Kuhmo Solus TA11 215/60/15

[MikeT]

I have been reading a lot about rear tire replacements here. I've read where the 215/60/15 tire corrects the inherent speedo error with the OEM Kenda. I was wondering if anybody on this forum has used this tire, and wouldn't mind sharing their thoughts good or bad on it??? My big problem will be finding a dealer in my area who will mount it. My regular servicing dealer toes the BRP line.
Thanks
Mike

[Highwayman2013]

Looks like it's rated pretty good on Tire Rack. It should do a fine job.

[MikeT]

Looks like it's rated pretty good on Tire Rack. It should do a fine job.

I have read that Kumhos aren't the best in the wet. Don't know if it all of them or just certain of their tires????

[IGETAROUND]

My big problem will be finding a dealer in my area who will mount it. My regular servicing dealer toes the BRP line.

So take it to a tire store, a whole lot cheaper proposition than a dealer. Just tell them it's for your Morgan kit car.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Looks like it's rated pretty good on Tire Rack. It should do a fine job.

I just went to Tire rack .......... I don't know what version you read ...... it didn't look like they were all that impressed to me .... the General Altimax RT 43 was far better in comparision ................... Mike

[Peter Aawen]

I have read that Kumhos aren't the best in the wet. Don't know if it all of them or just certain of their tires????

Just like almost every other tire, Kumhos are GREAT in the wet IF you are running the correct tire pressure for the way you are riding & the load you have placed on them! If you run them at passenger car tire pressures under a Spyder then of course they'll have wet traction issues, just like virtually every other car tire would, simply because the Spyder weighs in a whole lot less than most pasenger cars!

Ideal tire pressures for most types of Kumho tires run on a Spyder (or just about any passenger car tire run on a Spyder for that matter) & most Spyder Ryders seems to be in the vicinity of 18-22 psi for most of North America, but running pressures much higher than that in ambient temps of much less than the high 80's F will mean the sipes on the Kumho tread can't 'grab' the road properly, wet or dry, & that the tread compound will never reach its ideal operating temperature & so won't ever get as 'sticky' as it's designed/intended to get, which will also compromise wet road holding!! That 'poor traction in the wet' furphy/myth is almost always quite simply attributable to poor operational practices & usage

Go too low with your tire pressures & the ride, handling, & wear will be poor/compromised but your traction will be great; go too high with your tire pressures & your ride, wear, & traction will be poor/compromised but the handling/response will be pretty good!! Running the right tire pressures for the load placed upon them and your riding style, the road surfaces, the local environment, etc will give you the optimal balance of traction, ride, handling, & wear; but the pressure that is 'correct' or ideal for you, is very likely only vaguely similar to the pressures shown on the tire placard for your Spyder & also very likely a little different to the ideal pressure for someone else who rides differently, imposes a different load on the tire, runs on different road surfaces, or lives in a different environment/ambient temps to yours! You need to buy a tire that suits your needs AND THEN run it at pressures which will allow it to work at its best for you! Buying a good quality tire but one that's not suitable/ideal for your intended use &/or then running the wrong pressures in it might mean the tire doesn't work too well in at least some ways, but isn't that really YOUR fault, not that it's a crap tire - unless it's a Kenda of course, in which case it probably IS a crap tire!

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Peter , I agree on the tire pressure thing for Spyders ...... However the Tire Rack professional testers weren't thrilled with that Kumho in the WET and they had it at the correct tire pressure for the vehicle they were using ......... just saying ....... Mike

[Peter Aawen]

Could be Mike, I haven't chasesd down or looked into the Tire Rack info, so that could well be the case - I really don't know & I was not specifically commenting on their report, but rather commenting on MikeT's post claiming second hand info that 'Kumhos aren't the best in the wet', when as a brand, they generally have a rep of being somewhat better than most 'run of the mill' tires in the wet & also better than some specialist wet weather tires when they are run at the correct pressures! Bear in mind that on that 1-10 scale often used, 1 is not acceptable/poor; 5 is fine & as good as most tires will ever get; while anything over about 7 is up in the 'exceptional' range; & 10 is virtually unachievable!!

