Just turned 12k miles on these OEM tires. I have noticed a little more action on some surfaces with the rear end, wanted feedback from submitted photos if it's time to replace. Is this wear pattern the usual?
Don't see any cord showing yet. You maybe have another 10K to go. "NOT!" Get that thing replaced post-haste before it causes a huge problem for you and/or someone else. Check out the Tire Rack and do a search here to find out which tire you'd prefer, but get that thing changed out soon.
That wear pattern is common for the rear tire on OE Kendas, Kenda Kanines, and the Vee-rubber clone Arachnids; and while you've done pretty well to get 12k miles out of it, it's now dangerously well past time to replace that rear tire!!
However, the front tire shown, if there's no vibration or other unexplained handling issues occurring and you aren't out-ryding their (not necessarily all that wonderful ) grip all the time, looks to be good for a while yet!
The bars you can see in the tread grooves of that front tire have a series of raised lines on the top of them, so they are NOT the Tread Wear indicators, but rather they are just tread stabiliser bars & rain/ice breakers intended to force collected rain/ice out of the grooves thru the siping. The 'real' Tread Wear indicators won't have those lines across the top; are usually about 8-10 inches further around the tread; and will have a small triangle embossed on the very edge of the tread where it meets the sidewall, with the pointy top of the triangle pointing towards the nearest tread wear indicator & not quite so directly towards the others as they are staggered across the tread grooves.
YES, you need a new rear tire.
Check out the tires on this Forum.
General Altima RT 43 is a good starting point.
There is a current posting on Rear Tire selection on this Forum. Check it out.
I tried to get my Spyder Dealer to change out my rear tire for a 'better tire' but they were against using the tire.
Something about 'BRP/the tire law'. ..... ...
Last edited by Little Blue; 12-01-2021 at 05:10 AM.
ENJOY YOUR LIFE WITH A SPYDER
Ryde with a Friend and be Safe
I just replaced my OEM tires with the new Vredestein Quatrac's. My front and rear tires looked a lot like yours but I went ahead and replaced all 3. There was an amazing difference in the ride and handling. Wish I would have done it a lot earlier. I'm sure any of the recommended tires on here would work great for you.
While that will generally be the case for tread wear like that on any 'normal' tire, but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference on the Kenda &/or clone rears - they generally just wear like that regardless and usually fairly quickly too!!
I reckon it's because they're so lightly constructed - lightweight 'rubber' everywhere; lightweight denier thread in the plies (2 tread & 1 sidewall); and lighter than most steel belts too! So because of that lightweight construction, once the tire starts rotating at any sort of speed, the centre of the tread gets thrown out, 'growing' the tire's rolling diameter but narrowing its contact patch, just like it does on a drag tire once it starts spinning up, so you end up ryding on the middle 2 inches of the Kendas tread and consequently wearing the centre out faster than the sides of the tread.... and giving you less traction than you are likely to get from a real auto tire with its heavier construction and a tread that's held flatter across its face, keeping more of it on the road surface more of the time, and levelling out the wear and improving the ryde & handling as a result!
Last edited by Peter Aawen; 12-01-2021 at 11:19 PM.
I humbly dis-agree .... Kenda REAR tires don't wear quickly because of the PSI in them .... they wear quickly because they of WEAK construction .... this allows them to balloon at speeds above 35 mph. ..... This only appears to happen to the REAR tires, not the fronts ..... WHY ???? ... because the rear is a wider ( 225 vs. 160 ) tire..... Mike .... I would delete this post if I could .... because Pater said itbefore I read His answer ......
Last edited by BLUEKNIGHT911; 12-02-2021 at 01:10 AM.
Just turned 12k miles on these OEM tires. I have noticed a little more action on some surfaces.. with the rear end, wanted feedback from submitted photos if it's time to replace. Is this wear pattern the usual?
Replace this rear tire asap. .......
ENJOY YOUR LIFE WITH A SPYDER
Ryde with a Friend and be Safe
Just turned 12k miles on these OEM tires. I have noticed a little more action on some surfaces with the rear end, wanted feedback from submitted photos if it's time to replace. Is this wear pattern the usual?
My rear tire looked like that at 6,000 miles, the inside of the front tire looks like it has a little cupping.
I put a Kumho AST in the rear, it's just OK as it has less grip than the Kenda, I went with Vredsteins up front, good bite and a smooth ride.
