OEM tires improved?

[Fat Baxter]

Why would BRP want to do that?

I think it's more a liability issue than a supply chain issue. The Kendas have "special motorcycle use" on the sidewalls, so I think that has the lawyers at BRP covering their corporate butts. If the dealer is willing to let you sign a waiver absolving them of any tire-related liability issues, then they should be OK mounting the tires, if you supply them. It would be a courtesy to the dealer for you to source the tires.

[Fat Baxter]

When I was in Quebec last year for the Spyder 10th anniversary celebration I asked a BRP rep if they had any objection to dealers installing car tires. He said there was no such directive........

Well, that word's not out. I called around my region when I needed new tires, and the five nearest dealer all said "no."

That's why I keep saying that BRP needs to explicitly make this clear to their dealers. Publish some kind of dealer-wide bulletin, or something, 'cause the word's not apparently getting out.

Heck, maybe BRP could post that statement here at Spyderlovers, and we could print it out and show our dealers.

[Bob Denman]

BRP isn't going to do that; I'm pretty sure that the Feds take a dim view of "Dark-sided" motorcycles...

[Mad Mac]

When I had ours changed by a dealer, he said "as long as we don't remove or install the wheel(s) from the machine, we can mount the tires". So removed the rear wheel from the machine and took it to the dealer, had the tire (Yokohoma S-drive) mounted/bal. and was on my way back home. Still cost me $45.00 for the "service" though. Mad Mac

[ARtraveler]

I have discussed the dealer in previous tire threads. My dealer is one that will NOT install non OEM tires on the . They are now the ONLY dealer in the state. Next nearest dealer is 1500 miles South (Washington State) or East (Whitehorse YT.).

I am okay with it. My current Kenda fronts (2014) have 28,000 on them and still look like new. The rears are approaching 20K.

Normally I get 20K on the fronts and around 15K on the rears.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

When I had ours changed by a dealer, he said "as long as we don't remove or install the wheel(s) from the machine, we can mount the tires". So removed the rear wheel from the machine and took it to the dealer, had the tire (Yokohoma S-drive) mounted/bal. and was on my way back home. Still cost me $45.00 for the "service" though. Mad Mac

If you have to do that much work ...... just take the wheel / tire to any car tire place and have it done for $10 to $15 .......Mike

[ES44AC]

I have about 11k on my second Kenda rear tire. 7800 on my first one.

[Deanna777]

I changed the rear tire( Kenda) @ 5,824 miles. I changed the rear tire to General Altimax RT43, and I have 16,176 miles on the General Altimax RT43, I have not had any problems. The rear tire was changed in Aug/Sept. 2014.


I had a Can-Am dealership install the above tire, and I signed a waiver.

Deanna

[blitzkreig]

I have discussed the dealer in previous tire threads. My dealer is one that will NOT install non OEM tires on the . They are now the ONLY dealer in the state. Next nearest dealer is 1500 miles South (Washington State) or East (Whitehorse YT.).

You missed a few dealers in British Columbia ... LOL

[ARtraveler]

You missed a few dealers in British Columbia ... LOL

Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh. Not worth the drive for me.

[ARNIE R]

My dealer would not mount them either even tho I called first and they said they would if I brought everything in. Had them mounted at a local tire shop and brought them back to the dealer and they even refused to balance them.

[Fat Baxter]

My dealer would not mount them either even tho I called first and they said they would if I brought everything in. Had them mounted at a local tire shop and brought them back to the dealer and they even refused to balance them.

This is why I think BRP should clarify its policy, since some dealers have mounted non-OEM tires and others won't. If it's a complete ban due to liability issues, that's one thing. They should also clearly state whether they'll accept a rider signing a waiver absolving the dealer of any issues arising from use of non-OEM tires. And if so, riders must supply the tires; the dealers shouldn't have to source them.

I would just like some consistency.

[BajaRon]

If you have to do that much work ...... just take the wheel / tire to any car tire place and have it done for $10 to $15 .......Mike

Exactly!

Do you have your 'Ford' tires done at a Ford dealership? Probably not. It's a Car tire on a Car wheel. A no-brainer for any tire shop. They probably don't have a dynamic balance machine that they can get to work with it. But the truth is. Neither do most dealerships. Most Can-Am dealerships just static balance your tire, if that.

[BajaRon]

This is why I think BRP should clarify its policy, since some dealers have mounted non-OEM tires and others won't. If it's a complete ban due to liability issues, that's one thing. They should also clearly state whether they'll accept a rider signing a waiver absolving the dealer of any issues arising from use of non-OEM tires. And if so, riders must supply the tires; the dealers shouldn't have to source them.

