Front tires worn

[paulbrinker]

I have a 2015 RT Limited with 7000+ miles. On a trip to South Carolina I noticed the front tires were worn more than me friends RT Limited with the same mileage. We went to a Spyder rally in Landrum, SC and have the alignment checked. It was found to be way out and was reset. After returning home, I went to my dealer and he put new tires on at a reduced cost. After leaving there, I had an extreme vibration in the front end. Handle bars were vibrating almost uncontrollably. Returned to dealer and he checked and reset the alignment and rebalanced the tires. Still had a vibration through the handle bars, and after a couple hundred miles the dealer replaced the tires at there cost, and returned the others as being out of round. Having rode with these tires for about 300 miles, I ask a friend, who has the same bike as mine, to ride my bike. He agreed that there is still a front end vibration, through the handle bars. As a side note, I had no vibration with the original tires.
My question is, has anyone run into this situation before? Did you come up with a fix?
the first chance I get, I am headed back to my dealer to see what they have to say. They have a service department I trust. The only draw back, is they are not allowed to take any Spyder on long test drives. Whether it is a company policy or an insurance issue, I do not know.

[r1100rider]

I have a 2015 RT Limited with 7000+ miles. On a trip to South Carolina I noticed the front tires were worn more than me friends RT Limited with the same mileage. We went to a Spyder rally in Landrum, SC and have the alignment checked. It was found to be way out and was reset. After returning home, I went to my dealer and he put new tires on at a reduced cost. After leaving there, I had an extreme vibration in the front end. Handle bars were vibrating almost uncontrollably. Returned to dealer and he checked and reset the alignment and rebalanced the tires. Still had a vibration through the handle bars, and after a couple hundred miles the dealer replaced the tires at there cost, and returned the others as being out of round. Having rode with these tires for about 300 miles, I ask a friend, who has the same bike as mine, to ride my bike. He agreed that there is still a front end vibration, through the handle bars. As a side note, I had no vibration with the original tires.
My question is, has anyone run into this situation before? Did you come up with a fix?
the first chance I get, I am headed back to my dealer to see what they have to say. They have a service department I trust. The only draw back, is they are not allowed to take any Spyder on long test drives. Whether it is a company policy or an insurance issue, I do not know.

put on some real tires and be done with your problems for many thousands of miles car tires are nite and day difference

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

It's not rocket science, but if you don't have the equipment ( and most dealers DON'T ) and have to rely on sending it out .....well there you have it........jmho......Mike .............PS...Kenda's aren't a PREMIUM tire I don't care what BRP says about this ......

[Sam Mac]

put on some real tires and be done with your problems for many thousands of miles car tires are nite and day difference

It's not rocket science, but if you don't have the equipment ( and most dealers DON'T ) and have to rely on sending it out .....well there you have it........jmho......Mike .............PS...Kenda's aren't a PREMIUM tire I don't care what BRP says about this ......

Trust BRP they designed the Spyder and as delivered it has the proper tire for the job. Stick with OEM.

[Bfromla]

I have a 2015 RT Limited with 7000+ miles. On a trip to South Carolina I noticed the front tires were worn more than me friends RT Limited with the same mileage. We went to a Spyder rally in Landrum, SC and have the alignment checked. It was found to be way out and was reset. After returning home, I went to my dealer and he put new tires on at a reduced cost. After leaving there, I had an extreme vibration in the front end. Handle bars were vibrating almost uncontrollably. Returned to dealer and he checked and reset the alignment and rebalanced the tires. Still had a vibration through the handle bars, and after a couple hundred miles the dealer replaced the tires at there cost, and returned the others as being out of round. Having rode with these tires for about 300 miles, I ask a friend, who has the same bike as mine, to ride my bike. He agreed that there is still a front end vibration, through the handle bars. As a side note, I had no vibration with the original tires.
My question is, has anyone run into this situation before? Did you come up with a fix?
the first chance I get, I am headed back to my dealer to see what they have to say. They have a service department I trust. The only draw back, is they are not allowed to take any Spyder on long test drives. Whether it is a company policy or an insurance issue, I do not know.

I'm wondering if the tech didnt undo the aglinment when you first went back to the dealer for tires, & or a mistake of some sort allowing the "reduced cost". Simply changing tires is not suppose to affect aglinment as I was informed at spyderfest.

[rcturner]

I'm wondering if the tech didnt undo the aglinment when you first went back to the dealer for tires, & or a mistake of some sort allowing the "reduced cost". Simply changing tires is not suppose to affect aglinment as I was informed at spyderfest.

I had a similar issue when my dealer installed new Kenda tires on the front. Most here would quickly jump on the fact that a Kenda tire is junk. NOT SO. The problem was that the tech working on the bike did not understand that he was doing a single plane balance job incorrectly. Once his error was corrected, the bike was smooth and stable on those "junk" Kenda tires.

[BajaRon]

You don't say what kind of Alignment you got in SC. Or from who. But it is likely that the dealership messed up your alignment. Especially if it was done correctly in SC. Very few dealerships have the proper laser alignment equipment and even then, there are some who simply don't know how to use it or are not careful enough.

Kenda tires are cheaply made, expensive tires. You're much better off with an appropriate set of 'Car' tires. The Kenda's are not motorcycle tires. They are car tires, just too light duty to carry the weight of a car.

[jcoe]

I purchased a used Spyder RT, and it had a bad vibration for about the first 10-20 miles, of the day. Changed the front tires and found this brown slime, in the tires... I assume that until they got warmed up, the slime stuck to one side of the tire...causing the balance.. issue. Changed tires no issues now..

