For a stock Can-Am Maverick X3, standard Packard Sand Light rear paddles are a useful first shortlist. For a modified X3 with measured 175–350 wheel horsepower and room for a larger carcass, compare Big Foot standard and the 34-inch Big Foot Sport. At 250+ wheel horsepower, bring Big Foot HO into the comparison.
Those starting points follow Packard's published tire positioning. Your X3's model year, trim, passenger load, wheel dimensions and clearance determine the final combination. A stock Turbo RR badge alone does not call for an HO paddle, and a MAX should be evaluated with the passengers and gear it normally carries.
Here is how to narrow the Packard paddle tires and lightweight X3 dune wheels available at R1. Tires and wheels are separate items unless a listing expressly includes a complete set.
Start with the X3 you own
“Maverick X3” covers different power levels, chassis widths, seating configurations and factory wheels. These examples come from Can-Am's 2027 US specifications; check your own model year before applying them:
- 2027 X3 DS: 135-hp Turbo or 200-hp Turbo RR, a 64-inch-wide chassis, and 30x10-14 factory tires on 14-inch wheels. Can-Am lists an estimated dry weight of 1,602 lb. DS specification sheet.
- 2027 X3 RS: the same published 135/200-hp engine choices, a listed width of 72.4 inches, and 30x10-14 tires on 14-inch wheels. Estimated dry weight is 1,728 lb. RS specification sheet.
- 2027 X3 X rs: 200 hp, 32x10-15 tires on 15-inch beadlock wheels, and an estimated dry weight of 1,735 lb. X rs specification sheet.
- 2027 X3 MAX X rs: also 200 hp and 32x10-15 tires on 15-inch beadlock wheels, but an estimated dry weight of 2,024 lb. MAX X rs specification sheet.
Two practical differences stand out. A rear paddle with a -15 size designation requires a 15-inch wheel, so it cannot mount on the DS or RS factory 14-inch wheels listed above. The MAX X rs is also 289 lb heavier than the two-seat X rs before passengers and gear, despite sharing the same published horsepower.
Dry weight is only a reference. Include fuel, occupants, accessories and carried equipment when discussing your actual load. If you have measured loaded axle weights, bring them to the fitment conversation.
Which Packard rear paddle belongs on your shortlist?
Stock or lightly modified X3: start with standard Sand Light
Standard Sand Light rear paddles are the starting point for an X3 owner prioritizing a lighter sand setup. Packard positions the standard tire for stock builds through approximately 250–300 hp, with a 1 1/16-inch paddle.
Compare the exact standard size options against your wheel and clearance requirements first. Packard does not identify the measurement basis for that Sand Light horsepower range, so it should not be treated as a precise wheel-horsepower cutoff. A tune's advertised power number is not enough to decide whether to move to HO.
R1's Sand Light listing includes several size labels and standard/HO choices. Confirm the selected SKU and its mounted dimensions before ordering, especially when comparing an older 33-inch listing with a current 31- or 32-inch option. Packard's Sand Light rear product information.
Measured 175–350 WHP and a larger-carcass setup: compare Big Foot standard and Sport
Big Foot standard rear paddles give you a different group of size and paddle configurations to discuss:
- 33x15-15, listed as 16 Paddle
- 34x15-15, listed as 16 Paddle LW
- 34x15-15, listed as 18 Paddle
- 35x15-15, listed as 18 Paddle
Packard's standard Big Foot guidance specifies 175–350 wheel horsepower. These choices let you compare carcass size and paddle configuration within that product family. A larger size still needs a clearance and load check on your exact X3.
The separate Big Foot Sport 34x15-15 is worth comparing when a 34-inch carcass is part of the plan. Packard publishes a true 34x15 size, a 1 1/16-inch paddle, a 35-lb tire weight and the same 175–350 WHP recommendation for this named product. These are manufacturer specifications, not an R1 measurement of your mounted assembly. Big Foot Sport specifications.
Measured 250+ WHP: include Big Foot HO
For a high-output X3, compare Big Foot HO rear paddles once wheel fitment and clearance are established. Packard's current detailed description recommends this family for 250+ WHP builds and specifies a 1 5/16-inch paddle. That is a different measurement basis from Can-Am's published engine horsepower.
Pick the exact size and construction with care. The current options include LW versions, and Packard states those lightweight versions are not eligible for comp cutting. Confirm the selected tire’s paddle count and finished weight before ordering, including whether you are choosing the standard or LW construction. Big Foot HO product information.
