27's on '85 250ES Big Red!

[Stonewall]

The wheels for my new Vampires finally came today, so I got them all mounted up and on my Big Red! The tires are 27-12-11 Vampire TSL's that I got directly from Interco for $22 each, because they are "blems". (Can you see what's wrong with them?...Me neither!) Wheels are ITP steel's, 11x7 with a 2+5 offset. It's still slighty off on the front, enough for the side lugs to slightly rub the fork boot, but I have a plan to remedy that. (More details later...) Anyway, here are the pics!:Bounce:Bounce:Bounce:Bounce:Bounce
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/Stonewall387/My%20New%2085%20Big%20Red/c153af05.jpg
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/Stonewall387/My%20New%2085%20Big%20Red/iPhonePictures077.jpg
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/Stonewall387/My%20New%2085%20Big%20Red/iPhonePictures078.jpg
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/Stonewall387/My%20New%2085%20Big%20Red/iPhonePictures079.jpg
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/Stonewall387/My%20New%2085%20Big%20Red/iPhonePictures080.jpg
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/Stonewall387/My%20New%2085%20Big%20Red/iPhonePictures081.jpg
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/Stonewall387/My%20New%2085%20Big%20Red/iPhonePictures082.jpg
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/Stonewall387/My%20New%2085%20Big%20Red/iPhonePictures083.jpg
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/Stonewall387/My%20New%2085%20Big%20Red/iPhonePictures086.jpg
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/Stonewall387/My%20New%2085%20Big%20Red/iPhonePictures085.jpg

When I got done sadly it was dark so I didn't get to test their full potential, but the 250 engine pulled them with no problem at all!

[murfman]

You have some killer ground clearance with those tires! Looks Good!!!

[coolpool]

Looks mean! Is there a specific reason to run the front tire backwards? How is your rear tire clearence at full up suspension travel?

[Stonewall]

Looks mean! Is there a specific reason to run the front tire backwards? How is your rear tire clearence at full up suspension travel?

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/showthread.php/131970-1985-Big-Red-250es-Build/page4

I havn't taken a tape measure to it, but I stood my 250lb ass on the rear rack and jumped on it, and it bottomed out and didn't hit the tires, so that's good enough for me!

[85twofiftyES]

BEAST! What's the depth of the lug?

[Stonewall]

BEAST! What's the depth of the lug?

Specs say 39/32".

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/Stonewall387/My%20New%2085%20Big%20Red/5b848091.jpg

Looks more like 1+3/8" to me.

[TatTooL23]

Needs bigger balls to match that foot print! Lol

[Stonewall]

Needs bigger balls to match that foot print! Lol

Lol, they already smack against the hitch when the suspension compresses! Next time I'm in Spencer's I'm going to pick up a few pair of the giant chrome ones, I need a set for my truck.

I origionally bought that set and put them under my grandad's truck without him knowing....It took him about 2 weeks to notice:lol:. Everyone got a big kick out of that.

[350xx]

Nice! and yeah. Your front tire is on correct. Either way however, you will be fine with traction.

[coolpool]

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



You can read more here:http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/131970-1985-Big-Red-250es-Build/page4

I havn't taken a tape measure to it, but I stood my 250lb ass on the rear rack and jumped on it, and it bottomed out and didn't hit the tires, so that's good enough for me!

Thanks for the insight. My BR had a less agressive directional front tire on backwards when I bought it. I switched it around because I thought it was mounted that way by mistake; and folks pointed it out on here. Oh well what's done is done! Again, great looking machine!

[swampthang]

Looks great!

[dougspcs]

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!!

134055

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

[Stonewall]

It doesn't rub anywhere on the rear fenders! I'm not sure what my shock is set on actully (I've never checked...) but I bottomed it out and it still didn't touch the tires. When you brake really hard on the front brake, it will rub the back side of the front fender a little bit.

You don't need any kind of lift kit for 26's either....
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/Stonewall387/My%20New%2085%20Big%20Red/iphonepics014.jpg

[EDIT]: I went and had a look, and the shock is all the way in the bottom notch! I think I will crank it up a bit...:)

[userj8670]

Looks Nuts!! (no pun intended)

[schneed]

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!!

Those 27's do look sweet!

I agree with Doug...I would lift the rear end a couple inches, not only will it look sick, but then you can gain another inch of two of ground clearance under the skid plate.

Also, we put our hitches up side down for better clearance in those ruts. You have to cut some of the steel away where the shock mount is to re-bolt it on, but it's not too much work for whats it's worth!

[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!!

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)!

136359

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!)
136360

Close up of the tractor tires.
136361

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!
136362

[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/showthread.php/136295-Cheap-and-easy-mods-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/showthread.php/134033-Lifted-my-1985-Big-Red and http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/109054-Honda-Big-Camo-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/showthread.php/131970-1985-Big-Red-250es-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!