Replacing the rear tire on your Spyder - Video

[finless]

Just came back here to thank finless and to say all is well, both tires changed out Friday and we went for an extended ride today. VERY happy with the Yokohama tire. Will take a while to see how it will wear but it simply cannot be any worse than the POS Kenda tires. Nice to have a name brand, Z speed rated, made in USA tire on my bike. Each of them took less than 1oz to balance. Shows good quality control in manufacture.

JC, I think this tire "IS" the "keeper" and the best car tire replacement right now.

While I wanted the Michelin Hydroedge because I love Michelin tires, they do not make that anymore. The replacement Defender IS NOT a good tire for the Spyder due to it's offset tread.

Anyway, I rode all week to work and hit speeds of up to 80 MPH on Ca. freeways without ANY balancing! FREAKIN WONDERFUL!

So you and I are now some of the few that are using this tire. Let's keep folks up to date on how it goes....

By the way, I AM NOT the person that came up with this alternative tire! It was recommended to me by Spyder Lover User: spyderyderjim
In this post here:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...ire-hell-sorry

So I cannot take ANY credit for this tire choice...

spyderyderjim
THANK you for this wonderful recommendation! Loving it buddy! I hope you see this post as I thank you....

Bob

[danotech]

What did you find your belt tension was? Did you use a kricket? I'm still trying to get the belt alignment taking correct. Thought I had it right but riding over on the left edge. I need to tweak it a but mite. Finding small adjustments are the key.

Sent from my LG-D851 using Tapatalk

[randyandsandy74]

OK folks, I finally put on my Yokohama "S" Drive tire.
Shot a video on how to do it or at least how I did it.

Hope it helps someone.

Bob

Thank you Bob for your video it really helped with the loose adjusters!

[jcthorne]

JC, I think this tire "IS" the "keeper" and the best car tire replacement right now.

While I wanted the Michelin Hydroedge because I love Michelin tires, they do not make that anymore. The replacement Defender IS NOT a good tire for the Spyder due to it's offset tread.

Anyway, I rode all week to work and hit speeds of up to 80 MPH on Ca. freeways without ANY balancing! FREAKIN WONDERFUL!

So you and I are now some of the few that are using this tire. Let's keep folks up to date on how it goes....

Now I have about 10k miles to find the correct front tires....

[finless]

What did you find your belt tension was? Did you use a kricket? I'm still trying to get the belt alignment taking correct. Thought I had it right but riding over on the left edge. I need to tweak it a but mite. Finding small adjustments are the key.

Sent from my LG-D851 using Tapatalk

Yes I used the KirKit II to check the tension. It did not change for me and is at about 170 lbs.
Small alignment adjustments wont change the belt tension enough to see it on the KirKit II. At least I did not.

Remember I have a 2011 RTS and I believe the 13's and up they run it higher to help eliminate belt vibes.

Just a video (not by me) that shows how to adjust. Again make sure your end caps are not loose when you tighten the axle.




Bob

[cognaccruiser]

Bob, thanks for the torque numbers and the encouragement. Sure it will all go back together but if any questions, I'll post.

Cheers, Gary

[rays hell]

Thanks for the video Bob, I can NOT believe my dealer charges $260.00 to do that same thing. Still shaking my head.
Maybe they're trying to pay for the tire changing machine.
I opted for a different tire though. I chose a Nitto 205/55/15 and comes with a 45,000 tread wear warranty.

[Andy Cserny]

Hi finless,
great video, thanks for taking the time and effort to do this, a great help for us newbies to the Spyder World. I did not see the size of your tire, probably my oversight. I did note that you didnt like the Michelin with the assymetrical tread pattern, unfortunately I had already bought that tire and will report on the 1330 forum on how it does , that is if it doesnt kill me.
Andy

[finless]

Here is the tire spec

Yokohama S. Drive
Size isL 205-55-15

Bob

[Highwayman2013]

Hi finless,
great video, thanks for taking the time and effort to do this, a great help for us newbies to the Spyder World. I did not see the size of your tire, probably my oversight. I did note that you didnt like the Michelin with the assymetrical tread pattern, unfortunately I had already bought that tire and will report on the 1330 forum on how it does , that is if it doesnt kill me.
Andy

It won't kill you, I have it on for over 9,000 miles.

