Refused to sell me a tire..........

[Maddoggie501]

You ran car tires on your Goldwing? Tell us about it. I think this is a first!

Jack

Being an ex Goldwing owner, I can tell you some riders will run a car tire on the rear and swear its better in ride, handling, wear, etc. They call themselves the Dark Siders. I can tell you not to argue with them.

 

[Peteoz]

I have no problems ordering tires that fit, problem comes with trying to get it mounted. None of my local bike shops will touch it, and the Spyder dealers won't even talk to you about it. I can see taking the front wheels off and having a small fly by night tire place mount it, with reservations about their ability to balance it and to not scratch the rim. BTW a "big" Can Am dealer in Rapid City scratched my rim a couple of years ago. :banghead:

ASP, the "surefire" way to do it is to buy the tires from your local tire shop (big or small), take the current wheels off and take them in. You'll find that nearly all tire shops will have no qualms about replacing the tires if you bought from them. As far as not scratching the wheels is concerned, that's their job. If they scratch wheels on ANY vehicle, they will soon be out of business. You can then take the wheels to you local bike shop and have them balanced, or just don't balance them and use Lamont's Balancers.

I actually slipped the workshop manager $50 because of how well he handled the changeover, to which his response was......just bring the whole Spyder in next time and we'll jack the front and do the whole thing so you can ride out with clean hands.

Pete

 

[Peteoz]

Being an ex Goldwing owner, I can tell you some riders will run a car tire on the rear and swear its better in ride, handling, wear, etc. They call themselves the Dark Siders. I can tell you not to argue with them.

Why would you even TRY to argue with them, Maddoggie? After years of looking for accidents caused directly because a rider was on car tires, I'm still looking. Some try them and don't like them because of the way they follow road grooves, or because they "feel funny", but that's about it.

Pete

 

[BajaRon]

The solution is to "fib" a little about what the tire is going to be put on. Usually, the car tire fib works.

I am not mechanical, so have to use the dealer--who will only install OEM (as in Kenda). The up side, I get reasonable mileage out of them (20K fronts and 15K rear). So, I guess I am okay.

The argument about side wall not stiff enough--IMO--only applies to leaners--which the :ani29: isn't.

With the Kenda's it's not so much a problem with weak sidewalls (though that is true). It's more a problem with a very weak tread area. The tread cords are not strong enough to hold the tread area of the tire flat. So it balloons out with centrifugal force and wears out in the middle. Also, at speed, you're only getting maybe 3" of tread contact with the road surface. Not great for traction but should help with fuel mileage.

 

[cyclelover63]

I put one on a hotrod with aftermarket wheels that I blew a tire on.

 

[Fat Baxter]

There's a "tire database in the sky" that contains every vehicle with all the tires certified for it -- that's what trips us up, as "Spyder" is not in that database. I think there's a federal requirement for that database.

IIRC, I ordered my Kumho's from Tirerack.com. When ordering, there was an option (a box to check) that said something like "this tire matches what's already on my car." That's the escape clause. When I got the tires, there was a statement on the receipt to the effect that "owner assumes liability."

If you take the Spyder to a tire dealership, many will balk at working on a Spyder. But if you just take in the wheels, they have no idea what the vehicle is, so they're happy to get the work.

I read somewhere but can't confirm, that the three-hole pattern for the front wheels is the same as for a Smart car.

 

[willey]

tires

I ordered my rear tire from Wall Mart.Had it the next day,no questions asked.I ran a car tire on my 900 vulcan.It had 60,000 + miles on it when I sold the bike.I ordered my front tires from the internet and Tire Discounters mounted and balanced them for free.

 

[pitzerwm]

Bought the tire from Tire Rack, no questions, friend had a HF tire changer, had to take to Walmart to inflate it, compressor wasn't big enough. Put in Run right or whatever the goop liquid balance stuff is and not problems yet.

 

[Bfromla]

Tell them you found that this tire is the best mosquito repellant to have on camp fires.
:2thumbs::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[Bensonoid]

I bought my Yokohama S Drive at Tire Rack no questions asked,

Me too.