X3 MAX with passengers: make load a separate decision
A four-seat X3 does not automatically need more paddles or an HO tire. Start with its measured output and normal loaded use, then compare the tire's load capability, dimensions and construction. A setup used solo for hill runs is a different proposal from the same vehicle carrying four people and weekend gear.
Tell R1 whether you mainly cruise, link flowing dunes, climb or make short acceleration runs. Include any hard-packed or rocky access sections. That context helps narrow the shortlist without treating every MAX as the same build.
Choose the front tires with the rear setup
For a ribbed front-sand option, compare Sand Light front steers with Big Foot front steers. Their exact size and mounted profile need to work with the selected rear tires.
If front traction in an AWD sand setup is a priority, add Packard Stitch fronts to the conversation. Packard describes their angled front paddles as an AWD-traction design. Current R1 choices include 33-, 34- and 35-inch labels for 15-inch wheels, plus a separate 35x13-17 option for a 17-inch wheel. Do not select that -17 version for a 15-inch wheel. Stitch product information.
Have the front and rear combination checked for your drivetrain. Equal printed height does not establish equal mounted diameter or rolling circumference.
Lightweight X3 dune wheels: choose dimensions before design
Packard's dune-wheel guidance uses 15x7 fronts and 15x11 rears. Its Maverick X3 application page identifies its X3 wheels as 4x136, the label used in R1's Packard X3 wheel collection. X3 fitment references also use 4x137; for example, the System 3 application catalog lists 2017–2023 X3 models as 4/137.
Keep the selected wheel's stated label and confirm its manufacturer-listed X3 application for your year and trim. These references do not make every 4x136 and 4x137 wheel interchangeable. Tire-approved rim width, offset, lug hardware, brake clearance and vehicle clearance still need to match the selected components.
You can compare the Element standard-lip wheel and Element beadlock wheel, for example, after confirming the required dimensions. Packard uses a machined billet center bolted to a separate flow-forged barrel. When comparing weight, request the complete selected wheel configuration, including the ring, cap and hardware where fitted. A general family weight cannot tell you which finished assembly is lightest. Packard wheel construction and size guidance.
For another beadlock design, review the individual Apollo Silver/Black wheel options: 15x7 | 4x136 or 15x11 | 4x136. Both links select Contrast Machined V.1 rings with no spinner cap. Before combining components, confirm the tire-approved rim width, assembled-wheel offset, load capacity and clearance for your exact X3. Check each selected option's current price and availability, then confirm quantities, mounting and shipping with R1.
For size notation, beadlocks and the full fitment checklist, use our UTV paddle tire and wheel setup guide.
Common X3 paddle tire questions
Does a stock 200-hp Turbo RR need HO paddles?
There is no automatic HO requirement based on the Turbo RR name. Use the exact tire's guidance, your power measurement basis, vehicle load and riding style. Packard's Big Foot HO recommendation is expressed in wheel horsepower.
Can I keep my stock X3 wheels?
Check their diameter and width first. The 2027 DS and RS examples above use 14-inch wheels; the X rs examples use 15-inch wheels. A matching 15-inch diameter clears only one requirement. The exact tire must also be approved for the wheel's width and bead design.
Are all 33-inch paddle tires the same actual height?
No. Carcass height, tread or paddle height, rim width and inflation all matter to the comparison. Packard distinguishes printed Sand Light sizes from carcass measurements and describes Big Foot and Stitch carcass sizes without tread height. With current and older Sand Light labels both in circulation, ask for the selected SKU's actual mounted dimensions instead of applying one blanket size conversion. Packard's tire-size guidance.
Should I comp cut an X3's dune tires?
Consider it only for an eligible tire and a dedicated sand-use plan. Packard warns that cutting increases puncture risk and may result in leaks; its LW Big Foot HO versions are excluded. Read our comp-cut paddle tire guide before choosing that option.
Get a recommendation for your exact X3
When you text R1 about an X3 paddle setup, include:
- Model year, full trim and two-seat or MAX configuration
- Stock or modified engine, tune, and whether the power figure is engine hp or measured WHP
- Normal passenger and gear load; measured loaded axle weights if available
- Current wheel diameter, width and offset, plus hub, spacer, brake or suspension changes
- Where you ride, your riding style, and the exact front and rear tires you are considering
Start with Sand Light, compare the Big Foot range, then build the wheel choice around the tire and your machine.