Category: UTV Tires

Do you balance UTV Tires?

So you just bought a set of new UTV tires and you were wondering Do you balance UTV Tires? UTV tires can be balanced and the main reason you need to balance UTV tires is due to the high speeds and large acceleration/deceleration of your UTV. Most UTVs have a relatively high center of gravity, which means that if the front wheels are out of balance, it will be very noticeable. You may notice your steering wheel vibrating and making noise when you drive over rough roads or bumps.

See out full roundup of the best UTV tires

Learn more How long can I drive on unbalanced UTV Tires?

Learn more What is the best UTV air compressor?

What Is UTV Tire Balancing?

Tire balancing is the process of adjusting a tire’s weight distribution so that it rotates smoothly on the rim of a wheel. The goal of this process is to ensure that a tire runs true and doesn’t wobble or become damaged over time.

Tires spin at high speeds and can put out a lot of torque, so if one side of a tire carries more weight than another, it will tend to pull in that direction. This causes vibrations that can cause damage over time, especially if the imbalance goes unnoticed for too long.

Why do you need to balance UTV tires?

When you’re driving your UTV at 30+ mph, suddenly slowing down for a corner or avoiding an object will give your tires tremendous force that may twist the center area of your tire. An unbalanced tire can also cause premature wearing on one side as well as poor handling.

Unbalanced SXS tires might be difficult to drive on. You’ll even feel the vibrations through the steering wheel as they begin to transfer continuously. The rim or tire’s faults are what are to blame for these vibrations.

#1 The first consideration is how you plan to use these UTV tires.

Or, to put it another way, what kinds of roads or trails will you be using? If you usually go on trails or paved roads, tire balancing is advised. Vibrations along the way won’t be pleasant because you may feel even the smallest shift in your car while driving on smooth roads.

Trail riding can present the most challenging situations because it presents both speed and rough terrain. Sometimes you may be clipping along at 30 mph and then hit the brakes to cut a sharp corner. This puts tremendous stress on your tires and can lead to failure and unbalancing.

The alternate possibility is that you’re going to be driving in mud, or while rock climbing. If so, you’ll be restricted to driving at low speeds and spared the difficulties brought on by unbalanced UTV tires. We would still recommend balancing your tires even at lower speed just because let’s say you hit some mud at a slow speed and it cakes on the wheel. If your tire is balanced as you pick up speed the mud will fling off due to centrifugal force. If your UTV tires are not balanced as you pick up speed the mud will settle towards that unbalanced area and cause a wobble sometimes violently until it finally let’s go from the tire.

#2 How fast are you driving your UTV?

Secondly, consider the riding speed you are accustomed to. Unbalanced tires can be particularly dangerous if you frequently travel at speeds higher than 25 mph.

A UTV that is shaking and vibrating while you are hitting the gas at 30 mph can present a dangerous situation. Not something that you want to experience so balancing those tires becomes a priority really quick. You can put off the balancing process if you generally go at or below 30 mph but who really wants to go slow all the time?

Cool view on hard ride UTV in muddy water

#3 General wear and tear on your UTV

Keeping your tires in balance will help prolong the life of your wheel bearings. So if something as easy and simple as a tire balance can save you the headache of wheel bearing replacement why not do it? It can also save you future trouble with your axles.

Can you balance UTV tires at home?

Yes, balancing UTV tires at home is an easy DIY project you can do at home. There are two methods we recommend for balancing your UTV tires at home, ceramic balancing beads and wheel weights.

Option #1 UTV Tire balancing beads

For the easiest wheel balancing method, you can use wheel balancing beads. These beads are made from either stainless steel or hard ceramic material that keeps them from cracking and turning to dust in the tire. As you drive and the wheel speed increases the beads are dispersed due to centrifugal force and they self-balance the wheel giving you a smooth ride.

Things to Consider About Tire Beads:

Choosing tire balance beads can be a bit difficult. However, here is a list of factors you should consider when picking the right choice for your SxS.

Material

There are many different kinds of beads used in the production of tires. We recommend ceramic beads. There are stainless steel and plastic. However, steel can damage the tire lining and plastic beads can clump together because of moisture.

This is why we would go with ceramic beads such as the Counteract Wheel Balancing Beads

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For around $30 bucks you can take care of your UTV tire balancing.

