Tire hell sorry

[billybovine]

Hi, (I met you at Lamonster BBQ but don't remember your 1st name).
Sounds like 7" rim is for a 225-50-15 tire.
(maybe because the stock Kenda rear tire does not have a 4 ply tread is why it balloons a little in center at speed).
They put a 205-55-15 rear Kumho Solis on RT at BBQ, explaining that reason for a narrower rear tire.
I have your same Kumho 225-50-15 with 4 ply tread (2 steel, 1 Polyester, 1 ply Nylon) on rear of 2014 RT, but like you mentioned before, I am also able to spin the rear tire more frequent now with 6,000 miles on it; but it is wearing straight across tread.
Because of excellent review of Yokohama S. Drive 205-55-15 grip, that will be my next rear tire in a couple of months.
Interested to hear (finless) Bob's comments when he puts on the rear Yoko.
Thanks for reply info.
Jim

It was nice meeting you at the BBQ.
I agree the center wear issue with the Kenda appears to be a construction issue. When I first heard the rim theory I did not question it for a couple weeks.
I like the idea of the Yokohama 205-55-15. Some have report that a 215-60-15 tire will not fit on a RS. If true should not fit on a ST, same fender. The Yoko has a nice thread pattern to clear water.
Basically my riding season is done so I am not changing the tire until spring. So I will be interested in other peoples experience with it before I order one.

Ron

[finless]

Well I already bought my Yokohama tire S Drive 205-55-R15 for $103 shipped to my door. Nice looking tire but I have not mounted it yet.

But if I wanted only the rear Vee rubber tire, how much is just the rear + shipping to Ca.?

Bob

[finless]

Installed my Yokohama S drive tire today. So far first ride I think I am going to love this tire!

Video of the process coming as always

Bob

[YIRYDE]

I also installed the Yokohama S drive tire a couple of days ago in preparation for my ride to Daytona Beach next week. I had a Arachnid Vee Rubber tire with less than 1000 miles on it and didn't like it because of too much flexing in the sidewalls. When I would make lane changes and turns I noticed the extra movement at the rear of the Spyder. When the Spyder was going straight all was fine.

This tire may be good for a lighter weight Spyder perhaps a RS but not for the 14 RT. When I purchased it I was told it should by fine on my 14 RT but now there is a notice on the web site not made for the 14 RT.

[jcthorne]

Installed my Yokohama S drive tire today. So far first ride I think I am going to love this tire!

Video of the process coming as always

Bob

Great timing! I need to buy a pair of these Yokohamas and install on our bikes before we leave for Spyderfest. Look forward to your video!

[finless]

I posted the video in a new thread in DIY.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...r-Spyder-Video

Bob

[cruisinTX]

I posted the video in a new thread in DIY.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...r-Spyder-Video

Bob

OK, I scanned through all of the responses here and on the thread with the video to see if finless had worn out the Yokohama seen in the video mentioned. I bring this up almost 2.5 years later only to ask how long did it last and are you still satisfied it was a good choice? I'm about to replace the rear tire on our 2014 RT Limited and this is part of my research for making a well informed decision.

[BajaRon]

Hi Bob,
My next rear tire for 2014 RT-S will be a Yokohama S. Drive 205-55-15.
It is same size diameter as stock rear tire, 3/4" narrower tread.
That size there are several real good rear tire choices.
The 205-55-15 tire was highly recommended by one of the top Spyder dealers.
He explained the 225-50-15 stock rear tire size is too wide for the rim causing the tire to balloon a little resulting in wear in center of tread.
(I have been running 225-50-15 size rear Kumho tires for past 2 years with no problems, but Yoko S. Drive is a better tire).


(Thanks for helping Perry with the communication cable RT problem).
Hope this info helps you.
Jim

I am not sure I can agree with the 'Too Wide For The Rim' assessment. I have run both the Toyo R1 and the Falken 912 on my Spyder. Both in the stock size (225/50/15) and both wore perfectly flat across the entire tread area edge to edge.

It's not the tire to rim width that is the problem. It is the OEM tire construction where the tread area is too weak to maintain a flat surface contact area with the pavement. The OEM tires do balloon out (especially at speed). But it's not the rim to tire size that is creating this issue.

[nslowmotion]

The width problem on the stock tire is the first I have heard about it, but that does make sense, and would cause center ballooning....

I have 7K on my Hydroedge and it is still showing no wear and I have excellent traction. I'll have to watch out as it does wear down enough for it breaking loose.

