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Very Active Member
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Originally Posted by BLUEKNIGHT911
Currently the best all-around tire sold today is the Vredestein Quatrac - 5 ..... 165/60-15 for the front ( on your year Spyder ) and 205/60 or 215/60-15 for the rear ..... look for them on-line at Tirerack.com or Vulcan tire or Simple tire .... other REAR tires are General Altimax RT43 & Michelin Defender " T&H " model in a similar size ...... another FRONT tire is the Conti- Pro Contact similar size ...... good luck ..... if you use AUTO tires 17-18 psi front and 18-19 psi rear works really well ...... Mike
I have the Contiinental Pro-contact on mine. Oversize corrects the speedo with GPS and seem to be long wearing. Also quieter.
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Originally Posted by BLUEKNIGHT911
I'm assuming ( ) you got on the Tire Rack website .... If you haven't looked at what they report for the Conti Pro Contact tire , it would be in your best interest to do so .... it made me want to puke ( ratings 7.0 to mid-7's with a 5.9 for wear ) ...... Mike
Thanks Mike. I did look at the info on Tire Rack for the True Contact TOUR and they do indeed look great. As far as the Pro Contact as mentioned I am concerned at the variation in reviews on various sites. Always worries me when the comments/experiences are at complete odds with each other.
As Peter has had a good run with Kumho it is looking like those or the Hankook. As stated your experience, comments and advice is very much appreciated.
I have had good experiences with Hankook, less time with Kumho so indeed it might just be the flip of a coin or what is readily available.
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by glennm
Thanks Mike. I did look at the info on Tire Rack for the True Contact TOUR and they do indeed look great. As far as the Pro Contact as mentioned I am concerned at the variation in reviews on various sites. Always worries me when the comments/experiences are at complete odds with each other.
As Peter has had a good run with Kumho it is looking like those or the Hankook. As stated your experience, comments and advice is very much appreciated.
I have had good experiences with Hankook, less time with Kumho so indeed it might just be the flip of a coin or what is readily available.
An issue with the Kumho Ecsta comes from many members here who report that at about 15,000 mi. it begins to lose the traction it had when new .... I got 30,000 + mi. from my Michelin Hydro-edge before it started losing traction ....big difference ........... Mike
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Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie
There is that ^^ with the Kumhos, but because it's mainly related to the compounds used in the tread layers of the tire's construction getting harder as the tread wears down (to compensate for the tendency of tread to wear quicker as it gets older ) this 'loss of traction' is fairly easily managed simply by running a slightly lower pressure (tires get hotter quicker, and the result is better traction from the harder compounds) I generally comfortably get about 30,000 miles out of my rear Kumhos (& heaps better on the fronts!!) by starting them out at about 18 psi & then gradually dropping that down to about 16 psi as they get towards and beyond somewhere around half their life, or 15,000 miles-ish - but then I also do pay a lot more attention to my tire pressures than many, and vary them according to load, ambient temps, and the current conditions/ryding circumstances they are about to be subjected to, often on a daily or better basis!
However, that said, please be aware that any tire frequently used on hot roads/in higher temps (ambient temps consistenly 35°C or over) is likely to need to run slightly higher pressures from the start - the tires simply don't need to flex as much to reach their optimal operating temp because the road surface & ambient temps will impart more heat to them anyway. And Kumhos are prone to this just as much if not slightly more than most other similar 'Sport/Touring' tires - so if you regularly ryde/run in those hotter climes &/or on hotter road surfaces, then maybe you'll need to use 20 psi to start out with, and gradually lower your pressure to 18 psi or even lower as the tires reach & pass their half life milage?!?
Oh, the other thing is that just like we don't get many of the tire brands & sizes you all get in North America, often getting Michelin Hydroedge tires in a usable size for our Spyders in Oz can be quite difficult, if not completely impossible!! Our smaller market place, with less over-all demand for tires in a usable size, so the importers frequently just won't even consider bringing them in!! Besides, I'm pretty sure that here in Oz we get a slightly different spec/compound Kumho Ecsta tires to what you get over there - ours are less suitable for 'cold' weather & use on smooth & sometimes lightly snow covered roads; instead being more suited to the generally higher temps we get here & the 'less smooth' & extremely rarely snow covered roads that we have heaps of!
Last edited by Peter Aawen; 08-05-2020 at 09:27 PM.
2013 RT Ltd Pearl White
Ryde More, Worry Less!