I would just like some consistency.

I think you may have the wrong perspective on this. Dealerships tell you they are there to provide customer service. Looking at it from this point of view your query makes sense. But in truth. Dealerships are there to make money. Now it may be wise in this monetary pursuit to give excellent customer care. But not all dealerships see it that way.

The bottom line is. Dealerships have to ask; 'What is in it for us?' Look at it from their point of view.

1- We don't sell a tire
2- We get the dirty end of the stick (mounting and maybe balancing someone else's tire). Which takes shop time and really, not much profit in it.
3- We have the potential of inheriting someone else's problem. What happens if the tire is defective. What happens if the customer is not happy with the tire. What happens if there are clearance issues, etc.
4- Though I think most dealerships use this as a ruse to get you to purchase a Kenda. I think some dealerships actually believe there is a real potential for liability. While I will admit, anything is possible. I have never heard of a single related issue using a non-Kenda tire on the Spyder.
5- It may be that BRP has not issued any kind of blanket policy prohibiting dealerships from mounting an aftermarket tire. But they may have issued a policy stating that if a dealership does mount an aftermarket tire. The dealerships assumes all liability and BRP will not stand behind them if there is a problem.

Bottom line. It's just not worth the effort for most dealerships. But they aren't going to tell you that. They are going to give you a 'Story'. Blaming it on a BRP policy (whether it it exists or not) is a handy and efficient way to do that.

[Peteoz]

1- We don't sell a tire
2- We get the dirty end of the stick (mounting and maybe balancing someone else's tire). Which takes shop time and really, not much profit in it.
3- We have the potential of inheriting someone else's problem. What happens if the tire is defective. What happens if the customer is not happy with the tire. What happens if there are clearance issues, etc.
4- Though I think most dealerships use this as a ruse to get you to purchase a Kenda. I think some dealerships actually believe there is a real potential for liability. While I will admit, anything is possible. I have never heard of a single related issue using a non-Kenda tire on the Spyder.
5- It may be that BRP has not issued any kind of blanket policy prohibiting dealerships from mounting an aftermarket tire. But they may have issued a policy stating that if a dealership does mount an aftermarket tire. The dealerships assumes all liability and BRP will not stand behind them if there is a problem.

Bottom line. It's just not worth the effort for most dealerships. But they aren't going to tell you that. They are going to give you a 'Story'. Blaming it on a BRP policy (whether it it exists or not) is a handy and efficient way to do that.

I agree with what you are saying, Ron, but if Spyder dealers carried even one brand of car tyre that was exactly the same dimensions as the Kenda, then points 1, 2, 3, and part of 4 are gone. I really don’t care what brand of alternative car tyre I use as long as it is upper tier. I realise that this does not take away the fact that BRP will not stand behind the dealer in the case of liability, and that is a real showstopper, but for me, my 300lbs and my passengers xx lbs, a car tyre is virtually a necessity. I would be more than happy to sign any kind of liability waiver in this case.

Even if the dealer had a method of removing the rear wheel and parking the Spyder in a corner (I would not expect them to leave it on a hoist for obvious reasons) while I took the wheel to a tyre shop, and then returned to have them remount it, would work for me. Once again, I would be happy to sign a waiver should the tyre not fit and wear their labour costs.

I’m sure there are issues with the above, but after my hip replacement, and with bad knees, it is going to be near impossible for me to replace the tyre myself next time, and I really can’t/won’t go back to the Kenda.😉

Pete

[JKMSPYDER]

Ron, I believe the reason that some dealers will mount a car tire is that they can charge for labor. Yes, they won't make money on selling a Kenda but if they were doing warranty work they wouldn't make any money on labor anyway. Charging their labor rate is better than getting nothing at all. Of the two dealers I mentioned in an earlier post, neither one have asked me to sign a waiver. I think dealers that refuse to mount a car tire are passing up business that would lead to more $$ for them versus turning the customer away!

[Fat Baxter]

Peteoz and JKMSPYDER immediately above have the gist of my complaint. I currently don't have the necessary jacks and stands to remove the wheels; on top of which I too have some minor physical issues that make such a task a literal pain.

As I see it, if I supply the tires, the dealer at least gets some money for his work; if I go elsewhere or do it myself, he gets zero. He also accrues some good will with his customers -- and I keep hearing that this is a desirable thing. What I also get out of it is the peace of mind knowing that it was done properly.

This is an incredibly minor thing for the dealers to do, but it would mean so much to the Spyder community.

BTW, I don't see this as "darksiding." Darksiding is mounting a car tire on a motorcycle rim; that's not what's happening here.

