Are you happy with your aftermarket CAR tires?

[BajaRon]

Or read post #47 .....Mike

Sorry, blew by your post! Always in too much of a hurry I guess!

[JohnRuckus]

Tire Rack.com now has 225/60-15 & 215/60-15 @ $122 & $118 per tire they ship for free ( don't answer any questions about what veh they are going on ....JUST DECLINE ) ..... Or the Riken Raptor 231/60-15 @ $ 82.00 ( I switched the the Raptor 8000mi.ago and love it ......Good luck .... Mike

BlueKnight, you may have said it already and shame on me if I missed it, but are you running the Raptors all around? Also, is 231/60-15 a type-o? I don't see that on tirerack.
I think I want to give them a try based on your many tire comments and reviews.

[RayBJ]

BRP reply:

"BRP only supplies a specific Kendal tire and the calibrations for the VSS are done with that tire, any deviations of changes of tires can change the handling and characteristics behavior of the unit. We cannot stop customers from changing their tires. Changing the tires also changes the homologation of the unit and is no longer considered compliant with the model number homologations. Any possible accidents or incidents that might occur from a handling issue will come down to the person that changed the tires to non stock tires.
If the tires was changes to non stock tires we can not assist as we have no information about the tire behavior and handling characteristics.
Hope this will give you a better insight on the issue."

Sarah

What a crock! What I do agree with is: The changes in handling are FAR IMPROVED over the OEM rubber bands when running car tires.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

BlueKnight, you may have said it already and shame on me if I missed it, but are you running the Raptors all around? Also, is 231/60-15 a type-o? I don't see that on tirerack.
I think I want to give them a try based on your many tire comments and reviews.

The Raptor only comes in REAR tire sizes .... I use the 215/60-15 size ...... And Yes, that 231/60-15 is a typo ....Sorry ....Th e Raptor is only slightly lower rated than the Altimax ..... but is $50.00 cheaper and that is a Serious bargain ..... Mike

[JohnRuckus]

The Raptor only comes in REAR tire sizes .... I use the 215/60-15 size ...... And Yes, that 231/60-15 is a typo ....Sorry ....Th e Raptor is only slightly lower rated than the Altimax ..... but is $50.00 cheaper and that is a Serious bargain ..... Mike

Awesome. Thanks for the feedback. I think I'll order it from tirerack

[mecsw500]

Ten or more years ago, I would have understood BRP's viewpoint. Stability control systems were a new fangled idea and manufacturers had little experience of how such systems behaved in the real world on anything other than the OEM tire fitments.

However, now most cars have stability control systems and we see the same cars fitted with differing tire brands as OEM provisions, depending upon the model year or even the batch they were produced in. I think a car manufacturer would have a hard time insisting on OEM provided tire brands as long as the tire fitted was of the correct size, loading and rating and from a name brand manufacturer. OK, I think there would exceptions for specialist very high performance cars, but often the OEM brand of tire in the correct fitment is not available after a few years of ownership for many vehicles. Telling twenty year old Rolls Royce or Bentley owners they can no longer drive their cars when the OEM fitment tires wear out, just plain silly.

Even modern two wheeled motorcycles are fitted with complex stability control driven ABS systems yet I don't hear the manufacturers stating that only one particular tire is approved fitment for the machine. Their own race teams choose different vendors or use the spec tire for the series. I've had various factory dealers over the years suggest and fit different tire brands over the generally cheaper and less performant OEM fitments.

Imagine, going to Costco to fit Michelin tires to your recent Toyota Camry and being told no, cannot do that as it came with some other brand as original fitment.

I think after this length of time BRP could have evaluated a few different tire brands and fitments to provide as an alternate to the OEM Kendas, especially considering the supply chain issues they often have in obtaining them.

Personally, I actually like the Kendas I have fitted to my Spyder. I find them a good compromise between handling and ride, albeit at the expense of longevity. I know I'm in the minority and it might not be a popular point of view, but there, that's just my personal opinion. However, not having an approved list of alternatives, unlike nearly every car and motorcycle manufacturer in existence, shows a bit of lack of maturity from BRP. Even their own dealers fit alternative vendors to their off road vehicles.

In fact, by minor changes to the OEM tire and wheel sizes, they could easily have an approved list of modern light car tires that with the right recommended pressures serve admirably on our vehicles. Even a minor change to 17" wheel sizes would open up a wide range of tires from major quality manufacturers and yet not change the geometry of the Spyder by any significant amount. Look at cars, they often come with a wide range of wheel and tire sizes and nobody says they are inherently dangerous.