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Rode 150ks in the pouring rain with no dramas, all highway and 3 ks from my daughters house hit a section with smooth melted bitumen and a small amount of water over it.
Spydey danced quite a jig and it was definitely an undies soiling moment, well more than one as it then hit a 2nd patch and did the dance again. Very glad no other vehicles were close.
3 new tires ordered, Hankook Kinergy as I have had a really good run with Hankook in the past and research indicates these to be a pretty good option, and I can get them. At worst it will provide us with another tire review and potential option.
Thanks all for the input
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If your looking good all around tires, look at the Pirelli P-4 four season. 215/60/15. Nearing 40,000 and not down the wear bars yet! No complaints.
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kenda kanie 20 tires
I bought a pair of the new kenda tires for my 2016 rts spyder and had them installed and they feel
crappy at the vehicle specs of 18 to 22 psi. now the max psi on these tires is 44 vice the oem kenda which was 33 i believe. would that make a difference ? the new ones feel sluggish at 22 psi the oem didn't. i got them at 30 now but can feel all the bumps. any help would be appreciated.
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Very Active Member
Kenda tires
Originally Posted by justride
I bought a pair of the new kenda tires for my 2016 rts spyder and had them installed and they feel
crappy at the vehicle specs of 18 to 22 psi. now the max psi on these tires is 44 vice the oem kenda which was 33 i believe. would that make a difference ? the new ones feel sluggish at 22 psi the oem didn't. i got them at 30 now but can feel all the bumps. any help would be appreciated.
They just plain ....*UCK .... they have the worst record for " defective tires, that I have ever heard of ..... your new pair could be defective .... I see your new to the board ..... check out what Peter Aawen and myself have written about tires .... Mike
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Active Member
so just the tread pattern is different?
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by nightcruiser
so just the tread pattern is different?
The CASING specs are the same, so yes it appears they have Only changed the tread pattern ..... Mike
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New Tires
I'm new to the forum so you will have to overlook me on this first post. Price and tire mileage on the tire aren't important to me. Not that I have a lot of money because I'm retired and don't have a lot of money. As with all my motorcycles I want a tire that will stick to the road period. So what brand is the one that will stick to the road ? I ride the twisties a lot. Up and down the mountains here.
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by olddad64
I'm new to the forum so you will have to overlook me on this first post. Price and tire mileage on the tire aren't important to me. Not that I have a lot of money because I'm retired and don't have a lot of money. As with all my motorcycles I want a tire that will stick to the road period. So what brand is the one that will stick to the road ? I ride the twisties a lot. Up and down the mountains here.
I recommend the Vredestein Quatrac 5 ..... It's currently the highest rated tire .... that has sizes to fit any Spyder ...... Mike ...PS
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Thanks Blueknight911...That's what I'll buy.
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by olddad64
Thanks Blueknight911...That's what I'll buy.
The three on-line sources that I know of are Tire rack .... Vulcan tire ...& Simple tire .... 165/60-15 , front and 205/60 or 65-15 , rear ..... Mike
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Member
Well it looks like I may soon be in need of a new rear tire. the Kenda is just about down on the wear indicators. There is a bit over 8,000 miles on them. Since I'm new here, and I have looked over some of the other comments on tires, what say ye? New rear. Front tires are in great condition (for a Kenda) so I'll run them until next spring.
MrBill
Las Cruces, NM
Got Chile? Red or Green?
2015 Spyder RT
1980 Suzuki GS750ET, still scares me!
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Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie
Originally Posted by MrBill5491
Well it looks like I may soon be in need of a new rear tire. the Kenda is just about down on the wear indicators. There is a bit over 8,000 miles on them. Since I'm new here, and I have looked over some of the other comments on tires, what say ye? New rear. Front tires are in great condition (for a Kenda) so I'll run them until next spring.
Not quite sure what you're asking here, MrBill
But YES, it sounds like it's close to time for you to get a new rear tire, and I'd strongly suggest that you choose an auto tire replacement instead of an OE spec Kenda OR one of its cloned alternatives.
There's heaps of info here on tire brands & sizes that will work on our Spyders, some good recommendations just a few posts up in this very thread - check 'em out, make your choice, remove the rear wheel, get the new tire fitted, replace the rear wheel, and then revel in the improved ryding that anyone who's only ever run Kendas simply wouldn't realise was available!
Last edited by Peter Aawen; 09-16-2020 at 06:29 PM.