PLAN AHEAD!! There is going to be a shortage of tires that you can use on a Spyder next riding season.
start looking for those replacements now.
T.P.
The picture of my rear tire in post #5 of this thread was taken while I was on the road riding the bike from Tulsa, OK home to Mesa, AZ. I was a clueless new Spyder owner riding it for the very first time. When I took delivery the tires looked fine. Unknown to me the selling dealer aired the rear up to 35#s. That tire went from "looking fine" to what you see in the picture in just 700 miles of interstate speeds. My lessons learned (quickly). Kendas are crap! An overinflated Kenda will wear badly and very quickly at 60-70 MPH. So, it pays to plan ahead. Especially if you are riding on Kendas.
And, BTW..... The dealer where I bought my Spyder (non-Spyder dealership) paid for a new tire and to have it installed when I was a little more than half way home. Guess they felt responsible for sending me out on the road with an unsafe tire. Stay safe..... Jim
Last edited by canamjhb; 12-02-2021 at 08:31 PM.
2005 Windveil Blue Premium Mustang Convertible
2008 Honda GL1800/California Sidecar Trike, SOLD
2014 Platinum Silver Satin Spyder RTL, SOLD
Semper Fi
neither one , my wife bought me a complete set , for Christmas , I have not started taking the wheels off yet , but they sure look Impressive . and they should last for years . we all know the difference in Motor Cycle Tires....and Car Tires ... 10,000 miles will wear most motor cycle tires completely out , and a car tire same size will last at least 40,000 miles . motor cycle tires are softer rubber so they will stick in a turn better , but a trike don't lean into a turn , so they don't really need the softer tires .
Just turned 12k miles on these OEM tires. I have noticed a little more action on some surfaces with the rear end, wanted feedback from submitted photos if it's time to replace. Is this wear pattern the usual?
Replace rear tire!
Deanna
Current Spyder - 2023 F3 LTD Special Mineral Blue
Red LED NANO Saddlebag Marker Lights with Full Illumination
Sequential Fender LED'S (Amber/Red) with Safety Reflector
Dual Power Plate (12 V & USB ports)
Gremlin Bell
Rear Trunk Organizer (4 holders, 2 Elastic Holders)
Lamonster "Top Cuff" with adjustable drink Holder
SpyderPops Missing Guard Belt
Console Accent Trim (Carbon Fiber Domed Black)
Ultimate F3 Floorboards
Front Fairing Service Access Door Covers (Carbon Fiber Doomed Black)
Sway Bar with Links
Rolo Laser Alignment
Half Cover
A-Arm Daytime Dual Color LED Running Lights with Blinker Module
Hi-Viz DRL and Sequential Mirrors lights
ohhhhhh I think she bought Goodyear tires . I have not put them on the Spyder yet , I am gonna put them on myself , been looking at buying a tire/wheel balencer .
ohhhhhh I think she bought Goodyear tires . I have not put them on the Spyder yet , I am gonna put them on myself , been looking at buying a tire/wheel balencer .
Questionable, 225/50R15 in a Good Year brand ? They may make that size, but I don't believe it is something you want to put on your Spyder. Check in with Mike ,"The Blue Knight", He will get you on the right path too car spools.
Time to replace this tire?
Reply With Quote
) grip all the time, looks to be good for a while yet! 
The 'real' Tread Wear indicators won't have those lines across the top; are usually about 8-10 inches further around the tread; and will have a small triangle embossed on the very edge of the tread where it meets the sidewall, with the pointy top of the triangle pointing towards the nearest tread wear indicator & not quite so directly towards the others as they are staggered across the tread grooves. 
YES, you need a new rear tire. 
...
Originally Posted by happyspyder2039
So because of that lightweight construction, once the tire starts rotating at any sort of speed, the centre of the tread gets thrown out, 'growing' the tire's rolling diameter but narrowing its contact patch, just like it does on a drag tire once it starts spinning up, so you end up ryding on the middle 2 inches of the Kendas tread and consequently wearing the centre out faster than the sides of the tread.... and giving you less traction than you are likely to get from a real auto tire with its heavier construction and a tread that's held flatter across its face, keeping more of it on the road surface more of the time, and levelling out the wear and improving the ryde & handling as a result! 
......
