ive got an 08 sportsman 500x2 on order, should be in in a couple weeks. the tires look meaty enough, but what would be the best choice for ice fishing, would chains in the rear be enough, or should i start planning ahead for larger tires.

i would just invest in some chains if your just on level ice on a lake the rear would probably be good enough

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07' Honda Foreman ES
26"Maxxis BigHorns on ITP SS108's
WARN XT30 with synthetic rope
03' ford F-250 Powerstroke diesel
06' fleetwood terry 32' 5thwheel

Bigger tires would do what, exactly, on ice? I'm curious about that. Chains will work at low speed, but I never used them. I just drove miles across lakes in 4-wheel-drive.

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2008 Sportsman 500 EFI.
*New Polaris ATV number 5.
An American citizen by birth.
An American ATV by choice.

Its up to lake conditions. If these is deep snow and slush no ATV without tracks is going any where. If the lake is harder pact a 2wd will go anywhere.

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2001 SP 500 H.O

I just bought the same machine a few days ago and plan on using it for ice fishing this winter. I live in N WI and alot of the time, roads get plowed for trucks to drive on the ice, if there is that much snow. I would think that anywhere the f-150's and the like drive, I'll be able to make it on my X2. There was little snow last year the first few ice fishing trips and I would have had no problem taking my quad on the ice. If there is a lot of snow and slush, I might re-consider my fishing trip until conditions are more favorable.

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08 Sportsman 500 X2

I'm still waiting to find out what bigger tires would do for ice fishing? And why post a new topic and never respond to it?

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2008 Sportsman 500 EFI.
*New Polaris ATV number 5.
An American citizen by birth.
An American ATV by choice.

jumbofrank
just not used to forums where things are answered months later and thats why i had not responded to this thread. anyways, icve fishing in newengland has varied conditions, tire size doesnt help for slippery ice and we dont get that often anyways. sometimes its hardpacked snow which is easy to drive on, sometimes fluffy snow, sometimes wet snow, sometimes a layer of snow ice with slush and water underneath, bigger tires mean more height so the atv isnt plowing snow as much. wider tires might be better to help float it on certain conitions etc. i want to use the atv, not leave it on shore, ill be fishing regardless of the conditions

I ice fish and plow with chains on all four wheels. You won't steer very well on smooth or fresh covered ice with out chains.
I needed to put 1" wheel spacers up from to keep from sawing the struts off.
I don't plow with out them.
good luck

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'04 1/2 500 Sportsman
Front rack ext
Rear drop rack
Reverse overide
3 light kit
chains all around
custom wheel spacers
custom sleeve hitch w/winch assist
moldboard plow & single gang disc
8 HP 36" Mathews flail mower
rear plow/box blade,60"
72" Cycle Country plow w/power angle
rear work light
dual winches
thumb warmer
Highlifter yellow lift springs (front)

chains will probably work fine as im not going to be going that fast anyways. does anyone use studs instead