front tires

[tankguy]

Is there a general consensus as to what brand of aftermarket tire would be best for the front end of my Spyder? I live in the pacific NW, so it should be a good rain tire too.

Thanks, Gary

[SPYD3R]

KUMHO's
SAM_0449.jpg SAM_0451.jpg SAM_0450.jpg

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....del=Solus+KH16

you may have to use wedges like you see in my pix, but i've learn how NOT TO use them and still get the tires on without any issues....
happy tire hunting, and good luck....
Dan P
Easley, SC
SPYD3R

PS: btw, i have 34,000 miles on those tires, and they haven't reached the half-way point yet.... $61 each.... (when i bot them)>...

[Bob Denman]

For those of you with 14" front wheels...
Bridgestone's Potenza has gotten some pretty good reviews as well.

[Pennyrick]

Is there a general consensus as to what brand of aftermarket tire would be best for the front end of my Spyder? I live in the pacific NW, so it should be a good rain tire too.

Thanks, Gary

Gary: Getting a consensus about anything from this group is hard to do. That is one reason that it is such a good bunch... everyone doesn't march to the same beat.

Recently we replaced the fronts on my wife's RT due to a broken belt while on a trip. We went with the 165/65 R 14 Kendas (OEM) as we were near a dealer and we needed them. Her tires had 18,000 miles on them. She only needed one but we did both.

Once we got home I decided to replace my fronts as my Spyder RT had 26,000 miles and the tires were looking a bit worn. I went with 165/65 R14 Bridgestone Potenzas.

Since then we have taken three short trips with no problems and both tire brands seem to do well.

The difference..... $42.95 each for the Bridgestones..... $106.00 each for the Kendas.

Not really a hard decision is it?

[Bob Denman]

In spite of the fact that it's tough to get us to agree on anything in here...

[Highwayman2013]

I'm using 185/65/14 General Altimax HP's on the front. Installed by Netzleys. They fit with no mods.

[Chupaca]

your choice..I use the Kendas it came with, have 24,000 and still good. Can't complain...

[tankguy]

I've been using the Kenda's, but after 10K miles the dealer says that I need new tires. I haven't had a chance to look at the problem yet as the bike is in for repairs (ref: Fall down-go boom-boom). I always kept the tire pressure correct and have had her laseraligned also. Bad set of Kenda's?

[SPYD3R]

I've been using the Kenda's, but after 10K miles the dealer says that I need new tires. I haven't had a chance to look at the problem yet as the bike is in for repairs (ref: Fall down-go boom-boom). I always kept the tire pressure correct and have had her laseraligned also. Bad set of Kenda's?

99% of us have had a bad set....
dp
sorry, 98%...

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Is there a general consensus as to what brand of aftermarket tire would be best for the front end of my Spyder? I live in the pacific NW, so it should be a good rain tire too.

Thanks, Gary

. ......Gary it all starts with this .......You need to know who is going to put the tires on your wheels ( if you can't take off the wheels and put them back on ---stop now ).......Not all dealers will do it, but any place that does regular car tires can do Spyder wheels. After finding this out I suggest you go on-line to the TIRERACK.COM site and look at the HANDLING SPECS for the tires you might want to buy. Spyderlovers have already done numerous posts on what will fit 14 and 15 inch front wheels...........Because tire technology changes so rapidly last months winner could very well be this months loser ( not likely, but you get my meaning )......I bought Toyo Proxes T-r-1 185/55-15's ( won't fit yours ) it's a " V " rated tire with excellent wet & dry ratings and only $ 57 at TIRE RACK .........Do your homework or take your chances with what someone else likes ...............your choice......................good luck..........Mike .........................PS, I wouldn't put KENDA"s on my wheel barrow ........just sayin

[Roadster Renovations]

In spite of the fact that it's tough to get us to agree on anything in here...

I disagree that we disagree.......

[Dan McNally]

In spite of the fact that it's tough to get us to agree on anything in here...

I disagree!

[Orange Spyder Man]

.... evidently BRP got the very cheapest deal on Kendas... i'll put real tires when these junky ones wear out.. 2 ply tires are for lawn mowers, wheel barrows & bicycles... surely not a 1000 lb vehicle that goes down the highway at 70 MPH...

OSM

[Bob Denman]

I disagree that we disagree.......

I disagree!

Uh-Oh...

[effgjamis]

For those of you with 14" front wheels...
Bridgestone's Potenza has gotten some pretty good reviews as well.

Got'em, three weeks ago and from tirerack. Delivered FAST.

[Pennyrick]

.... evidently BRP got the very cheapest deal on Kendas... i'll put real tires when these junky ones wear out.. 2 ply tires are for lawn mowers, wheel barrows & bicycles... surely not a 1000 lb vehicle that goes down the highway at 70 MPH...

OSM

I'm no tire expert but I think the days where the number of plies in tires were important are long gone.

Ply Rating

This letter indicates the load carrying capacity of the tire in terms of its construction. A "C" indicates the tire has a 6-ply load carrying capacity. The tire is not actually built with 6 plies, but contains one or two plies of equivalent strength. A "D" is an 8-ply rating, and an "E" is a 10-ply rating. If there is no letter, the tire has a standard 4-ply rating and is usually one belt construction.


I think both the Kenda and the Bridgestone Potenza are manufactured with one ply but are rated at 4 ply. Back in the days of bias ply tires or belted tires they used rayon and then nylon and then steel belts to add strength. Today's radials use a composite material where just one belt or layer is stronger than four or six were many year's ago.

Multiple plies had a bad habit of building up heat and as they got hotter the pressure increased. Today's tires are able to dissipate heat as there are not multiple layers so the air pressure remains constant

[BikerDoc]

I got over 43000 miles on my front tires (Kendas) on my 2012 but only 8000 on my 2014 so I will never touch another Kenda. have run Federal Evo on the front now for another 17000 miles on the 2014 with no problems