X11-14
Can-Am Outlander 450 / 570 (base model)25X9-1225X11-12
Can-Am Renegade 100025X8-1225X11-12
Can-Am Outlander 100026X8-1226X10-12
Honda Fourtrax Foreman 52025X8-1225X10-12
Yamaha Grizzly 70027X10-1427X10-14
ATV tire sizes. Examples by model.

What Size Are Youth ATV Tires?

Youth ATVs are smaller in size and power than adult models, so their tires also need to be smaller.

A typical youth-sized ATV tire is between 18 to 21 inches tall and 7 to 10 inches wide, with a wheel diameter of 8 to 10 inches. 

ATV Brand and ModelFront Tire SizeRear Tire Size
Can-Am Renegade 11019X7-819X9,5-8
Honda TRX 9020X7-819X8-8
Honda TRX 25022X7-1022X10-9
Yamaha YFM 9018X7-818X9-8
Youth ATV tire sizes. Examples by model.

Why Do ATV Tire Sizes Vary So Much?

At a glance, most ATV tires look the same. But when you go to a tire shop in real life or online, you soon realize there are almost endless sizes to choose from. But why does it have to be this way? Why don’t all ATVs use the same size tire?

The wide range of available ATV tire sizes reflects the versatility ATVs are well-known for and the wide range of conditions they go in.  

Different riding applications and riding conditions require different tire sizes for optimal performance.

For instance, when riding in soft and muddy conditions, you need a larger tire so you won’t sink in as much. 

However, bigger tires are generally much heavier than smaller ones, negatively impacting acceleration and handling. That is why race quads typically use smaller tires. 

ATV race tracks usually have medium to firm surfaces of dirt or gravel that don’t require massive tires not to get stuck. Winning the race requires a lightweight tire that spins easily so that as much as possible of the engine power gets converted into speed.

And finally, for most ATV riders, including those that use the bike for utility tasks, trail riding, or hunting, it’s all about finding a happy medium. That is why most ATV tires are from 25 to 27 inches tall.

Related: Will Bigger Tires Make an ATV Faster? (Or Slower?)

How to Know What Size ATV Tire You Need?

You cannot choose any size tire and expect good results.  

Your best bet would be to choose the same size as printed on the sidewall of your old ones. 

Make sure to cross-reference the numbers against those specified in the user manual to ensure nobody has previously changed to a different-size tire.

You can measure and compare to ensure your chosen tire fits the wheel/rim. 

  • The third number on the tire sidewall should always be identical to the diameter of your wheel. 
  • The tire width is typically one or two inches wider than the wheel’s width. The front wheel is usually an inch or two narrower than the rear.

Can You Install Bigger Tires on Your ATV?

Alot of people wonder whether they can install bigger tires on their ATVs. There are several reasons why people want to upgrade to beefier tires:

  • Better flotation in wet and soft conditions.
  • More ground clearance to better steer clear of obstacles.
  • A more aggressive tread pattern for better grip in soft and slippery conditions.  

Generally, you can install one to two inches larger diameter tires without modifying the ATV. Larger tires require various modifications to prevent tire rubbing, gear ratio issues, loss of torque, and premature belt wear.

Please refer to this post if you want to learn more about things to consider when installing bigger tires. 

Related: Are All ATV Tires Directional? How to Tell?

How to choose tires for an ATV?

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ATV tire selection

The first thing that begins with the choice of tires for an ATV is the determination of the optimal wheel diameter. To do this, it is enough to know a simple rule: the larger the diameter of the ATV wheels, the larger the contact patch and the higher the off-road patency. On the contrary, a tire with a small diameter will allow you to develop high speed, however, off-road performance will become lower.

When choosing the right tire diameter for an ATV, you should pay attention to the engine size. ATVs up to 50cc see susceptible to changes in the standard diameter of the wheels, with an increase in volume, the sensitivity becomes less.

But everything needs a measure: installing too large tires for an ATV will adversely affect the viability of the engine, suspension, transmission. In addition to the increased load on the systems of the ATV, when installing large heavy wheels, the torque will also decrease.

ATV radial and bias tires

Unlike car tires, ATV tires have a predominantly diagonal design. How a radial tire differs from a diagonal one can be found in the corresponding article, here we will tell you what pros and cons this or that tire has for use on an ATV.

The passenger car radial tire has excellent elasticity and contact patch retention, resulting in vehicle directional stability. But ATV tires rarely get to know smooth asphalt, and therefore their contact patch is not stable and it needs to adapt to rough terrain. ATV tires must be able to withstand permanent deformation and also have a strong sidewall. Only diagonal ATV tires meet these requirements. On the other hand, road and sport quads require an ATV radial tire.

ATV Tire Tread

Cross-country ability depends on what kind of tread an ATV tire has. Moreover, the greater the patency, the lower the speed and handling on an asphalt road. So, high directional symmetrical tread rubber lamellas for an ATV will make it easy to overcome swamps, swamps, but on the road the behavior of an ATV with swamp tires will be far from perfect. Therefore, if you need to get to the adventure site on a regular road, it is better to choose ATV tires with an asymmetric pattern, which will increase traction. If the sipes are high and directional, then the cross-country ability will be at a good level, besides, directional sipes contribute to the self-cleaning of tires.

