IRS Verses SRA-Knowing Your Set Up

Well this question has come up plenty of times and luckily for you its pretty easy to get down to brass tax on this topic. Offsets for the 2 are typically far different when you get to the rear applications.

IRS: Independent Rear Suspension

Independent Rear Suspension Shown Above

This system allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically independently of the others. These vehicles will often run a similar offset front to rear on a factory set up and is very common to use the exact same offset for all 4 corners on an aftermarket set up. Some manufacturers do produce staggered sets that will run wider in the rear and narrower up front. Most common IRS Offsets will be 4+3, 5+2, And now venturing off into 6+1 for select vehicles and manufacturers.

SRA: Or (Solid Rear Axle)

Solid Rear Axle Shown Above

Is just how it sounds and pretty self explanatory. Single Solid rear axle on the back that stretches from one wheel to the other. (SRA) Suspensions lack the ability for the wheels to move vertically independently of one another and will have a single centrally located shock.

Main difference we see on these models is a very deep dish style rim on the back and due to the magnitude of vehicles new and old running (SRA) applications also ranging in different rim sizes front to back for many we will not list all of them or even attempt to. Most common Rear applications in an aftermarket application is 12x7 or 14x7 if your ATV Can fit that option. Normal aftermarket rear offsets are most often 2+5, or 3+5 in 12x8, 14x8 if available. For smaller aftermarket rims 10" and under you can expect to find some 8x8, 8x8.5, 9x8, 9x9, 10x8, 10x10 in select bolt patterns and offsets.

Sadly the selection of smaller aftermarket rims in today's marketplaces is a far cry from prior generations leaving some riders with older machines and uncommon bolt patterns completely high and dry when it comes to new wheels in their original factory sizes or even all together. Sometimes a switch to a larger rim is the only way you can go for certain applications without custom fabricating.

For some machines due to the manufacturers odd or uncommon fitment decisions during production older less common applications have fallen off the maps completely due to the overall cost of production and lack of demand. However if you do decide going large is the best plan and your bolt pattern option is available this does come with some huge advantages. Larger rims tend to have a much better selection of tires that span a multitude of terrain variations. Combined with a small lift kit many riders find they can explore more of the places they love that may have been beyond the stock platforms capabilities in the past.