27's on '85 250ES Big Red!

[Stonewall]

Looks like you got clearance by the hair on your sack though!! Not sure I would have gone quite that big..I would want a little more breathing room myself.

I see rubbing issues when you are out riding..

Still not totally with you on the tire reversal thing..be concerned about highspeed stability. I know you believe in what you're doing, but I could see that causing the machine to 'wander' a bit at higher speed as the weight/contact point changes from one side of the tread to the other.

Just the same, nice ride. I know it will take those deep mud pits like a champ..some advice though. Take your trailer hitch off(and the balls)..I put mine thru the paces this past weekend and found the extension of my trailer hitch cause me just enough clearance issue to hang me up on some of the deep rutted trails left by the other riders. Mine is definitely gone for the next ride!!

Attachment 134055

I went with 25" Bear Claws..love the extreme grip!!

Didn't see your post earlier......

I didn't origionally didn't intend on going with 27's, but I came across these for $22 each, and I couldn't pass that up!

Maybe I should send you the stock Ohtsu I took off the front, then you will know about wandering! That might be an issue, except for the fact that I seldom go faster than 25 mph anyway.

I don't really want to mess with the hitch, simply because I use it alot. Besides that, everywhere that I ride is on private land, so there aren't many places with deep ruts, especially like what I've seen in videos of public riding areas. Mostly I just ride on old logging trails, or make my own.

Bearclaws are OK, but I've never seen anything out perform Vampires...

[fabiodriven]

I'm glad to see you put the front tire on right. I always get asked about front tires mounted "backwards", whether on street bikes or trikes. Truth is they're not backwards. The rotation is correct for the tread. Nice job.

[Stonewall]

I cranked the shock up to the fourth notch (it was in the first...) this afternoon, but I don't think it really made any difference. What I did notice is that I now have the ability to turn in the middle of a mud hole!! That old Ohtsu couldn't do that!!

BTW, if anyone wants the old OEM Ohtsu tire, send me an offer and I will get it to you after I break it down and patch it where the PO plugged it.

[schneed]

So after reading this thread and msg with Stonewall I decided to also get the 27x12-11 TSL Super Swapper Vampires with 1.2" lugs! I ordered the same blem tires for $22/tire but paid $32/tire in fright charges (still a steal as far as I am concerned)! I also purchased the same ITP steel 11x7 wheels for like $42/wheel.

I mounted them last night and before the swamps are completely frozen up in northern MN, I got to ride in some great mud and let me tell you, u will NOT find a better muddin tire period! These things are awesome.

Here are a few pics right before I got it all muddy...btw I decided to mount the front tire the same as the rears (cuz I dont like the look of the other way)!



You can see one of my other BR's with my 25" Mud Bugs on it now (I thought those were the cream of crop until the Vampires!)


Close up of the tractor tires.


I just finished paint the CMP brush guard and had put it on for the first time...btw I loved riding with it on! I didn't hold me back with 10+ inches of ground clearance under the skid plate!

[85twofiftyES]

Dayyumm! If I had known that deal was still available I would have scored the Vamps too.

[atc007]

Very nice schneed,,aren't they gonna rub those oe fenders?

[schneed]

Very nice schneed,,aren't they gonna rub those oe fenders?

Thanks ATC007! I raised the rear shock mount about 3", as seen in a thread a started a while ago...http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...s-to-a-Big-Red so plenty of clearance there.

But the front tire rubs right where the mud flap attaches to the front fender, so I hope to one day raise the front similar to what guys did here...http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...y-1985-Big-Red and http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...-250es-project but not as much lift, just a couple inches

[daniel_250r]

i love it, it looks like a tiny tractor

[captainweezy]

That is a great price for new vamps plus the rims too.

[czac]

LOL, here is my responce to the same question from a different thread:

When running a directional tread tire on a free-wheeling application the tread should be facing backwards to help it shed mud better. It's kinda hard to explain, but here goes: The driven tires push against the ground when going foreward, so the point of the V pushes the dirt/mud toward the sides so that the tire cleans out to keep digging. When the same tire is free-wheeled, the force is opposite; ergo the ground pushes the tire. The tire is mounted backwards so that the force is still pushing against the V (the V points foreward where it touches the ground.) and the tires clean out instead of balling up.

I see a lot of pictures where people have their front tire mounted the same direction as their rears. If you think about how the front tire actully drags, mounting the tread this way has a scooping effect. This will allow the tires to ball up much easier.

You can read more here:http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...es-Build/page4

well Ill be a monkeys A**! Thanks for the info on the front tire, I would have never thought of that. but, does having the tire rotate opposite on the thread direction affect the ride or handling any? like vibrations or anything?

[The Goat]

Interco tires, even their road tires, are never balanced anyways.

I bought a set of their 27s to run on a 300 honda...they inflated to almost 30 inches.

[czac]

lol damn!!! so it makes no difference then? Cool. thanks!