P500 5+2 vs 4+3 w/ 27s on p520

[Tall_Vol44]

As I await black Friday sales, I'm second guessing what wheels I'm going to get for my new to me 520.

Pretty much set on 27x9x12 Kenda BC HTRs all around. Have tossed the idea of 11" all around, but I'm a big dude and drive at elevation in Colorado most of the time. So I'm concerned the power would become an issue.

There's are 50" access trails here and I need to be able to get on them... That being said, all the width blocked entrances I think I could easily get by with 52", probably get by with 53", & MAYBE Squeeze by with 54-55" at the thinnest I have personally seen.

From what I read on here, wider is better when you go up in tire diameter. Was planning on getting 1" spacers for the back to make it look the same as the front.

That being said, do I want/need 4+3 or 5+2 wheels?

It's between STI for the 4+3 and ITP at 5+2 models, not sure if one of them is better than the other. Would like opinions or facts as to why one or the other is better or worse also.

Thanks for all the knowledge dropped in advance!

 

[Admin]

 

[The Green Goat]

IIRC, factory wheels are like 6+1, or something odd like that. 5+2 will get you to ~52"+, depending on how much you inflate those tire. 4+3 will be ~54". add 2" total if you add 1" spacers. If I were you and was worried about clearing width-restricting posts and wasn't worried about flopping (which is always a concern in a p5), I'd get the 5+2 and try them out, then add as much spacer as I could. That way, you have some wiggle room.

 

[trigger]

Yeah 5+2's and 1" spacers for the rear for an equal track width. It'll be all about how it feels in the seat from there.

 

[Splorin]

Don’t rule out 26’s to help compensate for the ‘elevation’ issue. The 11’s would protect the bead a little better but toss a little more crap. Maybe ride a tad smoother too…….

 

[trigger]

Don’t rule out 26’s to help compensate for the ‘elevation’ issue. The 11’s would protect the bead a little better but toss a little more crap. Maybe ride a tad smoother too…….

11's do soften the ride but feel a little spongy on the turns. Running them at a higher psi on the front helps. Depending on brand, actual diameter, operating psi... I agree, I thought 26's were a perfect fit with stock A arms.

 

[Tall_Vol44]

11's do soften the ride but feel a little spongy on the turns. Running them at a higher psi on the front helps. Depending on brand, actual diameter, operating psi... I agree, I thought 26's were a perfect fit with stock A arms.

Do I need to worry about rubbing with 11s?
And what about 27x11?
Looking at the Kenda website, the weights are the same for 26x9 vs 27x9, as well as 26x11 vs 27x11.
So, in my mind, I want the biggest tire I can get for the same weight. I think I hit 30 mph once, & I had to try really hard on the trail system I spent a week on recently. I do have Elka stage ones ordered also if that makes a difference.

 

[The Green Goat]

Do I need to worry about rubbing with 11s?
And what about 27x11?

Depends on how they actually measure and how they're profiled (squared off vs. rounded).

I run 27x10 K9 supergrips that measure almost exactly that, but are a very square tire and they rub hard. With no 1.5" wheel spacers on the front, mine rubbed the inner well. With a 1.5" spacer, they rub on the posterior well. The 520 has an additional stick guard on the posterior wheel well that takes up some additional space as well, so there's that.

 

[trigger]

Do I need to worry about rubbing with 11s?
And what about 27x11?
Looking at the Kenda website, the weights are the same for 26x9 vs 27x9, as well as 26x11 vs 27x11.
So, in my mind, I want the biggest tire I can get for the same weight. I think I hit 30 mph once, & I had to try really hard on the trail system I spent a week on recently. I do have Elka stage ones ordered also if that makes a difference.

If you go too wide you can rub. I had 26x11 BH 2.0's on 5+2's and it was fine. Those were 26.5" actual. Threw 1" spacers on the front and it rubbed hard. I wouldn't worry about weight a whole lot, the P5's have low enough gearing to turn just about anything.

 

[Tall_Vol44]

QUOTE="The Green Goat, post: 1902020, member: 26326"]
27x10 K9 supergrips that measure almost exactly that, but are a very square tire and they rub hard
[/QUOTE]
Do you have any extra offset from your wheels? I think the HTRs have a pretty square profile. The 11s look best (to me), judging by all the pics I've seen. That being said, I'm a function over form person usually.
I'm thinking 11s and 5+2 on the front are also gonna put me out to 54" which as mentioned, might be an issue.

 

[Tall_Vol44]

Ended up going with 5+2 and 27x9 with 1"spacer in the back.
Got them on and they're rubbing on the plastic stick guard plate. So I just took 1 side stick guard off and the tire rubs on the frame at full turn.
That being said, I guess it's better to rub on the plastic guard vs metal frame.
Considering grabbing a 2" spacer for the back and moving the 1" spacer to the front.

@trigger if I'm already rubbing and add a spacer, will that make it worse based on what you've experienced?