Steel and plastic are two other common materials for beads, but each has its own set of pros and cons. For example, steel beads last longer than plastic beads but can damage the inner lining of a tire. Plastic beads absorb moisture and clump together if they get wet. Ceramic beads are durable and don’t break easily; however, they can crack in extremely hot or cold weather. The best kind of bead is tempered glass or ceramic because it lasts longer and won’t crack in extreme temperatures.

UTV wheel balancing bead size

Be careful of the bead size when purchasing tire balancing beads. They are mostly in 3 sizes. Go with a larger size bead that will fit through your valve stem if that is how you are installing them. However, don’t go too small as you don’t want them to clog your air valve.

#2 UTV Wheel balancing weights

Wheel balancing weights are also a great solution for balancing a UTV tire at home. In addition, you will need a wheel balancing bubble level tool. You simply place the mounted tire and wheel on the bubble level and place weights around the wheel to achieve the correct balance.

Wheel weights are placed on the inside of the wheel with a self-adhesive and are pretty good to stay in place. But considering the abuse, we put our side by side through on a ride they sometimes can come off. We like to go with the ceramic beads just so we don’t have to worry about it when riding.
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FreeTec Heavy Duty Portable Hubs Wheel Balancer

CKAuto 1/4oz, 0.25oz, Black, Adhesive Stick on Wheel Weights

Takeaway

So in conclusion yes you do balance your UTV tires. It will ease the wear and tear on components like wheel bearings and axles while giving you a smoother ride on pavement and trails. It’s something you can do yourself with the right tools and know-how.

Have you ever asked yourself why are UTV tires small in the front?

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January 4, 2024
Choosing the Right ATV Tire Pressure for Different Terrains

After all the time, research and comparing that you did in finding the perfect ATV, maintenance and especially preventive maintenance should be utmost in your mind. What pressure you should be running in your ATV tires? Did you know that different terrains require different tire pressure? Do you know PSI stands for the amount of force or Pounds per Square Inch?

Mud is mud, right? Wrong, at least when it comes to tire pressure of off road vehicles. From sandy, soupy mud to thick red clay, your tire pressure will need to change. The same with running over rocks or sand dunes.

Check the Air Pressure

Check the air pressure in all tires before each ride. However, there are many opinions about the exact tire pressure needed. Some considerations include: type of vehicle, size of the ATV, weight of people on the ATV, and of course the ground to be covered. But one idea remains the same, airing down (reducing tire pressure). One of the key tips is airing down to help in mud and most for off-road driving. But airing down in the mud could turn the other direction because airing down will help you gain traction when traction is hard to find in seemingly bottomless mud. On the other hand, reducing the tire pressure in hard bottom mud can sometimes reduce the traction. A tire that is aired up to a higher pressure will not ride smoothly and may damage the tire itself. Another thing to consider is that reducing air pressure allows hidden dangers in the mud topotentially damage your tires. Reducing the air pressure could mean that your tires will provide better traction over the barriers, as the tire conforms. So it’s an owner’s call based on the owner’s manual for that particular ATV and experience in particular situations than anything else.

Recommendations for Air Pressure

Printed on the sidewall of the tire is a specific number stating the air pressure that is recommended by the manufacturer of the ATV. The maximum recommended pressure is usually the number on the sidewall and is straight from the tire manufacturer. Damage to the cords can happen by exceeding this pressure. Also, tire can potentially rupture, causing injury.

There are the air pressure recommendations by the ATV manufacturer and suggestions for different terrains that you may be traveling. But again it is depending upon possible loads and the way you use the machine. This safeguards that the tire will last longer and the best traction will be achieved. If there is too much pressure, then the center of the tire will be the only place making contact with the trail. This will create reduced traction and premature wear. However, not enough air in the tire and you wear out the sidewall which can end in a punctured tire. Too low air pressure can allow the tire sidewall to flex too much also causing punctures. When a tire has too little pressure, this allows the sidewall to move too much pinching the tire between rocks, sticks and other debris on the trail. This will tear a hole in the sidewall, an expensive fix. Always check the ATV’s owner’s manual. You can also contact your local ATV dealer for manuals. The dealer should be able to give you the suggested air pressure information from the manufacturer.

Always start out with the ATV recommended tire pressure by the manufacturer. The only reason you should have a higher pressure is if you are carrying heavy loads every day. If you increase the pressure of the tire when you are carrying a heavy load, you need to be sure to return it to the recommended tire pressure when the load is finished.