[Bernie]

I tried to buy a Kumho Ecsta AST 225/50 15 tire from Discount Tire. They said they would not sell it to me because I said it was going on a spyder.

[retirednick]

I am very late responding to the thread but I wanted to thank Bob for the Video and I only wish that the dealer here would charge $260 for a tire change. Here in sunny (today) Alberta it's over $800 and that of course is with the OEM put back on. Somwhere there is a new tire making it's way across the country so I should be on the road within a week.

[finless]

I am very late responding to the thread but I wanted to thank Bob for the Video and I only wish that the dealer here would charge $260 for a tire change. Here in sunny (today) Alberta it's over $800 and that of course is with the OEM put back on. Somwhere there is a new tire making it's way across the country so I should be on the road within a week.

$800!

That is highway robbery!!!!

So are you going to do it yourself?

If so, try it with modifications others suggested.
1) When you take the tire to a car place to get the tire on the rim, see if they can do it without removing the hub from the rim (you will still need to pull off the belt pulley). If they can, this will save time! If I was to do it again I would try it. Removing and replacing the hub doubled the time and effort. BUT with that said, taking the hub off does allow you to inspect all your bearings not just the outer ones.

Now should you need bearings, there are many posts about this! So study them. I am glad my bearing were good but if they were not, I was ready to do that job and had ordered this stuff:
293200094 Seal. Model-RT STD 2 required
293300124 O-Ring $4.99
293350067 Ball Bearing $9.99 2 required
293350065 Double Row Bearing. Model-RT STD $26.99


2) Instead of removing the bottom shock bolt, just jack the rear up higher to be able to get the tire out from under the bumper / mud flap.
However, I am pretty sure to do it this way you have to turn the belt adjusters to get the belt off. As some have said, mark them and count the turns out you made to loosen the belt adjustment. With that said however, I would still just drop the bottom shock bolt as for me this seemed to work well for me with no issues.


Good luck!

Bob

[mstella101]

Just ordered the kuhmo- really wanted the yokohama but I could not find anyone dealer or another shop to install it- I was told because it was a 205 not 225 that there would be problems. This bums me out since yoko is my first choice but it sounds like I won't be dissapointed with Kuhmo. I just know with 7500 miles on my '13 St-S I don't want to put on another Kenda( to steal a line from Seinfeld) 'Not that theres anything wrong with that!'. BTW The Service Mgr. said it would be about a 1 1/2 hour job.

[jcthorne]

Just ordered the kuhmo- really wanted the yokohama but I could not find anyone dealer or another shop to install it- I was told because it was a 205 not 225 that there would be problems. This bums me out since yoko is my first choice but it sounds like I won't be dissapointed with Kuhmo. I just know with 7500 miles on my '13 St-S I don't want to put on another Kenda( to steal a line from Seinfeld) 'Not that theres anything wrong with that!'. BTW The Service Mgr. said it would be about a 1 1/2 hour job.

To heck with the NOMINAL size numbers. the ACTUAL width of the Yokohama is less than 3/16 of an inch difference and its EXACTLY the same diameter, better dry and wet traction, better speed and load rating and just all around a much better tire. If you dealer really is trying to steer you to the Kuhmo, they don't know or care much about tires. At least the dealers that push the OEM Kenda are just following the company line no matter if it makes sense to the customer or not.

[mstella101]

Sorry, the dealer wasn't steering me - bad pun - in the direction of the Kuhmo, I have to purchase the tire from somewhere else and bring it over to the dealer to have it installed. Again they thought it would be OK to install a different brand as long as it was the same size. They are a new dealer so I understand if they would like to do everything 'by the book'. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, cause I do need a new tire so we in the Midwest can start riding soon.

