By Robert Brevelle (Robmaxii) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Is there a way to tell what style rims I have on my 97 Max II?

They are the original factory rims for 22 inch tires.

Can anyone email me pics of the new style rims vs old style rims?

The only reasons I am interested is that I may purchase new tires soon (slow leak), and I want to make sure I have the latest rims which allow me to run at lower PSI.

By the way, any recommendations on a good 22 inch tire and prices? I currently have the original Goodyear Rawhide IIIs, and they have worked fine...just wanted to know if there was something better out there.

Thanks!

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

i'll take a stab at it:
the old style use same nuts as your car might, the rims have a wider hole than the studs and a flair that the nuts fit and the angle locks them.
the newer style however has holes that are cloasly fit to the studs, they are harder to put on and off, and the serfice is flat at hole,
no flair,
this requires flat nuts, or your automotive style on backwards, with the pointed side out.

By Missouri's Max Dealer (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

David has it right, but your '97 has the old style. The new k-rims started in '99.

By Midwest atv's #1 since 2000 (Hustler) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Where do you live? You should have the old style wheels. I sell tires much cheaper then RI and other tires shops do. The only problem, after I add shipping, I might not be as cheap as what you can buy someplace else. I am in the St. Louis, MO area. If you are close, contact me and I will give you a tire quote. hustler1990@netscape.net

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Robert, I agree on the rims. No indent around the hole and the nuts do not center the rim on the newer K-rim. The k-rim also has a more pronounced bead lock ridge.

On tires, if you want "in water" and good all around skid steer performance I think the Rawhide or rawhide III are the way to go. I prefer the rawhide III. Check with your local Goodyear dealers. I have found that I can buy them locally for the lowest price (when including freight).

If you are having bead lock problems (your slow leak), make sure the bead area is clean and free of grit and nicks (you can use black silicone sealant to fix any cuts in the bead area). Make sure there are no rust or rough spots in the bead area on your rim (sand and repaint if necessary). When your rim and tire are clean and smooth, mount using only water as a lubricant.

After mounting your tires, run them at 3 to 3.5 PSI for about four hours to set the beads well. after that, drop the PSI to 2 1/4 or so.

If you are still having bead leaks, you can use a bead sealer product to basically glue the tires to the rims.

By philip w.cox (Philipatmaxfour) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hi, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you. Was cold here today, but not too much snow. Had a great time sliding around. Broke through the ice three times. Tough getting back up, but I'm here and I'm dry. Warren Philip

By Rogersmith (Rogersmith) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Fred and others.. any suggestions on a particular glue for tire beads? I tubed my fronts but they're still getting pushed off the rim.

Would be nice to find something that would dissolve in mineral spirits, etc, when the tire will eventually have to come off. I have 3M weather strip adhesive, I know it'll work but if I ever have to take it off and clean it up, it'll be a bear.

By John Schwab (Johnschwab) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Roger- You know how notorious Jons Dad is to breaking tire beads, we mounted his tires on eight new rims that I purchased at Recreatives for a reasonable price and he proceeded to ride the whole weekend without a tire problem. They are the same k-lock rims that are on my MaxII. The real test will be at Haspin next week.By the way, we also slimed them, as I do everything I own with tires.

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Roger, I have not used any of the bead sealer products on the market. I have used 3M trim & emblem adhesive (part # 08063) but I haven't tried to dismount and don't know if mineral spirits would do it. I figured acetone (or something) would get it off. I have been using Elmer's squeeze'n caulk (siliconized acrylic latex) as it goes on white and dries to clear. GE has a black silicone caulk that I have been using to repair nicks in the tire and also just started using to glue the tire to the rim.

Most of these have been on customer machines and I'm not sure how they are working long term. I do know that I haven't had to re-fix anything.

