Tires: Again !!

[Spyderdale]

At 8000 miles on my 2014 RT the front tires are cupping starting to vibrate. Local tire dealer refused to try to balance them, said it would be a waste of money. Found some new Federal 165/55/R15 EVO's on ebay for about $71.00 each. Anybody used these ? Should I buy these or go with the Kendas ? Thanks for your advice in advance. Dale

[Chupaca]

find out why your tires are cupping first..throwing new tires on without knowing may be a waste more so than balancing and alignment...

[Peter Aawen]

Once the cupping wear has got to the stage of causing vibrations that you can feel as you ride, even flipping the tires on the rims & trying to 'wear' the cupping out by running them the other way around isn't going to stop the vibrations (altho if you flip them early enough, you can sometimes even out the wear & then fix the wheel alignment/tire/pressure issues causing the cupping) So the tire dealer is right in not wanting to balance them, that wouldn't really do anything for you or the tires, except make you think he'd suckered you into spending money on doing pointless work!!

But Chupaca is right, there's no point in fitting new tires without fixing the issue that's caused the cupping/wear first, & that cause is most likely going to be poor wheel alignment &/or incorrect tire pressures, possibly compounded by running crap tires....

[Spyderdale]

Once the cupping wear has got to the stage of causing vibrations that you can feel as you ride, even flipping the tires on the rims & trying to 'wear' the cupping out by running them the other way around isn't going to stop the vibrations (altho if you flip them early enough, you can sometimes even out the wear & then fix the wheel alignment/tire/pressure issues causing the cupping) So the tire dealer is right in not wanting to balance them, that wouldn't really do anything for you or the tires, except make you think he'd suckered you into spending money on doing pointless work!!

But Chupaca is right, there's no point in fitting new tires without fixing the issue that's caused the cupping/wear first, & that cause is most likely going to be poor wheel alignment &/or incorrect tire pressures, possibly compounded by running crap tires....

The bike has been laser aligned and has always handled great. Pressure kept at 20 psi. The wear IS even across both tires. I called Pittbull and he said it could possibly be bad tires. Kendas ?? Imagine that. Sent pics to Pittbull. Will wait to see what Pittbull says before buying new tires. If I do have to buy should I go the Federal EVO's or stick with Kendas ? Already replaced the rear with a General Altimax.

[SpyderAnn01]

It could be bad tires, try to get a new set for free, there have been some that have accomplished that. If not, the Federal Evo is a good option. I got over 29,000 miles on my last set of them.

[cyclekid58]

It could be bad tires, try to get a new set for free, there have been some that have accomplished that. If not, the Federal Evo is a good option. I got over 29,000 miles on my last set of them.

Ann that's what I will be getting when I replace the stock ones, what pressure are you running in them. Also what pressure are you going to run in your new General Altimax RT43, thats what I just put on and am currently running 24 per some of the folks on here's recommendations.

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

Cupping comes from alignment and/or suspension, if it is suspension fix the problem before you replace if it is alignment the do so
after replacement

[Bob Denman]

Check your A-arms, and make sure that the bushings in the mounting points are okay...