BRP needs to get with the program, forcing its customers to have a single brand choice from a relatively small and obscure supplier, in the US, is patently one of reducing customer choice. If the whole stability control issue was really that sensitive, why not make the brake calipers and rotors a special size to stop people fitting Brembo or EBC parts, which are just a likely to affect the stability control system.

The whole thing has got to a point of nonsense and seriously underestimating the common sense intelligence of their customers when reading their proclamations on tire fitment choices.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

mecsw500

The BRP story line is that you must use OEM Kenda tires because the computers on the Spyders recognize them ... However, BRP has Changed the tire tread and compounds of the OEM Kenda's three times to date, and they haven't recalled any Spyders to have the Computers RE-PROGRAMMED. Which makes their story line ..... Pure Hooey .... Mike

[BajaRon]

mecsw500

The BRP story line is that you must use OEM Kenda tires because the computers on the Spyders recognize them ... However, BRP has Changed the tire tread and compounds of the OEM Kenda's three times to date, and they haven't recalled any Spyders to have the Computers RE-PROGRAMMED. Which makes their story line ..... Pure Hooey .... Mike

These days, with the level of cross communication available, it's more difficult to lie to the customer and get away with it. But there will always be those who remain loyal to the manufacturer regardless of the facts. Everyone gets to choose. And that's the way it should be.

[JohnRuckus]

The Raptor only comes in REAR tire sizes .... I use the 215/60-15 size ...... And Yes, that 231/60-15 is a typo ....Sorry ....Th e Raptor is only slightly lower rated than the Altimax ..... but is $50.00 cheaper and that is a Serious bargain ..... Mike

Rear Riken Raptor installed.
Thanks for the recommendation

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Rear Riken Raptor installed.
Thanks for the recommendation

Thanks for this info ...... Please keep the Forum informed about your opinion of this tire ..... It's much less expensive to any of the other top performance tires ...IMHO & others .....Mike

[JohnRuckus]

I don't want to say I was skeptical, but I wasn't quite sold on all the rave reviews prior to me changing tires. I was really going to try to keep things OEM, but.... I'm glad I didn't. I've only put on a little over 100 miles since having them installed. The difference is very noticeable. On day 1 I had to adjust the tire pressure down from the 28 to the suggested psi. I think I dropped it to 20 until I was able to find the ~18 psi recommendation.
So, after 3 days of short rides, I can say that there is a difference in aftermarket Riken Raptors vs OEM Kendas for sure. I didn't think I would notice that much of a difference by just replacing the rear. Now, I'm eager to replace the fronts too.
I'm not going to tell anyone to go after market. That's your choice, but if you do, I'd say give the Riken Raptor a try. I don't know how to describe it other than saying it just rides better than the OEM. Traction feels better and even ride comfort seems a little softer (that could just be me though).

[Jesster72]

I put the Altimax 45 on the back and Quatracs on the front - all at the same time, at about 12,500 miles, a week or so ago. The rear was shot, the fronts had ok tread, but I wanted to get it all done in one shot. Before I left the dealer, I adjusted all to 18 psi. I had a (solo) 100 mi ride from the dealer to home, mixed interstate and 2-lane, with a few sprinkles thrown in for good measure. The next day, I took my wife for a ride, about 60 miles. She even noticed the difference in the ride.

I'm looking forward to getting out again and see if my initial perception holds, that the bike tracks even better than before, and the ride seems much smoother. But, with all the rain over the last 4 days, then yesterday and today it is snowing, I'll have to wait a few days before getting out again.

Thanks to all who shared their knowledge on tires here. Without you and the site, I would have put the Kendas on when it was time. I appreciate you (all).

[Cobwebs]

I put the Altimax 45 on the back and Quatracs on the front - all at the same time, at about 12,500 miles, a week or so ago. The rear was shot, the fronts had ok tread, but I wanted to get it all done in one shot. Before I left the dealer, I adjusted all to 18 psi. I had a (solo) 100 mi ride from the dealer to home, mixed interstate and 2-lane, with a few sprinkles thrown in for good measure. The next day, I took my wife for a ride, about 60 miles. She even noticed the difference in the ride.

I'm looking forward to getting out again and see if my initial perception holds, that the bike tracks even better than before, and the ride seems much smoother. But, with all the rain over the last 4 days, then yesterday and today it is snowing, I'll have to wait a few days before getting out again.

Thanks to all who shared their knowledge on tires here. Without you and the site, I would have put the Kendas on when it was time. I appreciate you (all).

Don't all new freshly balanced tyres feel like that though, regardless of the vehicle.
Just sayin'..........

