165 2.5" or 3" lug?

I've never owned a 3", but have built and ridden with a number of them. I ride a very similar schedule to you - a few weeks out West, more time in the Prairies.

Last few times out, in hardpack spring conditions, the 3" tracked machines, even with scratchers, were heating to the point where we had to stop and dump snow on them on the side of the trail. 2.5" machines had no issues.

3" owners mentioned they were changing slides regularily, where they previously owned 2.5" machines and rarely touched slides.

In these conditions, the traction of the 2.5" - 3" isn't noticeable.

Previous ride we had in Feb, conditions were less setup and much deeper, 3" had a obviously clear advantage over the 2.5", although the 2.5" still went most everywhere the 3" did, it just took a little more work.

In my experience, I would not consider a 3" for any type of crossover machine. It's a deep snow machine with compromises in anything but deep snow compared to the 2.5".

Do not go with the 3" if you ride mostly in flatland conditions. As was said above, you will be changing slides and dealing with overheat issues more often than not. Your only way to make it better is to add wheels back into the suspension but that won't be 100% effective either.

PaulAnd said:

Yep, just put hifax on my buds 15 174
200 miles all he got out of them this season
My XM still has original hifax @ 2000 miles
My track still looks new..
The 2 T3's I ride with are missing lugs
Island park last march was very hard on the T3's

Click to expand...

I just turned 4000km on my 2016 174, same hifax, it is more user than the product. But for the original poster, go with the 2.5 it runs very impressive and for your intended use it will be awesome. saves money to, not more reliable, you just don't need the 3 inch.

3 inch lugs are intended for guys who do 99% deep powder riding

DPG