I am picking up my '09 Grizzly 700 on Saturday and was wanting to upgrade the tire and rims on it. I am thinking of the ITP SS 112's with the Mud Lite XTR's. Anyone have any advice on the best size of tire and wheel for the bike? Any pics would also help. I will be doing alot of mudding a trail riding on this. Thanks.

 

My wife and I both have XTRs on our grizzlys. I bought a set of them for hers first and we loved them so when I traded my Raptor for my 700 Grizz I took her rims and tires and put them on mine. She took a year off ridign when she had our son and when she got back on the machine I bought her a set of fancy rims( they are SS's but I dont know what model) and anouther set of XTRs for her machine to replace the ones I stoll off it. I dont realy get any kick out of fancy rims on my ATVs because they get the snot beat out of them. I figure that there is not much point in dressing up something I intend to beat to death. The set I have on mine have around 3000 miles on them and they are still 75% tread left. One word of caution. dont go to big on size. When I went from the stock tires to the 26" XTRs I noticed a huge power loss. It will still stand straight up and point its nose at the sky but not as easly as it did with the stock tires. Once you get into gumbo mud use low range to be nice to the belt. Hi have had it to the point it wouldent even turn the tires in high range and barrely in low. I have yet to have a flat with these tires. Personaly I think they are abough the perfect tire. They are not great in loose terain like gravel but otherwise they grab almost everything.
There are many more pics of them in the link in my sig.
My 700 with 26" XTRs



Here is the wifes 660 grizz with her fancy rims and 25" XTRs

 

For lots of mud and trail riding, I also don't think you could go wrong with the radial mud lite.

In the riding areas I have close to me, most of the year its mostly dry hard surface, loos rock.

I'll slap on a set of Bighorns when the stockers are trashed.

I'm also not big into $$$ custom wheels on an ATV. It's not like I'm trying to impress the bears and chipmonks, and they wouldn't stay pretty through the first ride.

 

Ive got 12 X 26" Outlaw Mst's on my grizz and the wife has 14 X 26" terra crosses. Both are very good trail tires, MST' are a little better in the mud. We do a lot of trail riding and both seem to be about the same on the rocks and climbs.

 

I dont know how agressive you ride but ill never buy aluminum rims again for an atv. I ride harder than most, if you saw my quad junk yard you would understand(i sold an 05 yamaha kodiak for $200 because it actually still ran a little). I bought a set years ago broke one in 2 rides, so i put a stock one back on, 4 months i had all stock ones back on. I think the steel wheels are better for an atv unless its not used hard.

 

I agree with the others about not really into the "fancy" rims for the ATV.

I had this set of ITP Terra Cross tires on my former bike.....kawi brute force.

When I bought my 09 Yamaha Grizz I insisted that the dealer throw in a another stock set of rims, which they were happy to do (take offs from another bike). Then I took my ITP Terra cross tires and put them on the 2nd set of stock rims and put them on my griz. I kept the original stocker tires on the original rims to have as a back up or to put back on the ATV if I ever sell it.

I think for all around riding.....trails, whatever....the ITP Terra Cross tires are a great compromise. For all out mudding...im sure some of the others mentioned would probably have an advantage.





and while we are at it....>Here is the grizz.....brand new with the original stocker tires.....before the switch out.









.......................................




And I don't have any pics yet with my skid plates, A-arm guards etc. on my Grizz yet. But if you are in the market.......This guy out of Louisiana offers a great set of products!!!!!!!!!! The fit, finish, quality of these products are awesome!! http://stores.ebay.com/aluminumprodu...15434106QQtZkm

You can call and talk to him by phone if your interested....and don't want to go thru Ebay. I bought a whole set of these plates/guards...and love em.

Good luck with your new grizz!

..

 

My buddy has had three Grizzlys, including 2 new 08's last year.

He was running big tires and CONSTANTLY breaking axles and CV joints.

They don't seem to be able to toake much more than stock size tires.

Atleast not out here in the mountains anyway.

 

i have an 04 660 grizzly on 27" mud lites, and my buddy has an 04 grizz on the same tires, never broke a shaft or CV, but noticed that alot of rough terrain riding is hard on wheel bearings with those big tires. on those 2 bikes we have replaced all 8 wheel bearings in the 5 years we have been riding them.

the same guy also bought an 07 700 grizzly with ITP rims and the mud lite XTR's and he said it rides better and a little softer than the old style mud lites, but says they dont have the traction he wants. this is because when he goes up a big hill in 2wd the bike slings a ton of rocks and dirt behind him and spins the whole way up, but any bike with the power of the 700FI is gonna do that, no matter what tire.

 

I think I will go with the XTRs, seems everyone says good things about them, not sure on the rims though, leanin towards the SS106. TexasCTD and bkrukow, thanks for the pics. I will post some pics up of the bike when I get it, thanks again for the info.

 

Good luck with the Griz! You are gonna love it. Like I mentioned above in my 1st post....if you need some skid plates/A-arm guards etc.....check out "Aluminum Products" guy in Louisiana. Very reasonable on price and fit/finish was perfect. Sorry I don't have any pics of it on my bike at the moment.

..

 

itp 589's! best tire i've ever owned and i've owned LOTS.......got 12,000 miles on one of our bikes and the 589's have been on for about the last 3000 and they aren't halfway worn and that's with a lot of asphalt miles and they love mud!

i do agree with the cv axle post....best friend has one and he's put about 5 sets in the back....... his was an 06 dunno if that matters.....that just why all m quads are straight axles.. IMO the independants don't ride all that much better if you set up the shocks good on a straight axles....JMO you will like the grizz though! good power!

 

If hes put 5 sets of cv joints on he seriously needs to look into gorila axles. He could have more than paid for them in this time.

I personaly have not known anyone who has broken a drive train component on there Grizz but I know it happens. Almost 5000 miles on my wifes 04 and still on the factory belt and all original drivetrain parts. Ive only got around 1500 miles on my 07 but so far no problems. Oh and the 04 has been used to plow snow sence it was new and now the 07 has taken over that for the last 2 years.

 

Thanks again for the advice, I looked Aluminum up on ebay and they look great, gonna order a set as soon as I can. I went with the SS112 rims and 27" ITP XTR tires along with a 3000# Warn Winch. Again thanks for everyones input, it made the purchase alot easier. Now Im itchin for some warm weather, a cold one, and some mud.

 

My buddy with the Grizzlies replaced his axles with the Gorilla axles, while the failure rate was much less they broke as well.

They were replaced under warranty but still a major pain in the neck when you are many miles into the back country and need to get towed home.

He sold two of The Grizzlys and went with a Kawi Brute Force, kept one of the 08 Grizzlys for his wifes machine and ONLY runs it with stock size tires.

 

Wow. What the heck does he do to those things?? Dont tell me its just normal trail riding cause I aint buyin into that. Remind me not to let him ride my machines.