By Rogersmith (Rogersmith) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Glad to hear Jon's Dad won't have to run old runamuks @ 5 psi anymore, it was worthless before. I thought Jon had them aired up to protect the sidewalls from Dad's driving style, but it was a bead issue? It was worn out tire beads and the rims bent to hell, hehe. I've never lost a bead on a 8" argo wheel and a runamuk. After six years age and having them off and on a couple times to paint wheels, they would slow leak
at the bead. Last January at haspin you remember I spent all my camp time with a tire changer and a tube of silicone. I finally got the 4 fronts sealed, the 4 backs were at about 0 psi when we did The Backbone.

I would have bought k rims, but wanted a taller tire than what's made in an 8", and a 12" k rim wouldn't leave me much sidewall/suspension. Would have put 23" Titans on them like Troy's old Max4 had. I could be slinging serious mud, have good water speed, no bead problems, and a rough ride. Could have bought 8" k rims and 22 rawhides, that would've been the sensible choice. But no, I went for 9" argo wheels and the tallest atv tire that I thought might work out. They're tall, wider, make me float higher, poor swimmer, and the two fronts dismount themselves. I tubed the fronts and went for an afternoon ride. 2 psi in the 4 fronts, then 1.5 and 1 on back. Rode like a freakin' Cadillac with the weak sidewalls. Felt like I had suspension. Next weekend, I lost a bead and the dream was over, lol. Tube held air, just 1/2 the bead knocked off the rim. Next day I found a few pounds of mud and a stick inside the tire with the tube, oops.

I used silicone on them new.. didn't keep them on the argo wheels. Screw it, I'm gonna 3M weatherstrip 'em on. Remember when that stuff came out in the 70's? As a mechanic, we'd use it as gasket sealer, it's tough to get off, though.

I'f you read this far, excuse the windy post and Happy Hew Year!

By John Schwab (Johnschwab) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Yeah we used to refer to that 3M adhesive as "yellow death" but it is a terrific product the uses of which are only limited to your ingenuity.
Silicone is a great sealer but not a strong adhesive. Carb cleaner such as Gumout will readily dissolve 3M adhesive when used with a wire brush and will dissolve silicone with a rag.

By John Schwab (Johnschwab) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Yeah we used to refer to that 3M adhesive as "yellow death" but it is a terrific product the uses of which are only limited to your ingenuity.
Silicone is a great sealer but not a strong adhesive. Carb cleaner such as Gumout will readily dissolve 3M adhesive when used with a wire brush and will dissolve silicone with a rag.

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

roger you might also concider useing screws threw rims if these adhesives fail you.
that keeps the tubed rims i have together ok.

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Roger, You are trying for less pressure than I use. I suggest a minimum of 2 PSI when not using the k-rims; glued or not.

By Louisiana mudbug on Unrecorded Date: Edit

( Fred )

I,ve recently switched from the factory Good year dicos, to the Gators tires on the factory rims,and I have,nt lost a bead on a rim yet. But,I really don,t ride agressive though,so maybe thats the reason why?

The water speed of the Gators, is not even close, when compared the factory 26 inchers. But the trade off is this:

"They sure do claw through the mud a lot better though,and really sling off the mud better as well too"

It has rained a lot lately where I ride at,and most of the trails that I ride on, are holding plently of water. Some of the trails have 30-50 feet of water across them,but most of the water though,is seldom over the tires,and is shallow enough,that my Max hardly ever looses traction on them.

I will say though,since I put the Gators on my Max,the trails I,ve recently made through the low land areas,swampy sections, and the natural water drains through the woods,are really starting to get more and more rutted out,each and every time I ride.

Oh well,I guess you can,t have it all in a tire,,,ha-ha. Its either land aggressive or land friendly. The Gators on my Max though,sure make it look super aggressive.

Currently I,m running only two and a half pounds of air pressure in each 6 ply tire,and truthfully, my Max IV dont ride that bad at all. ( grin )

I had the shop air each tire up to 38 pounds to seat the beads,when I had the Gators installed.

After reading on this forum board,just how rough riding the six ply Gators might be, I really braced myself for a rough ride, the first day I took my Max IV out after the Gators were installed.