Pics added to prove it happened. Also got my elkas in early and threw them on at the same time. Completely different machine now. Much more planted and smooth than stock

 

[The Green Goat]

Ended up going with 5+2 and 27x9 with 1"spacer in the back.
Got them on and they're rubbing on the plastic stick guard plate. So I just took 1 side stick guard off and the tire rubs on the frame at full turn.
That being said, I guess it's better to rub on the plastic guard vs metal frame.
Considering grabbing a 2" spacer for the back and moving the 1" spacer to the front.

@trigger if I'm already rubbing and add a spacer, will that make it worse based on what you've experienced?

Pics added to prove it happened. Also got my elkas in early and threw them on at the same time. Completely different machine now. Much more planted and smooth than stock



View attachment 453332

View attachment 453333

View attachment 453334

Where is it rubbing on the well? inner side or posterior side?

 

[trigger]

Ended up going with 5+2 and 27x9 with 1"spacer in the back.
Got them on and they're rubbing on the plastic stick guard plate. So I just took 1 side stick guard off and the tire rubs on the frame at full turn.
That being said, I guess it's better to rub on the plastic guard vs metal frame.
Considering grabbing a 2" spacer for the back and moving the 1" spacer to the front.

@trigger if I'm already rubbing and add a spacer, will that make it worse based on what you've experienced?

Pics added to prove it happened. Also got my elkas in early and threw them on at the same time. Completely different machine now. Much more planted and smooth than stock



View attachment 453332

View attachment 453333

View attachment 453334

Machine looks good and I know you're loving those Elka's. You said it's rubbing the stick guard which is a new thing for the 520's. I'm assuming it's on the outer fender area as opposed to the frame area? If that's the case then yes, adding a wider spacer will probably make it worse. Don't know what 27's you went with but they must be running pretty true to size or more?

 

[futzin]

Bearclaw HTRs. They run very close to true to size.

I have them in 27x9x12 on 4+3 wheels on the front of my 520 (11s on rear). They rub where you've mentioned. I live with it. I love the HTRs for trail riding.

 

[Tall_Vol44]

Machine looks good and I know you're loving those Elka's. You said it's rubbing the stick guard which is a new thing for the 520's. I'm assuming it's on the outer fender area as opposed to the frame area? If that's the case then yes, adding a wider spacer will probably make it worse. Don't know what 27's you went with but they must be running pretty true to size or more?

Where is it rubbing on the well? inner side or posterior side?

With and without the stick guard. It's more towards the inner fender area. Just before the frame.
I measured the tires with 15psi when I first put them on they were 27.5 and maybe even a little bigger. Now, closer to 27 with 8psi.

Took her for a little test run around the neighborhood. Curbs that were violent before were nothing now. Did hit some impressive holes that I didn't notice and while still bumpy, I wasn't holding on for dear life 😂.

Did notice the rubbing trying to make a tight turn a couple times. Might just be something I have to live with and compensate for when driving

 

[Tall_Vol44]

Bearclaw HTRs. They run very close to true to size.

I have them in 27x9x12 on 4+3 wheels on the front of my 520 (11s on rear). They rub where you've mentioned. I live with it. I love the HTRs for trail riding.

We still have snow on North facing slopes in the neighborhood here. There's some open spaces right next to my house. Took her up some pretty steep, muddy, & snowy hills and the HTRs did not even blink.
I feel like the stockers would've slipped on the same spots.
Kinda wish I taken a test drive with just the tires first, then added the shocks to see the differences. But c'est la vie

 

[futzin]

Kinda wish I taken a test drive with just the tires first, then added the shocks to see the differences. But c'est la vie

Running 27s on 12" wheels helps some. Running them with Elka 1s helps a lot!

(no experience on snow with the HTRs)

 

[Tall_Vol44]

Bearclaw HTRs. They run very close to true to size.

I have them in 27x9x12 on 4+3 wheels on the front of my 520 (11s on rear). They rub where you've mentioned. I live with it. I love the HTRs for trail riding.

Have you ever noticed the tires rubbing on the little part of frame that pops out under the guard?

.... Considering trimming off just a bit of the edge of the frame, is why I ask.*

 

[futzin]

Have you ever noticed the tires rubbing on the little part of frame that pops out under the guard?

.... Considering trimming off just a bit of the edge of the frame, is why I ask.*

Not sure, I think it's just on that insert panel. Not 100% certain howevs. I'd run out and look at the machine but I'm not with it.

 

[trigger]

Have you ever noticed the tires rubbing on the little part of frame that pops out under the guard?

.... Considering trimming off just a bit of the edge of the frame, is why I ask.*

That's been a common mod in the past. 27.5" is pretty dang tall, no wonder it's rubbing honestly. Adding spacers may just push the problem out to the fender area. You could always add forward arched A arms and the rubbing will go away.

 

[Tall_Vol44]

That's been a common mod in the past. 27.5" is pretty dang tall, no wonder it's rubbing honestly. Adding spacers may just push the problem out to the fender area. You could always add forward arched A arms and the rubbing will go away.

If I added the forward arched A arms, would I have to add any other components? Or would it be throw the A arms on there and be done?
Do they cause any issues with any other parts long term?
Sorry if those are stupid questions, I'm very new to doing this kind of stuff.