Chained tires from one wheeler to another?

[waligators]

Hey guys here's the scoop... My dad is going on his annual trip up to Lake Winnipeg next weekend. We have a 2005 Polaris Sportsman with chains on the back tires already, and a 2009 Sportsman with no chains. It should be alright to put the chained tires and rims off of the 2005 and put them on the 2009 right? Usually on Lake Winnipeg snowmobile travel is the way to go but we just talked to a guy that was up there and he said wheeler traffic is the way to go right now

[Great Outdoors]

I asked a Polaris dealer this question about two months ago, but compared a 2005 Sportsman 800 with a 2010 Ranger 800.

I was told they are interchangable, no problem!

[Dave S]

As long as you don't change the ratio in tire diameter from front to back, you're ok.

[Great Outdoors]

I assumed he meant front to front and back to back when he did it!

[Dave S]

The OP stated "chained tires and rims". No mention of moving the fronts. Granted if there's mostly ice and very little traction to begin with, it would be easier on the front diff. but a person would still want to avoid changing the ratio/tire sizes between the front and rear.