I seen it break loose on you about 4 times the other day

[Roadster Renovations]

I seen it break loose on you about 4 times the other day

You ought to seen me this morning on the way to work out. Had rained overnight, roads nice and slick. Turned the traction control off a until I almost done a 360.....decided to ryde a little more sensible after that.

[jaherbst]

Tires Tires, the Achilles Tendon of the Spyder crowd! Quite happy with the "Kenda's". All four have been great and perform just like a "motorcycle" tire

should. No hydro planing ever. Same mileage as most my motorcycle tires and installed for $180. Never could understand why you would want to put Car

tires on a motorcycle against the recommendation of the manufacturer.

Jack

[jcthorne]

Mostly because BRP does not install motorcycle tires on the Spyder. So we look for the best performing tires that are appropriate for the rims and vehicle use. The Spyder is not a motorcycle when it comes to tires and does not come equipped with tires having motorcycle profile beads. They come with automotive profile tires with SAE profile beads. Motorcycle tires will not fit the Spyder rims well at all and would be dangerous.

[Peter Aawen]

Never could understand how you can't come to terms with the fact that the OE tire actually IS A CAR TIRE Jack, just downgraded & labelled with a made-up label to try & ensure that no-one actually tries to run it on a car cos it's got such weak construction & poor quality control in its manufacture!!

Sure they'll behave sorta OK if you never demand anything much of them, but at best they are only ever going to be mediocre, the tire carcass construction & lack of quality control ensures that; but those of us who want, ask, & maybe even demand something better than mediocre performance & wear from our tires have no choice but to fit better designed & manufactured car tires that don't try to hide their shortfalls behind a make-believe label that apparently does fool some of the people all the time!

If the rims the Spyders run & that these tires hafta go on were motorcycle rims then we'd probably have a wider range of tire brands & maybe even suitable sizes available to us, & at least some of us would probably fit real motor-cycle tires instead of the Kendas; but the rims are car rims & the only tires that will safely fit are car tires, just like the Kendas only better, so we fit the better & real car tires that are the only safe & legal tires to run on these rims, and funnily enough, have you noticed that there are exceedingly few people who ever think that was a backward step once they've made the change??

[rcturner]

but at best they are only ever going to be mediocre, the tire carcass construction & lack of quality control ensures that; but those of us who want, ask

Two issues with you comments:

1. I would like to know where your information comes from that says that there is a quality problem with these tires. You need to review what the actual definition of "quality" is. It has nothing to do with expectations of the general public or even of the public likes the product. Strange but true.

2. You are claiming that the carcass is substandard or less than exactly what it is supposed to be. I am guessing but I would expect that this tire is exactly what BRP specified and asked for. If not, Kenda would have to do a lot of explaining to BRP and the tire would have changed within a few inventory cycles.

[Deanna777]

I am running General Altimax RT 43 on the rear ( Size: 215/60R15) which was installed on 6/20/2015. The original Kenda tire was changed @ 5,824 miles, and now have 22,022 miles on the spyder.

I have 16,198 miles on the rear tire,and still have plenty of tread left on the tire.

See "My Album" for pictures of the General Altimax RT 43 tire.

Deanna

[2dogs]

Two issues with you comments:

1. I would like to know where your information comes from that says that there is a quality problem with these tires. You need to review what the actual definition of "quality" is. It has nothing to do with expectations of the general public or even of the public likes the product. Strange but true.

2. You are claiming that the carcass is substandard or less than exactly what it is supposed to be. I am guessing but I would expect that this tire is exactly what BRP specified and asked for. If not, Kenda would have to do a lot of explaining to BRP and the tire would have changed within a few inventory cycles.

It all comes down to taking the lowest bid price and that can change by adjusted specs. BRP is very well known for installing crappy parts on their lovely trikes. Compressors, tires, sensors, hoses and so on and so on. If you don't think so you haven't been paying much attention to this web site. Along with all the complaints and problems there are a lot of good folks here offering solutions and cost effective remedies to BRP's crappy parts issues. You ask where your information comes from regarding the quality problem here, the proof lies in the purchase; and it is the general public that passes judgment on an item whether it's a quality item or not. Who else would have the final say?

[ARtraveler]

I see that I have not replied to this particular thread from 2014.

Tires are a good subject. They come up from time to time. Everyone has a comment. Both experienced riders and new riders.

Well known that most users of the Kenda (also known as Krapenda) prefer something else. The controversy is over the use of "other" tires. BRP says use ONLY OEM--because they are designed specifically for the . Many dealers enforce this policy.