2013 RT Ltd Pearl White
Ryde More, Worry Less!
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Originally Posted by BLUEKNIGHT911
The three on-line sources that I know of are Tire rack .... Vulcan tire ...& Simple tire .... 165/60-15 , front and 205/60 or 65-15 , rear ..... Mike
I am not sure where the shop that I had mount the tires bought them, but he got them just a dollar or two different than the price I got at Vulcan Tire.
The sizes I got were 175/55-15 on the front and 205/65-15 on the rear.
Originally Posted by MrBill5491
Well it looks like I may soon be in need of a new rear tire. the Kenda is just about down on the wear indicators. There is a bit over 8,000 miles on them. Since I'm new here, and I have looked over some of the other comments on tires, what say ye? New rear. Front tires are in great condition (for a Kenda) so I'll run them until next spring.
Hey, MrBill, I see you on GSR, nice to see you here, too. I think you will be happy with just about ANY non-Kenda tire. As shown just a few lines above this, I have installed Vredestein Quatrac 5 tires on my wife's '17 RT-S and we REALLY like them. Why not splurge a little? Even though there is still tread on the front tires, get rid of them, too. You will probably wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
.
HER ride:
2017 RT-S SE6 Pearl White
My rides:
2000 Honda GL1500SE
1980 Suzuki GS850G
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Member
Hi ya Steve lol. Oh yeah, Kendas are nasty. Though the fronts are doing fine. Lots of tread and they stick pretty good. Just that back tire like any motorcycle tire takes it in the butt.
MrBill
Las Cruces, NM
Got Chile? Red or Green?
2015 Spyder RT
1980 Suzuki GS750ET, still scares me!
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I never measured the tread on the front tires before taking them off. About 4500 miles, they still had a lot of tread, but I wanted to get rid of them anyway.
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HER ride:
2017 RT-S SE6 Pearl White
My rides:
2000 Honda GL1500SE
1980 Suzuki GS850G
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Generall Altimax RT43 215/60 R15
Have never commented on this site before but have read lots over the yrs,
Went to replace the rear on my 2015 RT with the above mentional general, the dealer is ok with installing the origional with a car tire as long as it's the same size, he was very nervous on the 215/60 saying it will blow of from rim,
Ending up bringing the tire back home along with a new 2021 RT, They nade a deal I could not resist.
Question, are his comments vaild, and would you store the general and replace new origional when worn down,,Thanks
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by Lovat 09
Have never commented on this site before but have read lots over the yrs,
Went to replace the rear on my 2015 RT with the above mentional general, the dealer is ok with installing the origional with a car tire as long as it's the same size, he was very nervous on the 215/60 saying it will blow of from rim,
Ending up bringing the tire back home along with a new 2021 RT, They nade a deal I could not resist.
Question, are his comments vaild, and would you store the general and replace new origional when worn down,,Thanks
He is ONLY slightly helpful, but as far as tires go He is CLUELESS. That General is about 3 X's as strong as any Kenda ( for spyders ), and this is the MOST important thing about Auto tires for Spyder's. Annnnnnnnnnnnnnd as far as blowing OFF the Rim, maybe at 150+ psi, wnich should never be put in any tire - period ..... if can find someone to mount that tire ( you will probably have to remove the wheel ) ONLY use 18-19 psi in it. .... the tire will perform at it's best at that psi ...... any questions PM me or Peter Aawen ..... Mike
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So Vredestein 165/60 R15 for both the front and back work with no modifications? Is that correct?
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by ollicat
So Vredestein 165/60 R15 for both the front and back work with no modifications? Is that correct?
NO ... The 165/60R15 is for the fronts only. The rear Vredestein, I believe, is a 205/60R15
2022 RT Sea To Sky
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Originally Posted by ollicat
So Vredestein 165/60 R15 for both the front and back work with no modifications? Is that correct?
Originally Posted by troop
NO ... The 165/60R15 is for the fronts only. The rear Vredestein, I believe, is a 205/60R15
Agree, somewhat.
165/60R15 or 175/55R15 on the front.
205/60R15 or 205/65R15 on the rear.
Some have also done 215/60 or 225/55 on the rear.
A quick glance under the bike will show that the front and rear are NOT the same size.
.
HER ride:
2017 RT-S SE6 Pearl White
My rides:
2000 Honda GL1500SE
1980 Suzuki GS850G
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