Looking for help on getting new rear tire

[fzyk47]

I have a 2014 ST and after 8,000 miles the wear bars are showing on the rear tire. I have read a lot of posts on tires and seen a lot of different manufactures, but did not see sizes of tires. I would like good traction on dry and wet pavement. I saw posts that the OEM tire size does not match other manufactures. Should i have the dealer install the tire or take it down to the local discount tire to have it installed?

This is all new adventure and would like to hear recommendations.

[Bfromla]

I have a 2014 ST and after 8,000 miles the wear bars are showing on the rear tire. I have read a lot of posts on tires and seen a lot of different manufactures, but did not see sizes of tires. I would like good traction on dry and wet pavement. I saw posts that the OEM tire size does not match other manufactures. Should i have the dealer install the tire or take it down to the local discount tire to have it installed?

This is all new adventure and would like to hear recommendations.

Well you can save the trip to discount, FYI they will not provide a tire if they know it's for a spyder others can provide more info on the few variations that fit & work.

[Bob Denman]

The OEM tire size is 225/50-15
You can purchase any number of different brand tires in that size.
Personally: I like the Kumho Ecsta AST as a replacement tire.
I get about double the mileage out of them; for about half the cost of the OEM Knda.

This is where it gets fun!! )
There are ALL SORTS of tires that work pretty well.
General has the Alitimax in a 215/60-15 size...
this one actually helps to correct some of the speedometer error, that these bikes all seem to have.
Yokohama S-Drive is also a very good tire (contact JCThorne about them...)

Happy Shopping!

[Dmetcalf]

This is a highly debatable topic here for sure ..! Lots of great information to help you decide.

[canamjhb]

Altimax 215/60R15 works great for me. Excellent traction but have not tried it in the rain but others have given it good reviews...... Good luck.

[Flamewinger]

I went to an America's Tire and was able to buy the Kumho Ecsta AST and they also wanted to mount/balance it until they saw the wheel. They refunded the mount/balance cost and I went to a motorcycle accessory shop for them to do it. I removed the tire/wheel from the bike myself. This was on a 2013 ST. There are videos on how to do it. Some Spyder dealers will have and install any tire and some won't.

[ARtraveler]

I have a 2014 ST and after 8,000 miles the wear bars are showing on the rear tire. I have read a lot of posts on tires and seen a lot of different manufactures, but did not see sizes of tires. I would like good traction on dry and wet pavement. I saw posts that the OEM tire size does not match other manufactures. Should i have the dealer install the tire or take it down to the local discount tire to have it installed?

This is all new adventure and would like to hear recommendations.

Do you know if the tire is the original that came with the 2014 ST. The original 2014's had a "new" rubber compound which resulted in tire mileage between 6,000 and 8,000 miles. I got 8,900 on mine. Replacement OEM tires will give you around 15,000 miles.

If you do not want a OEM--there are LOTS of options out there. Most BRP dealers will NOT install them.

[missouriboy]

I have a 2014 ST and after 8,000 miles the wear bars are showing on the rear tire...

Hmmm... are you SURE you're looking at the wear bars, and not the water-breaking bars? The latter show up a lot sooner, which is completely normal.

To be sure, the wear bars are indicated by a little triangle at the side of the tread, on the shoulder. These don't correspond to the water bars.

[Mikey]

And if your having trouble sleeping do a search on this subject and you will soon have a headache! Good luck in your tire buying, my next one will be a Altramax

[Bob Denman]

Yup! There's only about "Eleventeen Ga-Zillion" threads about tires...