I've got about 1500 miles on my Ranch Edition and have been shopping for new tires. And like everyone, I want more ground clearance. So then I went through all the hand wringing about how will larger tires affect the clutch, etc and went around in circles researching everything I could get my hands on. I just don't want to find myself 50 miles from my truck and broken down in the middle of nowhere. Finally I got some answers from a Yamaha dealer in the boonies an hour away in North Idaho. This area is rough country for riding, so these guys have seen it all. Long story short, I'll pass along what he told me and it may help some others.
No problem going up to 27" tires on my stock 12" rims. The Yamaha clutch can handle it fine, but don't get too crazy with tires that are exceptionally heavy or have huge lugs. He personally bought a Viking VI from a guy that had an EPI clutch that was 2 years old and was shot. He said nothing about the JBS and I know their products are pretty popular.
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He replaced it with the factory clutch and it has been flawless. He said the factory Yamaha clutches are waaaay better and tougher than people give them credit for. He also said that if you just clean and re-grease the clutches at least once a year, they'll last forever. Dust is a huge problem in the summer and fall months up here. Said a cleaning would run about $180.
I still haven's decided on tires. I put a lot of miles on gravel/rock forest service and rural roads and he recommended something closer to a truck-like tread for better control and traction rather than some big luggy pattern. Keep the tread depth to about 3/4"-7/8" or so. I'm thinking like the Terrabite or the Mongrel or something along those lines, but for sure, a radial. Hope this is helpful.
No problem going up to 27" tires on my stock 12" rims. The Yamaha clutch can handle it fine, but don't get too crazy with tires that are exceptionally heavy or have huge lugs. He personally bought a Viking VI from a guy that had an EPI clutch that was 2 years old and was shot. He said nothing about the JBS and I know their products are pretty popular.
I still haven's decided on tires. I put a lot of miles on gravel/rock forest service and rural roads and he recommended something closer to a truck-like tread for better control and traction rather than some big luggy pattern. Keep the tread depth to about 3/4"-7/8" or so. I'm thinking like the Terrabite or the Mongrel or something along those lines, but for sure, a radial. Hope this is helpful.
