[FarmerC]

I am a relatively new owner of my first UTV. So far we are having a blast! I have enjoyed reading posts on this forum for the last couple of months. Last weekend we went on a long ride in the mountains. Upon returning home, the rear wheel of my Ranger suddenly locked up as I was turning into my driveway. It brought me to a stop and then seemed fine. I pulled it into my shop for a closer look and could hear air leaking from the wheel that had locked up. I pulled off the wheel only to find some deep gouges and a hole on the inside of the wheel. It appears a rock flipped up and got caught between the wheel hub/brake caliper and the inside of the wheel. I was able to patch the wheel with a couple layers of JB Weld. However, now I am nervous to take it out on a long ride again without a spare. I carry a plug kit and a compressor, but plugs won't patch cast aluminum. : ) The dealer wants $350 for a matching wheel and tire! I am thinking instead of upgrading the wheels and tires all the way around and using the stock wheels as spares. My thought process is that going from 12" wheels to 14" wheels will decrease the odds of a rock getting stuck again. I am looking for some advice. Is it common for rocks to punch holes in 12" wheels or was this a one in a million fluke? Is there a disadvantage to 14" wheels? Can I fit 27" tires without rubbing? Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance for helping a newbie!

 

[SlimRockett]

You can get that cracked wheel welded up.

 

[Toxic-21]

That is a first for me, to hear of that happening.
The 14" wheels will give you more space between the calipers and inside of the wheel, and the 27's will fit without rubbing.

 

[joshtb06]

A good dealer might try to get it warrantied


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[HRTKD]

I wouldn't trust a wheel with JB Weld. I found a local guy that was selling his OEM wheels/tires from his 900. Those are my spare tires now. I only carry one of them, not all four.

 

[rowe doo]

I am a relatively new owner of my first UTV. So far we are having a blast! I have enjoyed reading posts on this forum for the last couple of months. Last weekend we went on a long ride in the mountains. Upon returning home, the rear wheel of my Ranger suddenly locked up as I was turning into my driveway. It brought me to a stop and then seemed fine. I pulled it into my shop for a closer look and could hear air leaking from the wheel that had locked up. I pulled off the wheel only to find some deep gouges and a hole on the inside of the wheel. It appears a rock flipped up and got caught between the wheel hub/brake caliper and the inside of the wheel. I was able to patch the wheel with a couple layers of JB Weld. However, now I am nervous to take it out on a long ride again without a spare. I carry a plug kit and a compressor, but plugs won't patch cast aluminum. : ) The dealer wants $350 for a matching wheel and tire! I am thinking instead of upgrading the wheels and tires all the way around and using the stock wheels as spares. My thought process is that going from 12" wheels to 14" wheels will decrease the odds of a rock getting stuck again. I am looking for some advice. Is it common for rocks to punch holes in 12" wheels or was this a one in a million fluke? Is there a disadvantage to 14" wheels? Can I fit 27" tires without rubbing? Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance for helping a newbie!

You must be one in a million LOL

 

[Natethedog]

What HRTKD said. I did the same. Occasionally, you can buy brand new take-offs for between $400 and $500 a set. Keep your eyes open!:glee::encouragement:

 

[berks co hunter]

Theres itp rims. They are lifetime garenteed
against breaking or cracking.

 

[Texas]

A good dealer might try to get it warrantied


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I was thinking the same thing, you may at least talk to your dealer about it. Other than that I'm guessing it's probably a real freak accident. As far as buying another for $350, I see take off sets on the local classified website for $200 - $300 all the time, and that's for all 4! If it was me I would use this as a good excuse to go ahead and upgrade tires and wheels...

 

[kevin8509]

There's a guy on Craigslist in Kalamazoo location selling a full set of basically brand new Polaris rims and tires maybe he could ship them he's asking 900$ for everything. Me I just bought a set of 15" m12 diesels off kmg motorcycle tires for 430$ shipped to my door and a new set of rubber

 

[FarmerC]

Thanks everybody for the great input! I should have included earlier, that I did talk to my dealer but they couldn't care less. UTVs are selling like crazy right now in Utah and it seems that they have so much business they don't have to do anything they don't want to. I haven't seen any good deals on take-off wheels yet, but I will keep checking. Thanks for the tip on ITPs having a lifetime warranty. I may just take the wheel in and have it welded properly and then buy a generic wheel and tire to carry as a spare. Or I may use this as an excuse to upgrade to 14" ITP wheels with 27" Roctane XDs. :victorious:

 

[commanderjjones]

I have seen that happen. Had a rock get lodged in mine once, but luckily I was going so slow and traction was so poor that it stopped the vehicle instead of busting the wheel.

Welding it up........maybe??? JB Weld.....definitely not.......and I'm a firm believer in JB Weld.

 

[clayton74]

I've done this several times but it was on a 2009 rig that had tighter rim to caliper tolerances. That being said it's not very common. A 14" rim will greatly decrease the chance of this happening.