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I don't want to say I was skeptical, but I wasn't quite sold on all the rave reviews prior to me changing tires. I was really going to try to keep things OEM, but.... I'm glad I didn't. I've only put on a little over 100 miles since having them installed. The difference is very noticeable. On day 1 I had to adjust the tire pressure down from the 28 to the suggested psi. I think I dropped it to 20 until I was able to find the ~18 psi recommendation.
So, after 3 days of short rides, I can say that there is a difference in aftermarket Riken Raptors vs OEM Kendas for sure. I didn't think I would notice that much of a difference by just replacing the rear. Now, I'm eager to replace the fronts too.
I'm not going to tell anyone to go after market. That's your choice, but if you do, I'd say give the Riken Raptor a try. I don't know how to describe it other than saying it just rides better than the OEM. Traction feels better and even ride comfort seems a little softer (that could just be me though).

"Ride comfort softer" ..... No, it's not just you .... I posted numerous times that the Tires are part of the suspension ..... Even the Auto tires have stiffer sidewalls, using 15 to 17 PSI in the fronts WORKS - period ..... good luck ... Mike

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Don't all new freshly balanced tyres feel like that though, regardless of the vehicle.
Just sayin'..........

NO ......Mike

[Cobwebs]

NO ......Mike

All mine have. How can a worn out multiple heat cycled tyre give more traction and feel better than a new example then?

[Peter Aawen]

All mine have. How can a worn out multiple heat cycled tyre give more traction and feel better than a new example then?

Well, apart from the fact that you might be used to and comfortable with the way the old tire feels, and not quite so used to &/or comfortable with how the new tire feels... not YET anyway.

Then unless it's completely worn out and no longer functioning as a pneumatic tire, the old & worn out tire can do this simply by running the old tire at the RIGHT pressure for the tire/its age/its construction/the load/the ambient temps etc vs running the new tire at the WRONG pressure for the tire/its age/its construction/the load/the ambient temps etc...

Altho it's not a simple concept, it's not rocket science; but it's the volume of air inside the tire that actually carries the LOAD imposed upon it by the vehicle/its content etc. and forms an integral part of the vehicle's functional suspension capabilities; and it is also the volume of air inside it that needs to allow the tire to flex appropriately in order to bring the tread and its compound up to its ideal/optimal operating temperature, a volume that may change a little as the tire ages & its tread & compound varies with age; and ever since the invention/introduction of pneumatic tires, the Law of Physics that refers to all this and applies here has not changed, nor has our understanding of it, at least not enough to make any significant variation in OUR use with regards to Spyders, or pretty much any vehicle tire that we are likely to use for that matter.

Just Sayin'

[Snoking1127]

I new tire can be a bit slippery for the first few dozens of miles and might squirm a bit on the road.

[Cobwebs]

Well, apart from the fact that you might be used to and comfortable with the way the old tire feels, and not quite so used to &/or comfortable with how the new tire feels... not YET anyway.

Then unless it's completely worn out and no longer functioning as a pneumatic tire, the old & worn out tire can do this simply by running the old tire at the RIGHT pressure for the tire/its age/its construction/the load/the ambient temps etc vs running the new tire at the WRONG pressure for the tire/its age/its construction/the load/the ambient temps etc...

Altho it's not a simple concept, it's not rocket science; but it's the volume of air inside the tire that actually carries the LOAD imposed upon it by the vehicle/its content etc. and forms an integral part of the vehicle's functional suspension capabilities; and it is also the volume of air inside it that needs to allow the tire to flex appropriately in order to bring the tread and its compound up to its ideal/optimal operating temperature, a volume that may change a little as the tire ages & its tread & compound varies with age; and ever since the invention/introduction of pneumatic tires, the Law of Physics that refers to all this and applies here has not changed, nor has our understanding of it, at least not enough to make any significant variation in OUR use with regards to Spyders, or pretty much any vehicle tire that we are likely to use for that matter.

Just Sayin'

I probably could have worded my question/post better.
My observations are new tyres always feel better than those replaced. I suspect this is what everyone is reporting as to why they think Kendas are crap when they fit alternatives. The replacements feel great but it's because they are new with no wear induced foibles................ yet.
Given time the replacements show their true characteristics, and my example is that it has gradually lost grip even with lowering of pressure to try to compensate. That it started with what I suspect is a higher utqg rating than the Kenda is what I think is its weak point. I've attempted to get the treadwear specs from Kenda with no luck so this is pure speculation on my part, but they must be in the 200 to 300 range versus anywhere from 400 to 600 on recommended tyres from Mike and others here if you factor in the lifespan results reported.
Spyders are a performance machine first and foremost Imo with a touring version available that can be hustled if desired. I don't want tyres with less grip than the Kendas.
98% of respondents are happy with their aftermarket tyres doesn't mean they perform better in all ways than Kendas. It could also be interpreted as being willing to compromise one advantage for another.