[YIRYDE]

JC, I think this tire "IS" the "keeper" and the best car tire replacement right now.

While I wanted the Michelin Hydroedge because I love Michelin tires, they do not make that anymore. The replacement Defender IS NOT a good tire for the Spyder due to it's offset tread.

Anyway, I rode all week to work and hit speeds of up to 80 MPH on Ca. freeways without ANY balancing! FREAKIN WONDERFUL!

So you and I are now some of the few that are using this tire. Let's keep folks up to date on how it goes....

By the way, I AM NOT the person that came up with this alternative tire! It was recommended to me by Spyder Lover User: spyderyderjim
In this post here:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...ire-hell-sorry

So I cannot take ANY credit for this tire choice...

spyderyderjim
THANK you for this wonderful recommendation! Loving it buddy! I hope you see this post as I thank you....

Bob

I just completed an 1800 mile round trip Bike week ride and S-Drive performed great. I didn't experience hardly any rain so I can't comment on the performance in the rain but on dry pavement it was great. If I can get at least 20K of mileage out this tire I will be very happy.

[finless]

I just completed an 1800 mile round trip Bike week ride and S-Drive performed great. I didn't experience hardly any rain so I can't comment on the performance in the rain but on dry pavement it was great. If I can get at least 20K of mileage out this tire I will be very happy.

Good to hear! Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Now that I have some long rides under my belt with this tire.... NO WAY would I use anything else including Khumo.

I personally believe this is the best tire for an RT available right now. It's a high RPM high rated tire and you cannot beat that!

While I don't have any experience with other tires, the more of us that share their experiences with this Yokohama tire, the better educated others are for choices later.
And that's what sharing is all about!

Bob

[johnwinslow]

OK folks, I finally put on my Yokohama "S" Drive tire.
Shot a video on how to do it or at least how I did it.

Hope it helps someone.

Bob

Bob just changed another tire. the guy at the tire place said, just remove the sprocket, no need to remove brake disc and hub, his unit grips the wheel from just the left side to dismount and mount the new tire

[robtdonna]

Always enjoy your videos Bob ! Keep then coming.

[Bensonoid]

I hate to complain but how about a nice coat of nail polish on those toes for the next video.

[opiewhan]

Awesome and full of little tips....Still going to have my dealer do it!!....lol

Will your dealer put on a Yokohama?? Mine wont..Must be a quote un-qoute "motorcycle" tire or they could face a lawsuit..So im stuck right now deciding weather to just put on Kenda's or find a way to get a Yokohama or Kumho on my bike..

[finless]

Will your dealer put on a Yokohama?? Mine wont..Must be a quote un-qoute "motorcycle" tire or they could face a lawsuit..So im stuck right now deciding weather to just put on Kenda's or find a way to get a Yokohama or Kumho on my bike..

If you watch the video I say I took the tire off and went to the car tire place. I went to Allen Tire. There were no questions asked. I told them it was for a custom trike but I really did not need to say anything.

Also as people are saying above, you "may" not need to remove the hub as some tire places have equipment that doesn't require removal of the hub.

BUT, with that said I am still glad I did remove it as I wanted to check all the bearings and seals. You cannot do that without removing the hub.

Bob

[pslawing]

Now that you been running that tire awhile. Please update your thoughts on how it's wearing and riding!

[finless]

Now that you been running that tire awhile. Please update your thoughts on how it's wearing and riding!

I have 7K on my Yoko and loving the tire. As Paul said it's great for the weather I have out here.
Looking at the tread wear it looks like I will get about 14K out of it maybe more.
I got 12K out of my 2011 Kenda stock tire.
So for me this is a winner tire. High quality performance tire with excellent ratings. Love how it rides, it's grip on the road, etc.

If you want a tire that will go more miles than say 14K or so, your going to get a harder tire and it is not going to grip as well. Unfortunately this is the trade off.

When this tire is gone I will probably get the Yoko again.

Bob