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.
ATV tire sizes are indicated on the tire sidewall and are typically given in one of two different sizing formats.
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.
The three numbers in the standard imperial tire sizing format represent three critical tire dimensions.
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.
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.
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.
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 :
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 Model | Front Tire Size | Rear Tire Size |
| Polaris Sportsman 450 | 25X8-12 | 25X10-12 |
| Polaris Sportsman 1000 | 27X9-14 | 27X11-14 |
| Can-Am Outlander 450 / 570 (base model) | 25X9-12 | 25X11-12 |
| Can-Am Renegade 1000 | 25X8-12 | 25X11-12 |
| Can-Am Outlander 1000 | 26X8-12 | 26X10-12 |
| Honda Fourtrax Foreman 520 | 25X8-12 | 25X10-12 |
| Yamaha Grizzly 700 | 27X10-14 | 27X10-14 |
Examples by model.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 Model | Front Tire Size | Rear Tire Size |
| Can-Am Renegade 110 | 19X7-8 | 19X9,5-8 |
| Honda TRX 90 | 20X7-8 | 19X8-8 |
| Honda TRX 250 | 22X7-10 | 22X10-9 |
| Yamaha YFM 90 | 18X7-8 | 18X9-8 |
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?)
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.
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:
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?
by Calvin Anderson
Understanding ATV tire size is equally important as knowing the types of ATV tires.
All-terrain vehicles tire manufacturers produce different sizes of ATV tires with recommended tire pressure in the market worldwide.
Therefore, we bought you a complete guide on ATV tire size, how to read ATV tire size and what is the right size tires for your ATV here.
Most all-terrain vehicles tire sizes are between 20 inches to 30 inches. Side-by-Side ATVs tire sizes 27 to 28 inches, Sport ATVs tire sizes 20 to 25 inches, Utility ATV tire sizes 24 to 28 inches, and Youth ATV tire sizes 14 to 17 inches.
ATV tire size depends on the type of ATV. So, choosing the right size tires, you must know what types of ATV you are driving.
To replace an ATV tire, make sure to purchase the right tire and wheel size which fit your ATV. If you are confused regarding your ATV tire size, follow ATV tire size chart first.
ATV Tire SizeHow To Read ATV Tire SizeATV tire sizes are divided into two categories; standard and metric tires size. But, standard ATV tire size is more popular than metric ATV tire size.
Therefore, it’s always recommended to know standard and metric ATV tire size meaning to avoid buying the wrong size of tires for your quad.
Related: How Long Do ATV Tires Last?
1. Standard ATV Tire SizeNow, the standard ATV tire size format is more commonly used all over the world than the metric ATV tire size format.
Oftentimes you see a tire size written like 26x10x12 or 26×10-12; that is the standard ATV tire size.
Understanding standard ATV tire size is simple because only three numbers measure it.
Follow the image below to understand the standard ATV tire size meaning:
Standard ATV Tire Size formatStandard ATV tire size numbers meaning:
Metric ATV tire size formula is now rare to find because standard tire size formula is less complicated to understand.
Most American-made ATV tires follow standard tire size, not metric, but they still exist on the market.
Metric ATV tire size comes with three numbers and one letter, like 205/80R12.
To understand the metric ATV tire size format follow the image below:
Metric ATV Tire Size FormulaMetric ATV tire size numbers meaning:
ATV wheel diameters are the same for most all-terrain vehicles. Unlike ATV tires’ height and weight sizes, wheel size does not change.
Most off-road vehicles’ wheels diameter range between 10 to 12 inches. But, if your off-road vehicle needs a big tire, that means the wheel diameter is also big.
Every different type of ATV’s wheel diameter is 12 inches. So if you are riding an ATV, your ATV’s wheel diameter might be twelve inches.
How To Choose The Right Size Tires For ATVChoosing the right size tires for an ATV varies on ride style and where it’s ridden.
So, before choosing the right size tires for ATV, you must determine which terrain you drive often.
ATV riders mostly drive ATVs on trails, on rocks, on mud, and for work.
For rock riding, you must choose a bigger tire size. And on rocky terrain, aggressive tread pattern tires also help to give you maximum riding comfort.
Riding on a Trail is different from other terrains because you must go faster on the trail. Choose the one that is wider and flatter than the average tire size.
If you often ride on mud, then big size of tire will be the best choice for your four-wheeler.
When you use your ATV for work, buy a general size ATV tire because general size tires are capable of going through all terrain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX5dgFjtu9Y&ab_channel=FunctionPowersportsVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Which Tire Size Should You Run On Your ATV or UTV?!?! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX5dgFjtu9Y&ab_channel=FunctionPowersports)
Conclusion – ATV Tire SizeATV tire size always needs to be appropriate for your ATV. Bigger or small tires both are not applicable for your ATV.
First, know the type of your ATV and then choose the right size of ATV tire. Standard ATV tire sizes are the most common, and it’s easy to understand.
