Truck tires on a UTV?

[Tennsawdust]

I'm planning to tag my Defender for road use (we can do that where I live), so I need to put it on DOT approved tires. I see two options: 1) I can buy DOT approve UTV tires. 2) I can buy larger rims and put light truck tires on it.

The UTV tires are more expensive and I suspect they will not last as long. The upside is that I can get DOT legal tires that fit my current rims. The truck tires themselves are cheaper, but I have to buy some 15" rims to mount them on. In the longer term the truck tires might prove less expensive, although there is a higher up-front cost. The truck tires will be only slightly larger diameter than the tires currently on it, but will be a few pounds heavier per tire than the UTV tire (possibly more stress on the driveline).

I'm wondering if anyone has dealt with this issue before and what direction you went?

 

[Trails2004]

Check out Kanati Mongrel UTV DOT rated tires at Discount Tire Direct.

I have read nothing but great reviews on these tires.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I haven't done that, but if I were to do it, I would try to put some automotive tires that fit my existing rims. If you want a bit of off road traction, get some mud grip tires if possible to fit your UTV rims. I dont think I would be concerned with additional strain on the drive train as long as you dont jack it up and put huge tires on it and even then, the drive train should hold up to all the engine can put out. The tire weigh should not affect the buggy as the weight on the axles will still be the same, the weight of your UTV. Steering strain might increase a bit but I dont think a car/ truck tire is that much heavier than a 10-12 ply ATV tire. I know mine where pretty heavy when I had to replace them, more so than I had thought they would be.

 

[Tennsawdust]

My UTV came with 12" rims running 27" tires. I can go to a 15" rim and use an all terrain or mud terrain truck tire. A 235/70-15 truck tire is less than 2" larger in diameter so it wouldn't be a huge jump. It might not even require a lift to clear it.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Just remember, one reason OEMs put such small wheels/tires on equipment isn't just because they (wheels/Tires) are cheap, but the drivetrain can be made lighter and cheaper too. Putting larger wheels on a machine, may stress the light drivetrain and cause premature failure.

 

[Trails2004]

I would have more concerns with CVT systems. A heavier tire/wheel can cause clutch and belt issues.

 

[LouNY]

My utv has DOT rated 6 ply tires on it, 27x9-14 Fronts and 27x11-27 rears at 12 pounds of pressure they do good on roads as well as fields.

 

[5030]

My utv has DOT rated 6 ply tires on it, 27x9-14 Fronts and 27x11-27 rears at 12 pounds of pressure they do good on roads as well as fields.

So does my wife's. Not the usual bar tread rough riding tires either. We (she) takes it up town all the time, you can ride on the road here as well so long as you have the proper tires, a rearview mirror, turn signals, horn and hazard flashers...and a valid drivers license too. Makes a great go for gas for the lawnmower vehicle. I say my wife's because I rarely get to use it.

 

[Motorboatin]

I have seen plenty of UTVs with BFG mud or all terrain tires mounted

 

[Zebrafive]

I'm planning to tag my Defender for road use (we can do that where I live), so I need to put it on DOT approved tires. I see two options: 1) I can buy DOT approve UTV tires. 2) I can buy larger rims and put light truck tires on it.

The UTV tires are more expensive and I suspect they will not last as long. The upside is that I can get DOT legal tires that fit my current rims. The truck tires themselves are cheaper, but I have to buy some 15" rims to mount them on. In the longer term the truck tires might prove less expensive, although there is a higher up-front cost. The truck tires will be only slightly larger diameter than the tires currently on it, but will be a few pounds heavier per tire than the UTV tire (possibly more stress on the driveline).

I'm wondering if anyone has dealt with this issue before and what direction you went?

Which Defender do you have? I am considering a Can Am Defender and posted asking for reviews and got ZERO response. My others under consideration are a Kawasaki MULE Pros FX series, or the Bass Pro/Cabelas Tracker 800 (formerly Arctic Cat Prowler Pro/Textron Prowler Pro)