 

[Buckeye Bleau]

Hello,

So for new tires then do you take the rim off yourself and take it in or bring the whole bike in. I figure when you pull in with a spyder wont they see it and not put it on anyways?

Jim

My dealer, to remain nameless, with mount tires that I bring in but there is a $20 up charge.

Joe

 

[IGETAROUND]

refused to sell me a tire....

Hello,

So for new tires then do you take the rim off yourself and take it in or bring the whole bike in. I figure when you pull in with a spyder wont they see it and not put it on anyways?

Jim

Well, most of us take the rims and new tires we've ordered on line and had delivered to our homes. Another work around when ordering the tires is to tell them it's replacement for a Morgan Kit Car; has consistently worked for me for two fronts and four rear tires @ Discount on line and with the shops when I take them in to have them mounted.

Balancing is HIGHLY overrated... haven't balanced any of these tires and still have a nice smooth ride.

Kind of difficult to "hide" a Spyder on jack stands in the parking lot while you get new tires mounted...just saying!!!

Al in Kazoo

 

[youngers]

front tires

had a bounce in the front end , at 40 too 43 m.p.h. smooth up too , and after the 40 +43 mile range , but bounce like a tennis ball at that spot , took the front tires too the mentioned dealer , they said if the rims fit the machine no problem , took about 30 minutes too work them in , one tire was right on with wheel weights , the other had been missing 2 { not sure what weight } they balanced them for free . rides like a champ , charm , spyder ...

 

[Peteoz]

Found a Solution yet, no 2817?

Well there you go, no 2817.........what a mine of information on this thread on how to source and get aftermarket tyres on your Spyder. If you can't find a solution here, you aren't trying

Definitely the most helpful bunch of owners that I have ever found. :thumbup:

Pete

 

[No 2817]

You can buy it on Amazon

That's what I did $11.00 more $118.00 shipped no hassles. Thanks for all the help. I just didn't know what to enter for the "car going on questions", no other options like Tire Rack has.

Chris

 

[No 2817]

Lots of folks have "Dark-Sided" their GoldWings and Valkyries: without having added a third wheel! nojoke

My 2003 Valkyrie rides on the Darkside!! Two wheels by the way.

Chris

 

[No 2817]

No 2817

2817 was my serial number on the Premier Edition 2008 GS that I owned. That 990 engine was fast and 9500 rpm Red Line was the best part of it.

(was disappointed that the 2016 F3-T was only 7500, maybe the ECU remap will help)

Chris

 

[Maddoggie501]

Why would you even TRY to argue with them, Maddoggie? After years of looking for accidents caused directly because a rider was on car tires, I'm still looking. Some try them and don't like them because of the way they follow road grooves, or because they "feel funny", but that's about it.

Pete

Let me clarify my post. I didn't argue with anyone over their choice of tires. I was saying, based on some forum arguments I read, The Dark Siders are very sensitive about any negative reference to their tires. I could care less what tire someone chooses to use. I personally choose a tire for high speed, sticking like glue and excellent handling characteristics. I could care less about wear. Having ridden a BMW sport bike and changing expensive tires at 15 hundred miles, (1500) was the norm. Having a Goldwing and getting over 6000 miles was a bonus. I'll see what I get out of my stock Kendas and then will decide what replacements to use. If I can get a season of riding out of my tires, 6000 plus miles, I'm happy. Sorry I even brought up the Dark Siders.

 

[wd8ajj]

BigO Tire had no issues mounting my tires. And the local even stated they would order them for me. They will not replace the rear tire. Too complex. They mounted my tires X2 and balanced then for 10.00 each.

 

[WA5VHU]

I took the front rims with the supplied POS tires down to Pep Boys for new car tires. The service writer gave a somewhat funny look at the rims and asked "what do they go on"? I told him "a 1967 MGB replica kit". He rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders then put something in his computer and said "they should be ready in a few minutes".

I haven't had to change the rear POS tire yet.