New tires or Mattracks?

TWO GUNS · Nov 19, 2007

mikeyd,
Essex are good tuff tire, and have aggressive treads. BUT WILL BEAT THE HE// out of you. My close friend, who owns a construction company, went threw the ESSEX thing >>>>> purchased the Essex & put them on one of his RTV, and one set on a Rhino, back in I think June or July. I've rode with him on both units and they like to beat to death not only the machines, but like to beat us to death, 6 weeks later, he yanked them ruff things off, give them away to one of his employees, and purchased the 589's. I would walk, ( & he said the same ) before I rode on anything that had them tires on them. I swear, they are that bad. Now, that being said, let me also say, they will pull, and they are very aggressive, but my GOD !!!!
I am not making this statement to throw off on the Essex, but, I would have never believed any tire, whoever makes it, could be that bad. It's a wonder he has any bolts & nuts still togeather on either one of his units. After he purchased the 589's, and rode with him with them on, that when I made the decision to go with the M/S 589 27" tires, matter of fact, they made my RTV ride better that the OEM atv's that came with the RTV.

mikeyd · Nov 19, 2007

I just wonder if the 589's are heavy duty enough for the weight of the 1100. Remember, this machine weighs almost 2500 lbs. unloaded. Thats around 625 lbs. on each tire. I routinely carry 1000lbs. in the bed and have had over a ton in there. Essex now makes a 25" inch, 10" wide surefoot tire which is the same size tire I have on now. What is the advantage of the taller 27" inch tire, if any? Will I need a lift kit with the 27" tire? Is the bolt pattern on the 1100 the same as the 900? Thanks for all your help.

TOMMYHPX4X4 · Nov 19, 2007

the 589's should handle it.

TWO GUNS · Nov 19, 2007

mikeyd

In your case, I would get the 26" tires. The reason for the 27" tires on mine in for running in deeper mud down here in the swamps. Taller tires give my machine less chance of dragging bottom. The 26 " 589's will work great on the RTV 1100, we have maybe five units in my area that has the 26" 589, and they run the heck out of 'em. Getting stuck with these tires are the lease of your worries .... Even the 25" ~~~ ten's and twelves would work just perfect on the RTV 1100 series ~~~~
On my RTV 900, I don't have a lift kit ~~~

mikeyd · Nov 26, 2007

Well I pulled the trigger today on the Essex 27" surefoot tire kit. Includes four tires, rims and lugs. Fronts are 9" wide and rear are 11" wide. I didn't go with the 26" tire because it only comes in the less aggressive 489 tread and after getting stuck yesterday with the worksites I want the most aggressive tread available.

Spoke to the people at allterrainonline.com and they recommended the lift kit but said I could go ahead w/o at first and if I experienced rubbing I could get it later. I may just call them tomorrow anyway and have them send it. I guess I am concerned about raising the center of gravity. They said it only raises the machine such that you gain about 1" of ground clearance. As they explained it to me it not so much a body lift kit as it is a wheel lift kit for tire clearance.

Anybody got any thoughts one way or the other on the lift kit?(its $179)

I did strongly consider the regular 589 tire which are very similar to the ITP mudlites on my ATV. Both are 6 ply tires, but I felt the sidewall on the mudlights and it is just not there for my use. Yesterday I was hauling all of a ton of heavy sand and rocks with me and a buddy, pushing 4500 maybe 5000lbs. Lots of off chamber driving with that kind of weight etc. I need a sidewall. The rough ride doesn't concern me too much as I use this machine as a workhorse not so much as a trail or passenger machine. I would rather have the stability when hauling heavy loads, which is my typical use.

TOMMYHPX4X4 · Nov 26, 2007

i think i would have went with a 26" 589 the sidewall is tough i would say they look like run flats. but i wouldn't even put them in the same catagory as a mudlite .let us know how them essexx work out.

mikeyd said:
Well I pulled the trigger today on the Essex 27" surefoot tire kit. Includes four tires, rims and lugs. Fronts are 9" wide and rear are 11" wide. I didn't go with the 26" tire because it only comes in the less aggressive 489 tread and after getting stuck yesterday with the worksites I want the most aggressive tread available.

Spoke to the people at allterrainonline.com and they recommended the lift kit but said I could go ahead w/o at first and if I experienced rubbing I could get it later. I may just call them tomorrow anyway and have them send it. I guess I am concerned about raising the center of gravity. They said it only raises the machine such that you gain about 1" of ground clearance. As they explained it to me it not so much a body lift kit as it is a wheel lift kit for tire clearance.

Anybody got any thoughts one way or the other on the lift kit?(its $179)

I did strongly consider the regular 589 tire which are very similar to the ITP mudlites on my ATV. Both are 6 ply tires, but I felt the sidewall on the mudlights and it is just not there for my use. Yesterday I was hauling all of a ton of heavy sand and rocks with me and a buddy, pushing 4500 maybe 5000lbs. Lots of off chamber driving with that kind of weight etc. I need a sidewall. The rough ride doesn't concern me too much as I use this machine as a workhorse not so much as a trail or passenger machine. I would rather have the stability when hauling heavy loads, which is my typical use.

TWO GUNS · Nov 26, 2007

mikeyd ,

You wanted agressive tires, well , you got 'em. They will pull now ..
Probobly find out that you will hardly ever engage your front end
The difference in the ATV tires that came with my RTV, and my new
tires,is daylight and dark ~~~~ Places that I would engage my front end, now just walk threw it in two wheel drive like I was on blacktop ~~~~

Happy you got new feet on, should go anywhere you want to go.

TOMMYHPX4X4 · Nov 26, 2007

pictures.pictures.lol muddy pictures

mikeyd · Nov 26, 2007

TWO GUNS said:
mikeyd ,

You wanted agressive tires, well , you got 'em. They will pull now ..
Probobly find out that you will hardly ever engage your front end
The difference in the ATV tires that came with my RTV, and my new
tires,is daylight and dark ~~~~ Places that I would engage my front end, now just walk threw it in two wheel drive like I was on blacktop ~~~~

Happy you got new feet on, should go anywhere you want to go.

I sure hope they are better then the worksites....I mean absolutely useless in the mud. I don't know about the mud you guys get in the bayou, but up here in Albany, NY we don't get deep soupy mud, we are on clay so its hard but greasy. You can't hardly walk on it. I got stuck yesterday going up a very slight incline and then it slid sideways halfway down the incline. Had to get the mini excavator out to spin it around pointing downhill to get it moving. If I am on the trail and it is off camber in the slightest the machine feels like its going to slide right off the trail. I am afraid I'm going to end up in a ravine. No fun in a 15k , 2500lbs. machine.
This is the time of year I like to go in the woods to get firewood and pull vines off the tree's etc. I am also thinking about tapping some maples this spring. So I am hopeful this setup will do the trick.