[BajaRon]

Peteoz and JKMSPYDER immediately above have the gist of my complaint. I currently don't have the necessary jacks and stands to remove the wheels; on top of which I too have some minor physical issues that make such a task a literal pain.

As I see it, if I supply the tires, the dealer at least gets some money for his work; if I go elsewhere or do it myself, he gets zero. He also accrues some good will with his customers -- and I keep hearing that this is a desirable thing. What I also get out of it is the peace of mind knowing that it was done properly.

This is an incredibly minor thing for the dealers to do, but it would mean so much to the Spyder community.

BTW, I don't see this as "darksiding." Darksiding is mounting a car tire on a motorcycle rim; that's not what's happening here.

I understand your position and your point. It makes sense even to some dealerships. The problem you are having is that it does not matter to many dealerships for reasons that make sense to them.

[UtahPete]

Peteoz and JKMSPYDER immediately above have the gist of my complaint. I currently don't have the necessary jacks and stands to remove the wheels; on top of which I too have some minor physical issues that make such a task a literal pain.

As I see it, if I supply the tires, the dealer at least gets some money for his work; if I go elsewhere or do it myself, he gets zero. He also accrues some good will with his customers -- and I keep hearing that this is a desirable thing. What I also get out of it is the peace of mind knowing that it was done properly.

This is an incredibly minor thing for the dealers to do, but it would mean so much to the Spyder community.

BTW, I don't see this as "darksiding." Darksiding is mounting a car tire on a motorcycle rim; that's not what's happening here.

My local dealer will mount non-OEM tires with a written waiver. You could ask your dealer about that (they do talk to each other about these issues).

[slick999]

Any tire manufactured after 2814 (28th week of 2014, at the end of the DOT string of numbers on the tire) is a harder compound than ones made before that date. The harder compound MAY give you longer life depending on how you ride. My first two tires, the soft compound lasted only around 7K while my first tire with the harder compound gave me over 11K. My second harder compound tire is approaching paws up at only 8.6K but that tire has 5,500+ miles of interstate travel at high speed. I'm just about finished researching a dealer not too far away that will install a car tire for me.

I have a later 2014,7500 on original Kenda and it doesn't even look half worn.At this rate it should make 15,000.

[Peteoz]

If a customer came in my store missing a safety shield that hangs off the back of their lawn mower deck, and wanted a tune up. The mower would leave with a new safety shield on the back of the mower deck. The customer will usually throw a fit about the $8 - $12 part, & ask to sign a waiver. I will tell him it is a safety issue, and it doesn't leave my store without it.

So you are effectively forcing your customer to buy a safety shield, whether they want it or not, JAS? I would have thought that would be opening yourself up to litigation every bit as much as having the customer sign a waiver, especially if you are the only dealer within 150miles and the customer simply can not afford to go elsewhere. Please don’t get me wrong. I would not dream of criticising you as you are running a store (unlike me) and are fully aware of the gotchas. I am just interested.

Pete

[UtahPete]

I will not allow any written waivers in my dealership. I learned in a business class I took way back in the day waivers will not hold up in court.

The courts will look at it like... As a professional in my field I know exactly why that safety shield is on the back of the mower deck, & I should have never have let a consumer sign a waiver that doesn't fully understand why it is there in the 1st place. So I would be deemed to some of the fault, simply because I know better as a trained professional, over the general consumer with lack of knowledge.

So I'm sure there are a lot of other dealerships out there that also see things as too big of a liability risk even with a waiver signed.

I give you kudos as a small businessman and I wish you well. But, that doesn't qualify you to give advice involving legal liability. Also, lawn mower salesman / mechanic is not a recognized profession in any state, that I know of. It may be a recognized trade, I don't know.

Legal liability varies state by state. In my state (Utah), signing a waiver is acknowledgment of personal responsibility and would protect a business that was providing a requested service in spite of the owner's misgivings about it.

[UtahPete]

Whatever... MY POINT IS NOT EVERY DEALERSHIP WILL TAKE THE RISK IN TODAYS SUE HAPPY WORLD

I never said they would. I just said mine does, and it doesn't hurt to ask their dealer if they will.

[UtahPete]

If you don't like it. Thats where you have the option to go somewhere else for your services.

I've got a funny feeling I wouldn't feel comfortable in your shop.

[Peteoz]

My local dealer will mount non-OEM tires with a written waiver. You could ask your dealer about that (they do talk to each other about these issues).

Already asked, Pete.......as Ron says above, the dealer won’t do it for reasons that make sense to them, which I understand, but it needs to be all about ME !

Pete