State inspection thought

[ARNIE R]

For those of us that have to have annual motor vehicle state inspections done, I have a rather theoretical, hypothetical, and probably, also stupid, question. (It came to me after a few beers)

Let's say that, sometime in the past, you have approached your dealer requesting that they switch out your tires for something other than the Kenda tire, like a car tire.

They refused because of BRP policy, their policy, etc......But, you still go to them for other service requirements.

So, now, it is state inspection time. So in you go. Since in the past, they would not touch your tire exchange issue, are they gonna be low enough to slap a rejection sticker on your ride because you do not approved "motorcycle" tires on it?

(Yes, I have to much free time inside my feeble brain..........)

[Chupaca]

The Kenda tires say..."For motorcycle use only" and if found on a car may present a problem somewhere.. but all the car tires in use don't have limitations as to vehicles except for compitition tires (Racing tires) and maybe Farm and trailers etc....

[RinconRyder]

VA used to use 'authorized' private contractors for vehicle inspections. These were basically independent shops. Is there a reason you wouldn't use one of these instead of your dealer for inspections.

When I lived in VA inspections were required every six months and you could count on every inspection finding your headlights needed alignment. What a crock!

Best day of my life was VA in my rear view mirror.

[Peter Aawen]

Here in Aust, it is illegal for any company to INSIST that customers use ONLY their product or the specific product that they sell/specify for anything, so if BRP OR ANY DEALER insisted that we had to use the Kendas or Arachnids or any other specific tire & that nothing else was acceptable; OR if BRP penalised any Dealer &/or customer for fitting similar or better spec alternatives (see below) they (or the Dealer) could get hauled up pdq on charges re Breach of our Anti-Monopoly legislation!! If substantiated, & much of what you lot have posted sounds like it could well do that, then the penalties & damages imposed could be MASSIVE!!

Furthermore, we are legally allowed to fit any tire that has the correct bead profile for the rim (in this case, Passenger car bead profiles); that complies with the under/over size legislation re alternative rims & tire sizes; and that has load & speed ratings that match or exceed those specified on the tire placard....

So I find it quite surprising that the US & Canada doesn't have similar legislation - I'm pretty sure that you do for a/mkt car parts vs OE parts (I reckon the Aust legislation used yours as the basis for developing ours?!) and I'd be very surprised if that same legislation didn't apply to all vehicles & their replacement parts, not just for cars, in much the same way that ours covers all vehicles?!!

And I'd be even more surprised if fitting a higher load & speed rated tire to a Spyder here in Aust or over there would impact on passing that inspection - and I certainly wouldn't like to be in the shoes of an inspector here that knocked back a vehicle because it had better/higher rated tires than those specified on the tire placard..... cos that could be a VERY EXPENSIVE refusal & probably mean loss of their inspection accreditation!! But then we do often roll our eyes & say "only in the US...." about many things that DO occur there & that we'd just never get away with over here!

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

For those of us that have to have annual motor vehicle state inspections done, I have a rather theoretical, hypothetical, and probably, also stupid, question. (It came to me after a few beers)

Let's say that, sometime in the past, you have approached your dealer requesting that they switch out your tires for something other than the Kenda tire, like a car tire.

They refused because of BRP policy, their policy, etc......But, you still go to them for other service requirements.

So, now, it is state inspection time. So in you go. Since in the past, they would not touch your tire exchange issue, are they gonna be low enough to slap a rejection sticker on your ride because you do not approved "motorcycle" tires on it?

(Yes, I have to much free time inside my feeble brain..........)

Vermont has one of, if not the strictest vehicle inspection laws in the country ...... and every Spyder I have owned since 09 has had ALL Car tires on them ....... good luck in Va. ............ Mike

[Bfromla]

Like others have said good legal tire with enough tread. & that dealer can't be the only inspection around stop by aNy HD shop it's a State sticker & that's enough

[Buckeye Bleau]

Here in Ohio we don't have such nonsense, we still believe in Freedom and Individual rights!

