First complaint for 2014 rt

[dtkennney]

I love my rt but after 6000 miles my Kendra rear is showing significant wear in the middle. I have a friend with similar mileage on his 13 and the rear tire looks great. We both keep the rear tire pressure around 28 and have similar riding styles.

I am wondering if other 2014 rt owners are experiencing the same thing.

[sddinnh]

Yup, it's one of the major complaints about the 2014 RT's

[Bob Denman]

Yup!
6,000 miles is about when most folks seem to be getting ready to put their bike up on a lift...

[ARtraveler]

Will also add that tires and the lack of the "usual" mileage on them has been an issue of much discussion.

I have almost 5K on my 2014 OEM rear tire--so far, so good. I seem to be an exception to the rule though.

[Bob Denman]

We have heard it said, that Kenda shipped a bad bunch of tires to BRP...
Maybe you got a GOOD one on your bike?!?

[Jeriatric]

That additional torque seems to have come at a price.

Hope BRP requests the tire mfg make changes in tire compound for you guys. Cause, the benefit will trickle down to 990 pilots. A 20K tire for your 1330 could last 40K on our 990's. Now that would be cool!!

[dtkennney]

Is the Kendra bad bunch of tires a fact or rumor.

[BajaRon]

We all wanted more torque... And we got it!

The results you're referring to are called 'Collateral Damage' or 'Unintended Consequences'.

But Newton said it best;

"Every action has an equal and opposite reaction"

And then there is the ever present 2nd Law of Thermodynamics that we have to deal with.

When it comes right down to it, we're lucky to have anything left at all!

[Bob Denman]

Is the Kendra bad bunch of tires a fact or rumor.

Good question...

I believe that statement came from a BRP representative...
But; that's NOT to say that he wasn't just looking for somebody else to throw, "under the bus"...

[PrairieSpyder]

Good question...

I believe that statement came from a BRP representative...
But; that's NOT to say that he wasn't just looking for somebody else to throw, "under the bus"...

My own opinion is that BRP tried to save some money and cut corners on the tires. At the OE I heard that the OEM rear tires are the same formula for all three models, where the RT had previously been different. The "bad batch" thing is a way to cover for realizing they messed up and are changing the requirement for tire manufacture.

My question is why the 2014 RT buyers have to be left "holding the bag" by paying for replacement tires so early in the life of their new Spyders!

[Bob Denman]

Well; I'm hoping that it'll focus some attention on the availabliity of higher-quality automotive tires as a viable alternative...
Tires are meant to wear out...
The quicker that a bad one goes bald; the quicker you can find something decent to replace it!

[Chupaca]

torque horsepower and ryding style especially those coming from the V twins have worked magic on the kendas... But there is that bad batch thing. Would be nice to see what they are going to do cause 6,000 mile tires just won't do...

[Ronbo]

I love my rt but after 6000 miles my Kendra rear is showing significant wear in the middle. I have a friend with similar mileage on his 13 and the rear tire looks great. We both keep the rear tire pressure around 28 and have similar riding styles.

I am wondering if other 2014 rt owners are experiencing the same thing.

After 6000 middle got unsafely thin. Had kumho Ecsta installed.

[PW2013STL]

After 6000 middle got unsafely thin. Had kumho Ecsta installed.

+1 same here.

[Jim&Teresa]

I love my rt but after 6000 miles my Kendra rear is showing significant wear in the middle. I have a friend with similar mileage on his 13 and the rear tire looks great. We both keep the rear tire pressure around 28 and have similar riding styles.

I am wondering if other 2014 rt owners are experiencing the same thing.

Yes! We have just under 5700 miles on our bike and lowered the pressure to 25 PSI to get a little more wear on the edges, but the center is almost gone.

BTW, my 2012 RT Limited I traded in had over 7600 miles and the rear tire still looked good!

I have the Kumho Ecsta AST on order through Discount Tire....hope it gets here soon!

Other than the rear tire issue, this bike has been AWESOME!

Here's a few pics:

[StanProff]

I have used the OEM tires on my 2010. The first one was replaced at about 9000. The second one replaced at 20,000 and am on the third one now with about 3,000 on it. So with the pattern of 9,000 on the first one and 11,000 on the second and am hoping it goes to 12 or 13 on the third one , ok, probably not. Anyway 10 to 12 thousand is acceptable for me, 6,000 not so much.

[OwnerOfHarriet]

We have heard it said, that Kenda shipped a bad bunch of tires to BRP...
Maybe you got a GOOD one on your bike?!?

If true, BRP needs to step up and take care of the problem like other motorcycle companies have done.

[Dragonrider]

I had over 10K on my 2010 RT when I sold it. It still had the original tires, and they were all in excellent shape, with lots of tread. Most of my miles were "touring" on back roads and one up. However, heavy loads, riding two up, and trailer towing would kill tire life - I did very little riding under these circumstances. Additionally, I don't ride in the rain, and the typical summer temperature here in the great Northwet is about 85F, and 40% humidity or less.

I don't think anyone should assume tire life would be the same everywhere, or for everyone.

[lwrydr]

I just turned over 7K miles on my 2013 RT Limited and the tires look good. Am leaving on a 2K trip on the 1st pulling a trailer so will see what they look like when I get home. Going to be 1st trip with trailer and heading for the Redwood run.

[BikerDoc]

I love my rt but after 6000 miles my Kendra rear is showing significant wear in the middle. I have a friend with similar mileage on his 13 and the rear tire looks great. We both keep the rear tire pressure around 28 and have similar riding styles.

I am wondering if other 2014 rt owners are experiencing the same thing.

Of course the 2014 has a lot more torque than the 2013 and that is grinding up the soft Kendas in record time.. A car tire is almost mandatory. in 8000 miles my kenda was gone. in the next 8000 miles my kumho echsta AST has shown no wear at all

[Ronbo]

Of course the 2014 has a lot more torque than the 2013 and that is grinding up the soft Kendas in record time.. A car tire is almost mandatory. in 8000 miles my kenda was gone. in the next 8000 miles my kumho echsta AST has shown no wear at all

That's what I replaced my rear tire with on my 2014 RT. Do you notice difference In handling?
Ron

[Bob Denman]

Of course the 2014 has a lot more torque than the 2013 and that is grinding up the soft Kendas in record time.. A car tire is almost mandatory. in 8000 miles my kenda was gone. in the next 8000 miles my kumho echsta AST has shown no wear at all

Hmmm..... I may have ot stockpile a couple of the Kumho tires; haven't they been discontinued? What is Kimho replacing them with?

[donnellpj]

I had the rear tire swapped out over the winter, and I am seeing the same thing. I just had it replaced again a week ago.

Understand the 2014 has more torque, but I wonder if they changed the compound or something,...I got half the mileage out of the last one that I saw in the first two.

[Magdave]

Hmmm..... I may have ot stockpile a couple of the Kumho tires; haven't they been discontinued? What is Kimho replacing them with?

Even though I have good tread yet I just did that. Gonna shrink rap and store since our size seems to be getting sparse. $81.

[Bob Denman]

I'm seeing that same price...
It makes it worth picking up a stack!