As for the Tire Rack professionals, I've seen a fair few of the so called 'retail outlet' professionals ignoring tire pressures completely when they are assessing a particular tire.... often those tires where they don't get quite such a good cut! I'm not saying this mob are amongst those or have done that, I'll say again that I haven't seen their report, how they arrived at it, or even how they normally work; but regardless, I'd still strongly suggest that people might be best off looking at those reports prepared by 'independent professionals' ie, those who make their living assessing tires per se rather than those who make the bulk of their living selling tires or working for a tire retail outlet selling other brands of tires - doing so might be a better way of getting an un-biased review, altho I could be just a little cynical!

But you are right about the General Altimax tires, they consistently get good reports from those independent professionals, despite sometimes not getting such glowing reports from those 'professionals' working for companies selling competing tires... much like the Kumhos in fact!

[Highwayman2013]

I just went to Tire rack .......... I don't know what version you read ...... it didn't look like they were all that impressed to me .... the General Altimax RT 43 was far better in comparision ................... Mike

Maybe my eyes were bad but 8.3 to 8.6 doesn't seem to be that different.

[KX5062]

None of the tire previously mentioned, but I've been running a Cooper CS5 in this size on the rear and so far (a couple of thousand miles) I really like it. It's wearing well and handles good. Not tried it in snow or rain, but so far so good.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Maybe my eyes were bad but 8.3 to 8.6 doesn't seem to be that different.

The difference showed up more in their actual road test comparision ......... Mike

[BoilerAnimal]

None of the tire previously mentioned, but I've been running a Cooper CS5 in this size on the rear and so far (a couple of thousand miles) I really like it. It's wearing well and handles good. Not tried it in snow or rain, but so far so good.

Which CS5 did you use? One has an asymmetrical tread and I was told by my tire dealer that it would not be a good choice for a Spyder because they are designed to be used with another tire of the same type on the same axle. That is why there is a notice that says "this side out" on them which makes them directional...........halfway! I ended up putting a Yokohama on and so far am happy with it.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Which CS5 did you use? One has an asymmetrical tread and I was told by my tire dealer that it would not be a good choice for a Spyder because they are designed to be used with another tire of the same type on the same axle. That is why there is a notice that says "this side out" on them which makes them directional...........halfway! I ended up putting a Yokohama on and so far am happy with it.

Your tire dealer may know about cars and trucks, but I don't buy His logic either way......As for a Spyder this is of no concern period, if you are mounting one of these on the rear .....on the front you MUST mount two ..... the CS5 is a VERY hard compound tire ..... Mike

[KX5062]

Your tire dealer may know about cars and trucks, but I don't buy His logic either way......As for a Spyder this is of no concern period, if you are mounting one of these on the rear .....on the front you MUST mount two ..... the CS5 is a VERY hard compound tire ..... Mike

Agreed. On the rear of the Spyder directional arrows are irrelevant.

Yes, the tire is a hard compound, but not as hard as others that can be selected. I chose the harder compound because out here in the Western US with the really high temperatures and chip sealed roads I found the other tires mentioned, like the Kumho and Altimax wore out too quickly. IIRC, the OEM Kenda lasted only about 4k miles, the Kumho was next and it lasted only about 12k miles and then the Altimax only lasted about 16k miles. I admit I was concerned about choosing a significantly harder compound, but so far no issues and it handles remarkably well. I can't speak about rain or snow and don't have enough miles to comment on overall longevity, but so far so good. Plus, as a bonus it is very reasonably priced and made in America.

[Highwayman2013]

The difference showed up more in their actual road test comparision ......... Mike

I will agree the general was rated the best but the Kumho was close in the wet. I would use the General until something better comes along.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Agreed. On the rear of the Spyder directional arrows are irrelevant.

Yes, the tire is a hard compound, but not as hard as others that can be selected. I chose the harder compound because out here in the Western US with the really high temperatures and chip sealed roads I found the other tires mentioned, like the Kumho and Altimax wore out too quickly. IIRC, the OEM Kenda lasted only about 4k miles, the Kumho was next and it lasted only about 12k miles and then the Altimax only lasted about 16k miles. I admit I was concerned about choosing a significantly harder compound, but so far no issues and it handles remarkably well. I can't speak about rain or snow and don't have enough miles to comment on overall longevity, but so far so good. Plus, as a bonus it is very reasonably priced and made in America.

.... if the majority of your riding is in above average temps ..... mileage is a consideration ..... I would check your tire temps when they are HOT to see what the difference is from COLD .......... as a side note, I plan to put the CS5 on my Toyt. Pk-up soon ....... Mike

[Bob Denman]

To quote a famous person who shall remain nameless:
"What difference does it make?"
ANY of them are far superior to the Kenda...