John.

[paulbrinker]

You don't say what kind of Alignment you got in SC. Or from who. But it is likely that the dealership messed up your alignment. Especially if it was done correctly in SC. Very few dealerships have the proper laser alignment equipment and even then, there are some who simply don't know how to use it or are not careful enough.

Kenda tires are cheaply made, expensive tires. You're much better off with an appropriate set of 'Car' tires. The Kenda's are not motorcycle tires. They are car tires, just too light duty to carry the weight of a car.

Had Rolo laser alignment done at his garage while at a Spyder event hosted by him and his wife.

[Lobo]

So, what tire would you recommend?

You don't say what kind of Alignment you got in SC. Or from who. But it is likely that the dealership messed up your alignment. Especially if it was done correctly in SC. Very few dealerships have the proper laser alignment equipment and even then, there are some who simply don't know how to use it or are not careful enough.

Kenda tires are cheaply made, expensive tires. You're much better off with an appropriate set of 'Car' tires. The Kenda's are not motorcycle tires. They are car tires, just too light duty to carry the weight of a car.

[Deanna777]

I would recommend the General Altimax RT 43 ( 215/60 R 15) as a rear tire. I am currently running that tire, and @ 26 PSI. The spyder handles great on dry, wet, gravel pavement.

It has high performance ratings:
Wet: Hydroplaning Resistance 8.6
Traction 8.7

Dry: Cornering Stability 8.7
Dry Traction 9.0
Steering Response 8.6

Comfort:

Ride Quality 8.6
Noise 8.3
Tread wear 8.7

This is my 2nd motorcycle riding season, with the General Altimax Rt 43 and it still looks new. I have 7,390 miles on the tire( changed rear tire @ 5,824 miles) current mileage is 13,214.

I have a 2014 RTS-SE6.

Deanna

[wd8ajj]

Other than OEM tires in front what would you recommend?

[AeroPilot]

Other than OEM tires in front what would you recommend?

I forget the size, but a 15 inch tire with close to the same aspect/height ratio. Wife has all Kumhos on her 15 RTS and is riding now or I'd check. The tires balanced up with less weight than the OEM's and she loves the smooth roll. Happy wife, happy life? Got a decent life from the OEM's at 23,000 miles but some uneven wear even after Lamonster's alignment at SpyderFest, and not as smooth on the roll as we have now with the Kumhos.

[BajaRon]

Had Rolo laser alignment done at his garage while at a Spyder event hosted by him and his wife.

Then your dealer definitely did not do you any favors with their 'Re-Alignment'. Shake in the handlebars is not alignment. It's balance. They never should have touched the alignment. If they actually did anything you really need to get that done again. What a shame. Kenda tires are known for out-of-balance issues.

So, what tire would you recommend?

I have not kept up with which tires work well. Every time I find a good tire they discontinue it. But there is plenty of current information here on Spyderlovers.

[Bob Denman]

I forget the size, but a 15 inch tire with close to the same aspect/height ratio. Wife has all Kumhos on her 15 RTS and is riding now or I'd check. The tires balanced up with less weight than the OEM's and she loves the smooth roll. Happy wife, happy life? Got a decent life from the OEM's at 23,000 miles but some uneven wear even after Lamonster's alignment at SpyderFest, and not as smooth on the roll as we have now with the Kumhos.

She might have the Kumho Solus.
155/60-015.

[AeroPilot]

She might have the Kumho Solus.
155/60-015.

Raining now...wife will be home from her commute shortly

[Richardv]

She might have the Kumho Solus.
155/60-015.

I presently have Solus KH16 175/55R15 on my ST . They fit on both type of fenders. Son-in-law has them on his RSS .

We both love them.... !!!

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I presently have Solus KH16 175/55R15 on my ST . They fit on both type of fenders. Son-in-law has them on his RSS .

We both love them.... !!!

Thank you for this report......It's great to know first hand what fits .........Mike

[derrill]

I have a 2014 RT limited. 33,000 miles on the front tires that came on bike. They are dipping on inside and outside edges,but still has plenty of tread. I use Ride-On in my tires. Balance is great,handling is great,but I sound like a helicopter going down the road. This also happened on my 2013. I run 23 pounds of air pressure in front tires. Maybe it is just a can-am thing.


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[derrill]

Paul, have you tried any Ride-On in your tires? It will balance them with weights or without weights. Also seals the tire if you run over a nail. Works for me.


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[jcthorne]

Other than OEM tires in front what would you recommend?

Continental ContiProContact or CONTIECOCONTACT EP.

[KX5062]

Federal EVO in the stock size on the front. Although I don't know if it is still currently produced.

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[Deanna777]

Continental ContiProContact or CONTIECOCONTACT EP.

I am running the same tire on my 2014RTS-SE6. I like them so far. Tire size: 165/60R 15. The spyder handles great, I did notice a difference between the Kenda's. Mileage on the Kenda's were 12,807.


When I had the Kenda's on the front, Right front tire shook only when I when I applied the brakes. Current miles on Continental Contiprocontact are 605.
Deanna

[AeroPilot]

I presently have Solus KH16 175/55R15 on my ST . They fit on both type of fenders. Son-in-law has them on his RSS .

We both love them.... !!!

Wife's 15 RTS has the 155-60R15's that Bob D mentioned and rolling smooth with 7,000 miles on them and over 5/32" still to the wear bars (6/32" left in the groove).