Rear tire size??

[jwmorrow]

I was wondering why the size change on some replacement rear tires. I noticed that some have said that they are using the General Ultamax RT 43 215/60/15. That is different than the factory tire.
Does it get better traction, better wear, ????
My factory stock tire needs changing at 8500 miles.
Thanks,
Jack
2015 RTL

[Freewheeler]

I was wondering why the size change on some replacement rear tires. I noticed that some have said that they are using the General Ultamax RT 43 215/60/15. That is different than the factory tire.
Does it get better traction, better wear, ????
My factory stock tire needs changing at 8500 miles.
Thanks,
Jack
2015 RTL

Jack....
Have it on my 2013 Spyder St Ltd and it wears MUCH MUCH better than the original Kendas.......has very good to excellent anti-hydroplaning......Is about one half of an inch larger in its diameter but this has no effect on my Spyder.....is a bit narrower (about three quarters of an inch) but is easier to mount......keeping pressure at about 24 lbs (one up mostly) ........yet to see just how many miles it will go (hoping aprox. 3X that of the Kenda) .......

[Highwayman2013]

The 215/60/15 also gives you more choices of tire brands and makes your speedometer show the same speed as your GPS. I traded in my 2012 RT a few weeks ago and the Michelin I had on the rear for 23,000 miles still had plenty of tread left. The RT-43 General is one of the highest rated tires on Tire Rack's website.

[Deanna777]

Jack,

I am running the General Altimax RT 43 on my 2014 RTS-SE6. Size : 215/60 R15 @ 26 psi. The original tire( rear) was change @ 5,824 miles, it was not safe to use anymore. I have 10,176 mile on the General Altimax RT43, the spyder handles great.

Here are the performance evaluation on the General Altimax RT 43:
Wet:
Hydroplaning 8.6
Traction 8.7

Dry:
Cornering Stability 8.7
Dry Traction 9.0
Steering Response 8.6

Comfort:
Ride Quality 8.6
Noise 8.3
Tread wear 8.7

The above ratings are excellent to Superior, the General Altimax tire has a built in "Tire monitoring system" embedded into the rubber of the tire "replace tire".

Several other people on this site also are running this tire. I am very happy with the General Altimax RT 43. When the riding season starts ( in April) it will be my 2nd year with the General Altimax RT 43. Deanna

[UtahPete]

Jack,

I am running the General Altimax RT 43 on my 2014 RTS-SE6. Size : 215/60 R15 @ 26 psi. The original tire( rear) was change @ 5,824 miles, it was not safe to use anymore. I have 10,176 mile on the General Altimax RT43, the spyder handles great.

Here are the performance evaluation on the General Altimax RT 43:
Wet:
Hydroplaning 8.6
Traction 8.7

Dry:
Cornering Stability 8.7
Dry Traction 9.0
Steering Response 8.6

Comfort:
Ride Quality 8.6
Noise 8.3
Tread wear 8.7

The above ratings are excellent to Superior, the General Altimax tire has a built in "Tire monitoring system" embedded into the rubber of the tire "replace tire".

Several other people on this site also are running this tire. I am very happy with the General Altimax RT 43. When the riding season starts ( in April) it will be my 2nd year with the General Altimax RT 43. Deanna

Good info, Deanna. Thanks.

[Deanna777]

I was wondering why the size change on some replacement rear tires. I noticed that some have said that they are using the General Ultamax RT 43 215/60/15. That is different than the factory tire.
Does it get better traction, better wear, ????
My factory stock tire needs changing at 8500 miles.
Thanks,
Jack
2015 RTL

Jack,

I am running the General Altimax RT 43 on the rear of my 2014 RTS-SE6 Size 215/60/R15. The OEM (Kenda was changed at 5,824miles in 2015).
Here is a spec:

Wet 8.5

Hydroplaning 8.6

Wet Traction 8.5

I haven't had any problems with the General Altimax RT 43. The spyder has roughly 22,400 miles,and the General has roughly 16,576 miles on it. Next month I 'm going to replace the General with on other General.

I am very happy the General tire.

Deanna

[UtahPete]

Comparison between OEM size and more common size. It seems the contact patch would be smaller on the narrower / taller tire compared to the OEM. Doesn't this affect wet / dry traction?

dimensions of 15 inch tire profiles.jpg

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

short answer - YES. However the difference in ultimate traction is not really going to be noticed ………… As for Auto tires on Spyders - the PSI is far more important than the small size difference we are using …… Mike

[Peter Aawen]

Especially about the tire pressure! And also, if the tread patterns on the tires are otherwise equal, the longer & narrower contact patch on the taller tire (run at the right {lower} pressure) will actually IMPROVE that tires' traction in the wet, as well as increasing its ability to avoid hydro-planing!

[starrider60]

Have the General Altimax on my 2017 RTS. Stock tire was worn down at 15,000 miles. Better ride and more stable with the General. Running 20 psi.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

..glad you are enjoying your ride and that tire ……….. I have a 14 RT and try to keep the rear at 17psi …… love the way it handles at that pressure ….. But at 20 psi you are closer than some others, so you are on the right track with this psi thing ………. Mike

[UtahPete]

..glad you are enjoying your ride and that tire ……….. I have a 13 RT and try to keep the rear at 17psi …… love the way it handles at that pressure ….. But at 20 psi you are closer than some others, so you are on the right track with this psi thing ………. Mike

I've settled on 20psi for my rear non-OEM tires. Seems to work for me.

[DC1]

I’ve run that tire for 16,000 miles, about to put another just like it on it, wife is a big girl so I run 26 PSI and it wears perfectly even..

In my opinion it grips as good in the rain and isn’t as sloppy in the twisties… The carcass is much stiffer so it doesn’t shift and mis-shape as weight is slung around.. I could see that by following her…

Not to mention double-triple the life and lower cost….

I wouldn’t run anything else…

[Mikey]

2019