Another Tire Thread

[SpyRyd]

My thought; the Automotive rear tire option is looking more attractive!

Got a Khumo Ecsta AST on order to be delivered to my dealer. Dealer will install for $85.00. If I get 15-20,000 miles on the Khumo I'll be a happy camper...or is that being a little too optimistic?

[MikeT]

The OEM Kendas are a two-ply tire...

As I suspected, the 2-ply construction of the OEM Kenda tires is inferior. If they have a UTOG rating, it is probably not rated well for Treadware and/or Temperature. No way would I put my life, or my passanger's life, on the line riding on 2-ply rated tires.
Mike

[Bob Denman]

Mike, they're not dangerous ; they're just not as good as some other options...

[MikeT]

Mike, they're not dangerous ; they're just not as good as some other options...

I would think that for the $$$$$$ a 1330 powered Spyder commands, BRP would put 4-ply tires under their RT line. My Touring H-D Dunlops were 4-ply. My Bridestone BT-45 on the front , and the Michelins on the rear of my GL1800 Hannigan are too. Time for BRP to step up to the plate.
Mike

[Magdave]

does the Arachnid tire say how many plies it has in the sidewall or tread?
Still haven't seen any specs on this tire
Thanks
Don

I saw and Talked with Mike about the Arachnid. It IS 2 ply but has a harder rubber tread area and stiffer sidewall than Oem FYI. PM him for more info.

[Ronbo]

Replaced my rear tire today with an Arachnid at 9,600 miles.. I'll have a few thousand on it after next week so I'll give you a report then.

Ann,
i'm really interested to see what you find out, as this is a very interesting tire to me. My only experience is from selecting tires for previous Corvettes. The on-going problem was always choosing the softness of the compound of the tire for grip/performance vs how often you have to replace them. I personally don't mind sacrificing mileage for increased performance up to a point. Back in the day Michelin tires seemed to be a good solution. My current rear tire on my 2014 RT needs replacing,but has provided wonderful handling! Thanks for keeping us posted.

Ron

[r1100rider]

Ann,
i'm really interested to see what you find out, as this is a very interesting tire to me. My only experience is from selecting tires for previous Corvettes. The on-going problem was always choosing the softness of the compound of the tire for grip/performance vs how often you have to replace them. I personally don't mind sacrificing mileage for increased performance up to a point. Back in the day Michelin tires seemed to be a good solution. My current rear tire on my 2014 RT needs replacing,but has provided wonderful handling! Thanks for keeping us posted.

Ron

Spyders are going to wear rear tires there is no weight on the rear and a lot of power even more so with the 1330 a Spyder won't back up anything with even the slightest incline there just isn't any traction on the rear ,'the Michelin hydro edge that I put on are doing very well but still won't come close to what they would have done on an economy car with some weight on them for traction

[MikeT]

Spyders are going to wear rear tires there is no weight on the rear and a lot of power even more so with the 1330 a Spyder won't back up anything with even the slightest incline there just isn't any traction on the rear

Are you saying that if you ride 2-up 98% of the time, you'll get better wear out of the rear tire????? From what I've read here, the problem with the OEM Kenda is that the sidewall is "weak" and causes the tire to balloon at highway speeds. This results in the tire wearing out in the center, even though it is not ver inflated.
Mike
I'm currently running the Corvette specific Michelin run flats on my '02 C5 Z-51.

[KX5062]

can someone enplane to me why spyders eat tires so fast. is it poor craftsmanship on the tire mfg. if so why doesn't BRP drop them, or is it that the bikes ride different than others. i had metzlers on my 08 wing and they lasted 13 thousand miles, i really don't understand tires and if we can buy a tire that gets better millage, than why will some dealers only instal the tires that came with the bike.

I think the key to the explanation is in the sizing of the tires. Meaning, they are a weird and hard to find size. If you stick to the stock size on either tire, then you're basically left going to the dealer for their almost proprietary tire sizes. They really don't want you riding your bike into brand X tire store and buying an off-the-shelf tire. What they do want is for you to stay with their dealership network for all of your motoring needs.

It's just like why Kenda? They are a low end Chinese company that is famous for making barely marginal tires. Answer: profit.

Why a 2 ply tire that says it's for motorcycles, when in reality it is a car tire? Bear in mind, if they catagorize it as a motorcycle tire, then the specs are not published, if it's designated as a automotive tire, then they must publicly publish the specifications. Again, the answer is profit.

No don't get me wrong. I'm a total believer in capitalism, but there's limits, and IMO, BRP is at times at the limits of tolerability.

[vtrider]

Got a Khumo Ecsta AST on order to be delivered to my dealer. Dealer will install for $85.00. If I get 15-20,000 miles on the Khumo I'll be a happy camper...or is that being a little too optimistic?

Where did you order your Khumo Ecsta AST tires from? I like the Khumo tire. I used these on my 2008 GS. I have ordered them before from Tire Rack, but when searching for the 225-50-15 tire size they didn't have the Khumo Ecsta listed.

[tigerdr]

Where did you order your Khumo Ecsta AST tires from? I like the Khumo tire. I used these on my 2008 GS. I have ordered them before from Tire Rack, but when searching for the 225-50-15 tire size they didn't have the Khumo Ecsta listed.