Riders of GW have experienced the same. Many, use "other" tires than recommended. Has there ever been a law suit claiming that "other" tires were the fault of accident X--with either BRP or Honda? Not that I am aware of. It's your money. It's your choice.

That said--I have five different 's over the years. Have racked up almost 140,000 assorted miles--and have installed several tires in the process. My dealer is one of "those." OEM or nothing.

My track record. On all 's. Fronts last me around 20K miles. Rear tires last me 15K plus miles. One exception--2014 RT. They came with a "new" rubber compound. My OEM's rear tires lasted 8,900 miles. Others got as few as 4K miles or so. They brought back the "original" compound and I now have 19K on the current rear. Probably going to change it out in the spring.

That's my story--and I am sticking to it.

[jaherbst]

Mostly because BRP does not install motorcycle tires on the Spyder. So we look for the best performing tires that are appropriate for the rims and vehicle use. The Spyder is not a motorcycle when it comes to tires and does not come equipped with tires having motorcycle profile beads. They come with automotive profile tires with SAE profile beads. Motorcycle tires will not fit the Spyder rims well at all and would be dangerous.

We be talking compound here nothing else. Softer rubber with a better grip than a car tire. Mainly due to the small amount of weight on Spyder and

motorcycle tires. Simple i.e. tire mileage or safety.

Not sure about you but my Spyders are registered as a motorcycle as required by state law. I believe it is the same in all states.

Jack

[Peteoz]

Quite happy with the "Kenda's". All four have been great and perform just like a "motorcycle" tire

Jack

So you have 4 Kenda tyres on your Spyder, Jack? That probably explains why you are so happy with them

Pete

[Roadster Renovations]

Kendras are junk. Plain and simple. A car tire will give much better protection from road debris, potholes, etc.. The stiffer sidewall will help the tire to wear evenly. The kendras on the rear wear out in the center because they are so soft they balloon at high speed so only the center wears. The front tires do not hold their balance and I could not believe how much smoother with Federals on the front. I will never go back to kendras. Now that my wife is ryding by herself, she will have the safest advantage I can give her.
We replaced the RT's rear tire (kendra) at 6,000 miles. We replaced it with a Michelin Hydroedge. We now have 48,000 on the RT and are still running the Hydroedge. That's right 42,000 miles and still going strong.
Since tires are a wearable item, BRP does not want a long lasting tire. They can say what they want, but the dealers make good money on selling kendras and mounting and balancing them.

And if anyone is interrested, I have a pair of kendra take offs from my Daytona with about 5,000 miles on them. Make me an offer.....

[jaherbst]

So you have 4 Kenda tyres on your Spyder, Jack? That probably explains why you are so happy with them

Pete

I carry a couple in the Frunk and tie extras to my pillion. Can't have to many Kendas! TWASFQ

Jack

[jaherbst]

Kendras are junk. Plain and simple. A car tire will give much better protection from road debris, potholes, etc.. The stiffer sidewall will help the tire to wear evenly. The kendras on the rear wear out in the center because they are so soft they balloon at high speed so only the center wears. The front tires do not hold their balance and I could not believe how much smoother with Federals on the front. I will never go back to kendras. Now that my wife is ryding by herself, she will have the safest advantage I can give her.
We replaced the RT's rear tire (kendra) at 6,000 miles. We replaced it with a Michelin Hydroedge. We now have 48,000 on the RT and are still running the Hydroedge. That's right 42,000 miles and still going strong.
Since tires are a wearable item, BRP does not want a long lasting tire. They can say what they want, but the dealers make good money on selling kendras and mounting and balancing them.

And if anyone is interrested, I have a pair of kendra take offs from my Daytona with about 5,000 miles on them. Make me an offer.....

Good Luck with those Michelin Hydroplanes!

Jack

[Roadster Renovations]

Good Luck with those Michelin Hydroplanes!

Jack

Jack, we have 42K on them. Never have had a problem. Not one.

[jaherbst]

[QUOTE=Peteoz;1317271]So you have 4 Kenda tyres on your Spyder, Jack? That probably explains why you are so happy with them

Pete[/QUOT
?

What would you Aussie's know about tires anyway? Being underneath the Planet you have to run your tires upside down. Right?

​Jack

[Peteoz]

What would you Aussie's know about tires anyway? Being underneath the Planet you have to run your tires upside down. Right?
​Jack

It gives a new meaning to having a death grip on the bars, Jack.....no one wants to fall off

Pete