25X12-11 Tire Size

All You Need To Know About 25x12-11 ATV Tires

25x12-11 is a rear ATV tire measuring 25 inches tall, 12 inches wide, and designed for 11-inch rims. 

That 12-inch width is what this tire is about - it spreads weight across a larger contact patch than any other size in the 25-inch diameter class, keeping the rear on top of soft ground instead of cutting through it.

25x12-11 is not a common OEM size. Riders move to 25x12-11 when they want more rear traction and flotation without increasing diameter - keeping gearing and ground clearance close to what the machine already runs while widening the rear footprint significantly. It pairs with 25x8-11 front tires to keep steering manageable while the rear handles the traction work.

A 12-inch wide rear tire, such as 25x12-11, might contact swing arms, fenders, or suspension components on many stock setups. Confirm rear clearance on your specific machine before ordering. This is the most important fitment check for this size.

What Vehicles Use 25x12-11 Tires?

25x12-11 size shows up primarily as a rear upgrade rather than a factory fitment.

Common Platforms for 25x12-11 Size

• Yamaha Grizzly 700 - modified utility and mud builds
• Honda Foreman 500 / Rubicon - aftermarket rear upgrades
• Polaris Sportsman 570 / 850 - trail and mud configurations
• Can-Am Outlander 570 / 850 - mixed terrain setups

Always confirm rear rim width and fender clearance before switching to 25x12-11 size; stock rear clearance on most of these platforms is tight for a 12-inch tire.

Front vs. Rear: Where Does 25x12-11 Belong?

25x12-11 belongs on the rear axle only. Twelve inches of width is built entirely for traction and flotation. On the front, it would make steering heavy, cause push in corners, and remove the control that makes an ATV useful in anything tighter than an open field.

25x12-11 Front Pairing Options

The standard pairing between 25x12-11 rear and 25x8-11 front pairing exists for a reason; the two-inch width difference between front and rear is what gives the machine its handling character - the narrow front guides while the wide rear grips. Close that gap with a wider front, and you gain nothing on steering while losing the traction that the rear is designed to exploit.

25x12-11 Tire Size Explained

A 25x12-11 tire means it has: 

• 25 inches - overall diameter 
• 12 inches - section width at the widest point 
• 11 inches - wheel/rim diameter 

The 25-inch diameter keeps the 25x12-11 size in the same gearing and clearance range as other 25-inch rear tires - provided the machine was already running a 25-inch rear. If you are upgrading from a 24-inch rear, expect a modest increase in ground clearance and a slight gearing effect. 

The 12-inch width is the defining number - two inches wider than the common 25x10-11, which translates directly into a larger contact patch and more flotation on soft terrain.

4-Ply, 6-Ply, or 8-Ply: What the 25x12-11 Size Needs

The 12-inch sidewall of the 25x12-11 tire has more surface area to flex under load than a 10-inch one, which means 4-ply, already the softest option, becomes genuinely problematic here in a way it is not on narrower rear sizes.

6-ply is the baseline for 25x12-11 - the wider sidewall needs the structure that 4-ply cannot reliably provide under load. Most riders running this size land on 6-ply for general use or 8-ply for mud, towing, and rocky terrain where sidewall damage is a real recurring risk. 4-ply is technically available in this size, but is rarely the right answer.

PSI for 25x12-11 Tires Based on Terrain

Pressure (PSI) recommendations for 25x12-11 based on terrain type are shown in the below table:

Rear pressure on 25x12-11 size runs lower than the front - the wider contact patch needs room to work under load, and over-inflation narrows it back down. The mud range (3.5-4.5 PSI) applies only in genuinely soft terrain. Do not carry that pressure into hardpack or utility work - sidewall instability and accelerated bead wear follow quickly.

Where 25x12-11 Performs Best

The 25x12-11 is the "wide-footprint" specialist of the 11-inch rim family. By maximizing the rear contact patch to a full 12 inches, this tire acts as a flotation device for your ATV, keeping the back end on top of mud and soft soil where narrower tires would immediately dig in and bottom out.

Mud and Soft Terrain

This is the 25x12-11 tire's strongest environment. The 12-inch width floats over soft ground where narrower tires cut in - the contact patch is wide enough that the rear stays mobile rather than digging a hole. Tread pattern matters here more than on any other size in the series:

• ITP Mud Lite - purpose-built for mud, lighter than comparable mud tires, good forward bite without excessive weight penalty
• Carlisle AT489 - all-terrain rather than mud-specific, but stable and consistent on mixed ground

Trail and Mixed Terrain

On hardpack and mixed trail, the 25x12-11 is capable but not optimal. The wider footprint adds rear stability on loose climbs and off-camber sections, but the rolling resistance at 12 inches of width is noticeable compared to 10-inch alternatives. For riders spending most of their time on trail rather than mud, 25x10-11 is a more practical rear size.

Utility and Hauling

The wider contact patch of the 25x12-11 distributes rear cargo load more evenly across the axle than narrower alternatives - useful for regular hauling on soft or loose ground where a narrower tire would sink under weight. 6-ply minimum for any regular utility use; 8-ply for towing.

25x12-11 Size Limitations

25x12-11 is strictly a rear tire and should never be mounted on a front axle. In tight, technical woods where you need razor-sharp steering, this much width becomes an issue: it makes the machine want to "push" straight rather than whip through corners. 

Additionally, if your riding is mostly high-speed runs on hard-packed roads, the 12-inch footprint creates significant rolling resistance. This extra drag forces the engine to work harder, eats into your fuel range, and can actually lower your top-end speed compared to a narrower 10-inch rear.