Look at this link--> http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...25&ar=50&rd=15

[Spyderal11]

I just received one of the kuhmo's from discounttiredirect took just a few days good price.

[KX5062]

Look at this link--> http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...25&ar=50&rd=15

Says back ordered.

[vtrider]

Says back ordered.

I ordered my Khumo AST tire this morning from Discount Tire. They called me and I was told that I should have it in about 3 to 4 days.

[mob133]

when at the factory tour this question came up BRP response was they are aware of the tire issue on 2014 rt, apparently kenda is using a softer compound and yes they are re-evaluating there tire supplier options

Replaced my rear tire today with an Arachnid at 9,600 miles.. I'll have a few thousand on it after next week so I'll give you a report then.

[jrogers712]

I have been watching my 2014 rear tire and have tried to lessen the wear. I have had tires do the same on other bikes. If you just ride locally the tire will wear well ( no high heat ) but that's not what we bought them for. The rear tire on long hauls heats unbelively, thus the build up heat causes the tire to expand allowing the center of the tire to over inflate. I changed to nitrogen in the rear tire which does not heat the tire to over inflation. I then use the chalk method to check my inflation for long haul tire press. locally I run 25 PSI. 10,000 and still looking goog. Just back to FL from CO. I cannot say it will wyork for you, does well for me. It also changes if you add weight and a passinger. So more try and error.

Jim

[Magdave]

I have been watching my 2014 rear tire and have tried to lessen the wear. I have had tires do the same on other bikes. If you just ride locally the tire will wear well ( no high heat ) but that's not what we bought them for. The rear tire on long hauls heats unbelively, thus the build up heat causes the tire to expand allowing the center of the tire to over inflate. I changed to nitrogen in the rear tire which does not heat the tire to over inflation. I then use the chalk method to check my inflation for long haul tire press. locally I run 25 PSI. 10,000 and still looking goog. Just back to FL from CO. I cannot say it will wyork for you, does well for me. It also changes if you add weight and a passinger. So more try and error.

Jim

Just another benefit of using nitrogen that was pooh poohed in a thread I participated in earlier. A heated tire pressure rises much more with air than nitrogen in it which is one of the reasons race cars use it.

[MikeT]

Nitrogen is great in tires in general. The issue is you can only get it @select tire stores. Another way to say it is there is no nitrogen supply infrastructure.

[Hawk]

At the owner's event I had to have my tire changed, I showed it to the BRP tech people which referred me to the local shop (they were not changing them at the tech booth) to get it changed. But they guy said they were aware of the 14s going through them quick and were looking at a harder compound. But no time line.

[Bob Denman]

Nitrogen is great in tires in general. The issue is you can only get it @select tire stores. Another way to say it is there is no nitrogen supply infrastructure.

I use the cheaper version of nitrogen; the one that's polluted with oxygen...

[SpyRyd]

Where did you order your Khumo Ecsta AST tires from? I like the Khumo tire. I used these on my 2008 GS. I have ordered them before from Tire Rack, but when searching for the 225-50-15 tire size they didn't have the Khumo Ecsta listed.

Sorry for the late reply...ordered it from Discount Tire Direct.

[Dan McNally]

Replaced my rear tire today with an Arachnid at 9,600 miles.. I'll have a few thousand on it after next week so I'll give you a report then.

What can you tell us about the Arachnid tire? Was it worth the price? Would you do it again?

[gypsy_100]

What can you tell us about the Arachnid tire? Was it worth the price? Would you do it again?

Since you're riding an RT, you might want to take a look at the info I posted on this other thread regarding RT load specs and Arachnid load ratings. From Post #58 on to the end of the thread. It's for your info; do with it what you will.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...899#post829899

[spydajohn]

I think that the kenda tyre is not to the standard it should be I only got 7,000k out of my rear tyre and at $208.00 not fitted seemed a little hexy .like you guys in the US we are trying different brands of car tyres because no other brands exist in Australia .i have Mitchelins on the front of my 2010 RT Manuel grip and tyre wear are great so far 34,000k and started with 7.5m tread and now have 6.5 ,tried to get a Mitchelin for the rear but none in that size in aus so I have put a nang kang on the rear just for trial and so far 15,000k started with 8m tread and now have 6 so good so far ,comfort is the same and grip is better especially in the wet and towing the trailer. I so far have twice the mileage and better grip out of a tyre that only cost $85.00 so this makes the kenda look so over priced for what it is .here is a fact that is hard to ignore a spider 2010 is 420kg my wife and I combined 150kg luggage 40kg is about 610kg divide that by three and you get 203kg and when you corner hard like most of us like to do you can over double your weight on one front tyre so then why are the front tyres only rated for max load of 175kg???? .the tyres on the newer models with the lower profile are rated at 260kg I think witch is a little better but?

[Dan McNally]

Since you're riding an RT, you might want to take a look at the info I posted on this other thread regarding RT load specs and Arachnid load ratings. From Post #58 on to the end of the thread. It's for your info; do with it what you will.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...899#post829899

I guess that answers the question . . . thanks!