Make sure you understand the ATV tire size numbers because you cannot choose the right ATV tire size without understanding the numbers.
Therefore, after you know the meaning of ATV tire size, you should be able to detect the right side of the ATV tire.
Calvin Anderson
Hey, I’m Calvin from Arizona. Living in Arizona makes me an adventurous and off-road enthusiast, I must say.
Raiding ATVs, UTVs and Dirt bikes with my friends is all about me. And offroadlord.com is the way to let you guys know everything about off-roading.
05/17/2018
The numbers written on the side of the rubber tire can tell the owner of the ATV everything that interests him. And if you are for some If you don't know what these mysterious numbers mean, then you can be mistaken when choosing the next set of tires. But tires directly determine whether it will go technique further or not. So, in this article you will close all the questions on about the decoding of size ATV tire .
All tires have their own basic parameters - this is the width, height and diameter. The value of these parameters is mainly measured in inches. Exist two units:
1) If you have ATV, then this is for you. English version is the most common number system that is used when determination of tire dimensions on ATVs.
All measurements here are in inches. (1 inch equals 2.54 cm). For example, the size indicated in English classification looks like this - 25x8x12 . Let's take a closer look at the meaning of each digit:
- The first digit 25 shows the height of the tire in inches;
- The second digit 8 indicates the width of the tire in inches;
- The last, third digit 12 indicates the diameter of the wheel disk, it is also measured in inches. Disc diameter on each ATV can be different. Therefore, be careful before you buy tires for ATV, see what regular disks are installed on your vehicle. nine0004
And a very important point worth noting. Often our customers ask themselves: “If I have a tire size of 20x10x10, can I put instead of them 20x11x10? The answer is yes. First, you can put rubber on regular wheels with a size exceeding 1 inch in height and width. Secondly, if you want tires even wider, then for this you will need to buy other disks.
But again, there are limitations. On discs of other diameters, you can install rubber, the largest is only 2 inches in height and width. nine0004
These two rules must be strictly observed, otherwise, if you try to put tires of an unacceptably large size, this may adversely affect on a quad bike. After all, the rubber will be larger and, accordingly, heavier, which does not fit the technical parameters of the ATV. In production ATVs take into account all the characteristics, so manufacturers of ATV equipment I don't recommend using bigger tires at all. But if you do decided to increase the size of tires, call our toll-free number, we we will help. nine0004
2) Also there is another version - metric . Here the dimensions are indicated in percentage and millimeters. For example, size specified according to the metric classification - 205/80 Rx12 . Such designations are usually used on automobile tires. Let's see what's what:
- The first digit of 205 shows the total tire width in millimeters.
Converting this value to inches, we will just get the number 8 (in the English version is 8 inches wide). nine0004
- The second digit 80 indicates the ratio of the height of the tire to its width, measured as a percentage. After doing some mathematical manipulations, we get the number 25 (in the English version, the height is equal to 25 inches).
- The number 12, as in the English version, shows the size disk in inches.
- Well, the letter R means that our tire is radial.
The most important thing to remember from the article is that it is not recommended to install tires of huge sizes that do not correspond to the parameters your ATV . If you want to change the tires on your vehicle, give us a call. we will help.
May 31, 2017, 10:15 am
An ATV is perhaps one of the most versatile vehicles. On it you can go hunting or fishing, take part in high-speed races or just go with your family to nature.
Depending on the purpose for which the ATV will be used, a suitable model is selected. nine0004
An important factor is the choice of rubber, since the efficiency and safety of using an ATV depends on it.
When choosing tires for ATVs, you should be guided not only by personal needs, but also take into account your driving style, and also in what conditions the “iron horse” will be used. All tires for an ATV are divided into two types - diagonal and radial. Each of them is designed for driving in a certain area. Bias tires are the most popular, as they do an excellent job of overcoming fords, mud and swamps. Radials are designed for high speed driving on hard surfaces, so they are usually used on racing models. nine0004
One of the most important details when choosing a quad tire is the tread pattern. And this is far from a design "trick", as many believe. It depends on him in what conditions it will be possible to use the ATV.
Based on this, all tires are divided into the following types:
for sand - have a bladed tread that provides excellent grip on sandy terrain;
Mud - equipped with deep herringbone tread to avoid towing when hit in mud; nine0004
sporty - have a flat surface with small protrusions to guarantee maximum stability on a hard road surface;
universal - their tread has a small pattern that provides excellent grip on any terrain;
winter - have a special tread pattern, and can also be additionally equipped with spikes and chains.
Quad tires are usually used in two systems of sizes - English and metric. English looks like this: 25x8-12, where 25 is the height of the tire in inches, 8 is its width, 12 is the diameter of the disk. nine0004
For us, the metric system is more convenient, which has the following form: 205 / 80R12, in this case, the dimensions are in millimeters.
