Tires are probably the most common upgrade done to any UTV. The reasons to upgrade your vehicle’s tires are nearly endless and range from simply needing a new set because the stock tires are worn to wanting more ground clearance, better traction, durability or to simply improving the looks of your vehicle.
You should consider many factors in making the decision to swap out tires. For example, identify the type of riding you do most. Or the type of riding that you want your UTV/side-by-side to be best at. This will help you narrow down your search. For instance, if you only ride the rocks in Moab, UT, once a year, but you want the vehicle to be most capable there, you will want to choose a larger tire with a durable sidewall, fairly soft rubber and lug design specific to the sandstone of the Moab area.
Lug design, profile, type of rubber (how soft the rubber on the tread is) and whether or not you need the tire to be D.O.T. (Department of Transportation) compliant should be your next choices. Many states allow the use of UTVs on county roads, but their laws typically require the use of D.O.T. compliant tires (check your local laws regarding this). This is extremely nice as it means you can ride your UTV right from your door to local riding areas.
Remember that UTV-specific tires are no longer your only choice. Starting Line Products currently offers wheel adapters that convert to the popular 5 x 4.5 automotive wheel lug pattern. This gives you an almost unlimited selection of wheels and tires.
Tire Size
Now, you will need to decide what size tire to use. Most people choose something larger than stock as a taller tire increases ground clearance and rolls over obstacles easier. Be aware of the clearance you have both on the body and fender areas as well as suspension and control arms. Make sure to check the clearance of the tire on the fender when turning with the suspension collapsed to ensure you have enough room. Wheel spacers or offset wheels can also reduce the clearance as your front tires turn, as they will swing through a larger radius.
If you find you don’t have enough clearance for the tire size and offset you really want to run, you may consider using plus 2-inch forward A-arms (offered by companies like Zbroz Racing). These A-arms move the front hub forward two inches, allowing much larger tires to be used. This is how we here at SLP outfitted our RZR-4 1000 with 33-inch tires. If you have questions about what size tire or how much offset can be used, experts in the industry can give you a good recommendation; I know we answer these questions quite often.
One question I hear on a regular basis is, “Should I put the same width tire on all four corners of my car.” My answer is almost always yes. I like the same width tire on all four corners as it allows me to rotate the tires front-to-rear as they wear. Also, I feel the UTV handles better in most conditions with the same width tires because the front and rear tires track in the same width track.
Once you make the decision of which tires to buy, you need to consider clutching your UTV to optimize the performance with those tires. The reason this is so important is when you change your tires, you also change the load that the clutches and engine are exposed to. Typically what I see with larger, more aggressive tires is a loss of peak engine rpm and overall sluggish performance.
