DFW riders - Cowtown PowerSports not mounting non-OEM tires

[dbaucum]

Just a notice to DFW riders, Cowtown Power Sports will no longer mount non-OEM tires. Freedom Power Sports in Lewisville will mount rear customer supplied tire for $150.

[robmorg]

Seems like a rather "un-customer friendly" policy. Did they give a reason? It's not a BRP policy.

My guess would be they like the mark-up they get from the overpriced OEM tire.

[Chupaca]

Not unusual. Many dealers will not mount non oem or non motorcycle tires on the spyder. At the moment there are only two marked for motorcylce use only ...Kenda and Arachnid (Vee rubber). You may also note some car tire shops won't sell you Khumo tires if you say they are for your spyder...

[dbaucum]

Said liability reasons. Reports of non-OEM tires slipping on rims.

[jcthorne]

No problem installing high quality tires here in Houston. Come on down.

[Bob Denman]

Those were early production tires from VEE. No reports of slippage from them, in a pretty long time...

[jcthorne]

My trouble with VEE rubber tires is they still say 'Made in China' on the side wall. Far better tires available for less money.

[ARtraveler]

My dealer is also a no-non-OEM tire person. The excuse given varies based on the mood of the day.

[Bob Denman]

With potential liability issues being what they are today: I can't really fault a dealership for playing it safe.

Even if I don't agree with them over it!

[Ex-Rocket]

My dealer also won't instal non OEM tires. They also won't install the RT by pass pipe, so go figure.

[The Governor]

Just a notice to DFW riders, Cowtown Power Sports will no longer mount non-OEM tires. Freedom Power Sports in Lewisville will mount rear customer supplied tire for $150.

My local shop here in Argyle mounted and balanced (front 2) Toyo for $25/wheel, and mounted my rear tire, Toyo Proxes, for $20.
I purchased all three online, and took them to him with the wheels.

[robmorg]

Not unusual. Many dealers will not mount non oem or non motorcycle tires on the spyder. At the moment there are only two marked for motorcylce use only ...Kenda and Arachnid (Vee rubber). You may also note some car tire shops won't sell you Khumo tires if you say they are for your spyder...

You're right, Gene.

Like some have said, it must be a liability concern. (There are always those lawyers who look for any excuse to sue anyone for anything these days - no matter how frivolous.) Can't really think of any other logical explanation. Surely any dealer would know that the Spyder comes with an automotive style rim on which you can only mount an automotive style tire - not a true motorcycle tire. The reason the Kendas say "For motorcycle use only", is most likely that they are not manufactured to automotive specs (whether it's tread composition, sidewall strength, or whatever).

As for Discount Tire and the "Kumho thing" BRP has publicly stated on this forum that they never instructed DT, or any other vendor, not to sell Kumho tires. If we can believe that, the only other explanation that makes sense is again, a liability concern - most likely on the part of the distributor. (Wouldn't think Kumho would have a problem with it, but who knows?)

I'm just glad that there are so many dealers out there who have the kahunas to mount an appropriate automotive tire on a Spyder, even though many will insist that the customer supply the tire (again, out of concern for potential liability). That's the rule my dealer has with tires, and the cat bypass pipe, for that matter. They will install anything a customer brings them, as long as it's safe. And they charge regular shop rates to do it.

[Bob Denman]

Rob,
Weren't you the one that took a serious look at the tire bead and rim combination?
Would you care to remind us all about what you saw?

[robmorg]

Rob,
Weren't you the one that took a serious look at the tire bead and rim combination?
Would you care to remind us all about what you saw?

Derrick and Ron Netzley and I did that when I was in their shop. We put the Spyder rim next to an automobile rim for a similar size tire and measured the off-sets for the bead seats, etc. They were exactly the same. A motorcycle rim is very different.

[Ex Winger]

I took my Toyo tire to my dealer to install no problems.He cautioned me about not passing a safty if i were to sell the bike.It,s on and rides great for 125 bucks labour.
Bill

[CharlieIndia]

My trouble with VEE rubber tires is they still say 'Made in China' on the side wall. Far better tires available for less money.

[jaherbst]

Ride now is selling the OEM tire for $169, installation included. Free mounting. I like this and don't have to

decipher all this BS about tires on here!

Jack

[Bob Denman]

Derrick and Ron Netzley and I did that when I was in their shop. We put the Spyder rim next to an automobile rim for a similar size tire and measured the off-sets for the bead seats, etc. They were exactly the same. A motorcycle rim is very different.

Thank you! It needed to be said one more time. (At least! )

[Gray Ghost]

... They also won't install the RT by pass pipe, so go figure.

... That's the rule my dealer has with tires, and the cat bypass pipe, for that matter. They will install anything a customer brings them, as long as it's safe. And they charge regular shop rates to do it.

IIRC the EPA fine for an individual modifying an emissions control system is up to $2500, the fine for a shop is up to $25000. There may not be many cases of shops being taken to court over it, but I definitely wouldn't fault a shop for not risking the liability for the few dollars they would make over the job.

[spyderCodes]

Here in the Keystone State there is a periodic notice sent to Certified PA Motorcyle Inspection Stations not to pass motorcycles that have tires NOT MARKED for Motorcycle Use.

Having said that, I've never had a problem getting mine passed.

[robmorg]

IIRC the EPA fine for an individual modifying an emissions control system is up to $2500, the fine for a shop is up to $25000. There may not be many cases of shops being taken to court over it, but I definitely wouldn't fault a shop for not risking the liability for the few dollars they would make over the job.

Well, I see your point, but I guess what I would say to that is... You cannot live your life in fear of overbearing ideological regulatory authorities. Otherwise, they win. I respect a shop where they understand that.

In my case, eliminating my cat was part of a multi-faceted plan to reduce heat on my 2013 RT before the 2015 recall. I knew it was the right thing to do, and fortunately my dealer agreed.

[Bob Denman]

?????.....Do you know of ANY MOTORCYCLES that are currently required by law to be EPA compliant and are being TESTED for this ????.....Mike

I think the point is that they could choose to start taking a MUCH closer look at the bikes.
It wouldn't be tough for them to spot parts that have been added, modified, or removed.

[robmorg]

Here in the Keystone State there is a periodic notice sent to Certified PA Motorcyle Inspection Stations not to pass motorcycles that have tires NOT MARKED for Motorcycle Use.

Having said that, I've never had a problem getting mine passed.

That notice is probably intended to curtail the practice of putting automotive tires on motorcycle rims. I've never really understood why some folks think that is a good idea. As we know, Spyders have automotive rims, so common sense should dictate that it wouldn't apply to Spyders. Unfortunately "common sense" seems to be a less prominent trait these days in some circles.

[spyderCodes]

That notice is probably intended to curtail the practice of putting automotive tires on motorcycle rims. I've never really understood why some folks think that is a good idea. As we know, Spyders have automotive rims, so common sense should dictate that it wouldn't apply to Spyders. Unfortunately "common sense" seems to be a less prominent trait these days in some circles.

That may have been the intent, but as is demonstrated daily, the law is an ass.

So, taken at face value, here in PA anyway, if you show up with a vehicle licensed as a MC then it had better have MC use tires or you don't get a sticker.

End of.

But my last three Kuhmos always got passed.

[Bob Denman]

For something as "non-noticeable" as a tire: 100%
But exhaust systems aren't as subtle, and could become "fair game".