Joe

[Bob Denman]

Have you EVER seen a motor vehicle inspection taken to that level of thoroughness?


I thought not!


Put the car tires on your bike, and enjoy EVERY mile with them!

[Highwayman2013]

A few years ago when I lived in PA I had car tires on our RT and at state inspection time all they were concerned with was tread depth.

[2Paw]

A few years ago when I lived in PA I had car tires on our RT and at state inspection time all they were concerned with was tread depth.

In Texas tread depth is also the only concern.

[juscuz]

Very simple and easy answer. Call your dealer beforehand and ask " Will you fail my spyder if it has a car tire on it and the tread is good"? Or just go to a local inspection station elsewhere.

[Bob Denman]

Why point it out to them?

Rule #1: NEVER give them any ammunition to use against you!

[juscuz]

Why point it out to them?

Rule #1: NEVER give them any ammunition to use against you!

Why take the chance of having a dealership telling you "I can't pass this because the rear tire is a car tire and we won't be responsible if something happens". Believe me it's not sensible but it DOES happen. It's called covering your ars. Just saying. Most inspections stations look at the tire condition and don't question if it's a car tire or not.

[UtahPete]

I have discovered that after a few beers I have incredible insights into the human condition, world affairs and solutions to perplexing issues of the day. I can also dance really well.

[Bob Denman]

Why take the chance of having a dealership telling you "I can't pass this because the rear tire is a car tire and we won't be responsible if something happens". Believe me it's not sensible but it DOES happen. It's called covering your ars. Just saying. Most inspections stations look at the tire condition and don't question if it's a car tire or not.

Go ahead and tell them...


Floating Your Goat.jpg

[ARtraveler]

As others have outright mentioned or implied...

We have not heard of any incidents where a has been rejected because of "car" tires mounted instead of Kenda's.

That said: Don't give them any more ammunition or give them reasons.

A lawyer commercial here goes like this: Three things to say when involved in an accident: Shut UP! Shut UP!! and Shut UP!!!

Beer Vision: Very good for insightful thinking. Unfortunately, it does not have a long lasting effect into the next day.

[canamjhb]

Don't know about Canada but in the U.S. we have the Moss-Magnuson Act that deals primarily with warranties but also specifies that dealers and manufacturers cannot hold consumers hostage requiring them (us) to use ONLY their proprietary products. We are free to use any product that meets or exceeds the manufacturers specifications.

[ARNIE R]

VA used to use 'authorized' private contractors for vehicle inspections. These were basically independent shops. Is there a reason you wouldn't use one of these instead of your dealer for inspections.

When I lived in VA inspections were required every six months and you could count on every inspection finding your headlights needed alignment. What a crock!

Best day of my life was VA in my rear view mirror.

Yes, I can go to my local Shell Station as they are authorized as an inspection station.

My dealer offered free state inspections as a purchasing customer, so I was just tossing the idea around.

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

the one thing i would like to say is since a car tire doesn't have it stamped on it "for car or trailer use only" there is
no legal way it should fail for misapplication. as long as tire specs (load rating, speed rating) meet or exceed oem then it is legal.

[juscuz]

Yes, I can go to my local Shell Station as they are authorized as an inspection station.

My dealer offered free state inspections as a purchasing customer, so I was just tossing the idea around.

Good idea about going to your local shell station. As some of us know, a dealership makes it's money on service after the sale so it stands to reason that finding any and all issues be it immediate or not will be bought to your attention. Gotta keep the business going. Most are honest but then some are not. In a friends case, the local can am service adviser mentioned that he would ask his "State Police" friend about his LED lighting during the free inspection. Since that time his local service station has been doing the inspections with the same equipment on his bike with no issues.

[jaherbst]

I have discovered that after a few beers I have incredible insights into the human condition, world affairs and solutions to perplexing issues of the day. I can also dance really well.

I resemble that remark!

​Jack

[asp125]

Motorcycles are exempt from inspection in CO. But the downside is I've seen very unsafe tires with cords showing

[ARNIE R]

Off to Shell I go.