Even Tire Pressure

The pressure should be the same on each axle. If the ATV owner’s manual suggests the rear tires need a certain amount, then both left and right rear wheels should be the same pounds of pressure. The same goes for the front tires, make pressure of both the tires equal. On the front wheels, you need to be exact because if the tires are aired differently the vehicle could handle unpredictably. Also, a professional tire gauge is always needed in your tool box. Sometimes cheaper is not always better when it comes to your safety. Most dealers or auto parts stores will have these.

Specific Recommendations

If you are prepared for camping all weekend and have all your gear on board, you may want to run 8 to 9 PSI. For rocky terrain, usually 3 to 4 PSI is suggested. The same 3 to 4 for snow or sand. For areas that are more hard packed, and you are running at higher speeds, 7 to 8 PSI is the recommendation. Most reference 5 to 6 PSI for normal trail riding.

As stated before, always reference your owner’s manual. With all the different styles, weights, and designs of ATVs, a general assumption may not work for your particular machine.

January 4, 2024
Why are UTV tires smaller in the front?

UTV Tires are smaller in the front to allow for easier steering for the driver. The small narrow width of tire in front aids in turning to navigate obstacles on the trail.

You might have noticed a difference in your side-by-side tires between the front and rear tires. The difference will make you wonder why UTV’s tires are smaller in the front. However, after a good check on its front and rear tires, you will notice the diameter may be the same but different in width. So what would be the reason that UTV’s have front and rear tires of different widths or sizes?

The smaller width of the front tires is associated with the ease of maneuverability of UTV’s by reducing its tire surface that comes into contact with the ground. The smaller width will affect steering, traction, handling, cleanliness, and design. I will discuss why UTV’s are smaller in the front in the next part of this article.

Reasons why UTV tire sizes are different?

Smaller UTV front tires make it easy to steer

Front tires of UTV’s are smaller in width, making them easy to steer compared to tires with a bigger width. The small width of the tires ensures less contact between the tires and the surface. You might have realized how easy it is to steer a UTV than a regular car. Most UTVs did not have power steering initially; hence they had a way to make it easy to steer by use of smaller front tires.

The smaller front side-by-side tires will also incredibly decrease the weight of the tires. The less weight of the front tires makes it easy to steer with less effort.

Handling of your UTV

We all know UTVs need that quick response since they are meant for off-road driving. The smaller front tires will make it easy for you to respond to numerous off-road challenges, such as rocks or trees. UTV tires are smaller in front to give you an instant and quick response due to reduced friction compared to tires with a bigger width.

The small tires will also ensure it is easy to handle small tires in corners. They will support the bigger rear tires and lose stability quickly on muddy roads.

Traction of your Side by Side

UTV tires are smaller in front, making them good with traction. Handling the UTVs due to the smaller tires is easy as they can dig into the ground, making them stable and improving traction. The smaller side-by-side front tires are essential on mild muddy roads or loose grounds.

The smaller front tires provide traction, particularly when cutting sharp corners at high speed. The tires also provide two-dimensional traction; as the front tires offer high traction, the rear tires balance the traction by staying afloat.

Maneuverability of your side by side

It is easy to maneuver challenging off-road driving with its ability to evade obstacles easily. It will be challenging for off-road driving with bigger side by side tires as you are not sure what is ahead of you. Smaller front tires quickly respond to steering and handling, making them ideal for tackling harsh and brutal off-road driving and racing.

Cleanliness and design

It seems minor as it sounds that cleanliness can be a reason for UTV tires being small in front. UTV is designed with less protection from dust, water, rocks, or mud splash, but with the small side-by-side front tires, they will keep the amount of all sorts of off-road dirt reaching you in check.

Apart from the crucial benefits, the design is also purely for aesthetics, giving it a unique look or as an identity of UTVs to other regular vehicles.

What size tire do I need on my UTV?

We trail riders are the ones who rack up the most miles on all different types of terrain. We aren’t pushing our machines to the same limits as the extreme riders, but it is completely up to us what we run – we can run staggered or same size tires all the way around, depending on our preferences. The main point is that we need to be able to go anywhere, and do anything. We don’t have a set track or trail where we ride, so we need our machines to be able handle any terrain – whether it’s mud or sand.

Find out if you need to balance UTV tires?

Balance your tires with balancing beads

November 8, 2023