Mud tires for ATVs with their tread resemble the swamp tires described above. The only thing worth noting is that the symmetrical tread blocks of mud tires must diverge in different directions at an angle of at least 45 degrees to ensure excellent water drainage. The disadvantage of ATV mud tires is poor lateral stability, which will "go sideways" when riding on hilly terrain.

If your favorite place to ride is sand, then ATV tires should be selected based on this: they should provide the largest possible contact patch, the rubber itself should be as soft as possible, and the tread should have long blocks that work like a bucket, raking sand. Moreover, tires for sand are the most highly specialized - they are absolutely not adapted to other surfaces.

The standard ATV tires are most often universal, also called All-Terrain (all-terrain). The ability to drive on all types of roads affects the quality of this movement, averaging its passable characteristics. This will not suit professionals and experienced extreme driving enthusiasts, but for beginners, an all-terrain ATV tire will serve as the best option.

The tread pattern of these tires is varied, as a rule, it is asymmetric, and the height of the blocks is no more than 2 cm. 0 Scorpio. Another type of all-purpose tire is the more toothy DEESTONE Mud Crusher rubber. But for sports and racing applications, for example, KENDA K 532 F Klaw tires can be advised.

ATV tire pressure

ATV tire pressure is of great importance for flotation - the lower the pressure, the better the rubber “swallows” bumps, which increases flotation. Higher pressure is appropriate when driving on a normal road. As a general rule of thumb for off-road use, all-terrain vehicle tire pressure should be, on average, somewhere between 0.35 bar and 0.83 bar.

Let's say a few more words about the marking of tires used on quadrics. Off-road ATV tires are NHS (Not for High Speed ​​Use) markings. This type of tire cannot be used on the road.

Which tires to choose for your ATV

The versatility of the ATV makes it a great solution for outdoor activities, work, racing, touring, expeditions, etc. But in order for the device to confidently hold on to a particular landscape, the driver needs to choose the right tires for the ATV. The fact is that ride comfort, maneuverability and patency of equipment depend on rubber. Even if you decide to buy an inexpensive ATV, the right tires will improve its driving performance. So let's figure out how to choose tires for an all-terrain vehicle.

Tire diameter selection

First, the rider needs to decide what is his priority: speed or flotation. It is from this that it is worth starting when deciding which tires are better to put on an ATV.

If you love driving ATV or want to race, then you should choose small diameter tires (12-14 inches). Such rubber will significantly increase the speed of the device, but its permeability will decrease.

Large wheels, on the contrary, will allow the quadric to drive even on difficult tracks: wetlands, streams, mud, snow. The fact is that large tires have an enlarged contact patch, which improves traction. But if you install large diameter tires on the ATV, then the torque of the device will decrease and the wear of components (engine and suspension) will increase.

But it's better not to experiment with tires for a children's ATV. If the device has 8 inch wheels, then you need to change them to rubber of the same size. Installing wheels of a different diameter will lead to poor handling, loss of sensitivity and reduced power.

Features of tires for all-terrain vehicles

It should be noted right away that almost all rubber for ATVs is designed for off-road use. Although some manufacturers produce tires for public roads.

Now on the market:

  • Radial tyres. Such wheels are better suited for smooth trails and high-speed driving. Actually, if you plan to drive around the city, then radial tires will suit you.
  • Bias tires. This rubber is the most common solution, as it provides the quad with better stability when driving in wetlands or mud.

Pay attention to the marking of tires. This will greatly simplify the choice of suitable rubber.

Wheel size is usually given in English or Metric. The first option looks like this: 25 × 8-12. The first two numbers show the height and width of the tire, and the last number shows the radius of the disc.

The metric system looks a bit more complicated, for example: 200/70R12. Where 200 is the width of the tire, and 70 is the ratio of the width to the height of the profile.

Tire tread pattern

When choosing tires for an ATV, you need to consider the tread pattern. How the ATV will behave off-road depends on it.

Patterns:

  • For loose soil and mud. Products of this type are designed for driving on wet and viscous tracks. The tires feature a deep herringbone pattern. This avoids slippage and improves traction. In addition, there are additional lugs on the rear tires.
  • For grass. These tires improve the ATV's performance on the field or turf by evenly distributing the load. Most often, such tires are chosen for driving in the country or the countryside.
  • For sand. On such rubber there are special blades that help to “remove” loose soil. The tread pattern resembles blocks. It is important to note that these are rather narrow directional tires, so they can only be used for driving on sand.
  • For snow. Such tires are distinguished by a deep pattern, spikes, and are sometimes even supplemented with chains.
  • For sports. Race tires are made from soft rubber and have small lugs that increase the stability of the ATV on flat tracks. Also, the “shoulders” of sports tires are reinforced, which allows the device to overcome bumps.

But if you plan to ride on mud, lawn, snow and other surfaces, then it is better to take universal tires. The small pattern of the tires allows the quad to feel good on any type of track.

Optimum tire pressure

Even if you have chosen the best tires for your ATV, without proper maintenance, their performance will be poor. This means that the rider needs to monitor the pressure in the wheels and change it based on the characteristics of the tracks.


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