I have already done a search here but could not find an answer. I run a Vredestein 205/60R15 rear tire on my 2021 RTL. I currently have 21,000 on the tire. The dealer said I need a new rear tire but I disagree. It looks like it has plenty of life left. For anyone running this tire what kind of milage can I expect to get from this tire?
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What kind of milage should I expect from a Vredestein rear tire?
- Thread starter Snoozer
- Start date
20,000 miles seems a bit light - any chance of getting a pic of the tread face of your tires?? If you can, try to include the tread wear indicators in the middle of the tread face. 
Can you see the tread wear nubbins in the grooves of the tread still? If the tire tread's not worn to within a mm or so of any of those, especially in the middle of the tread, then you should still be good to go! :y
But if they treads worn down flush with the tread wear indicators ANYWHERE across the tread face, then YES, it's new tire time.
I don't know for sure/cannot remember about how the wear indicators look on the Vredesteins, but don't get the tread wear marks mixed up with any tread block stabilisers, which often look similar but are generally larger and nowhere near as deeply set in the grooves as the tread wear marks usually are. That said, some have mistaken those block stabilisers as tread wear indicators, and so ended fitting new tires when they likely had another 20,000 miles in the tires they took off!!
Can I ask what tire pressure you've been running in that 205/60R15 Vredestein??
Can you see the tread wear nubbins in the grooves of the tread still? If the tire tread's not worn to within a mm or so of any of those, especially in the middle of the tread, then you should still be good to go! :y
But if they treads worn down flush with the tread wear indicators ANYWHERE across the tread face, then YES, it's new tire time.
I don't know for sure/cannot remember about how the wear indicators look on the Vredesteins, but don't get the tread wear marks mixed up with any tread block stabilisers, which often look similar but are generally larger and nowhere near as deeply set in the grooves as the tread wear marks usually are. That said, some have mistaken those block stabilisers as tread wear indicators, and so ended fitting new tires when they likely had another 20,000 miles in the tires they took off!!
Can I ask what tire pressure you've been running in that 205/60R15 Vredestein??
Not even close yet.
I have been running 20 lbs.20,000 miles seems a bit light - any chance of getting a pic of the tread face of your tires?? If you can, try to include the tread wear indicators in the middle of the tread face.
Can you see the tread wear nubbins in the grooves of the tread still? If the tire tread's not worn to within a mm or so of any of those, especially in the middle of the tread, then you should still be good to go! :y
But if they treads worn down flush with the tread wear indicators ANYWHERE across the tread face, then YES, it's new tire time.
I don't know for sure/cannot remember about how the wear indicators look on the Vredesteins, but don't get the tread wear marks mixed up with any tread block stabilisers, which often look similar but are generally larger and nowhere near as deeply set in the grooves as the tread wear marks usually are. That said, some have mistaken those block stabilisers as tread wear indicators, and so ended fitting new tires when they likely had another 20,000 miles in the tires they took off!!
Can I ask what tire pressure you've been running in that 205/60R15 Vredestein??
Yeah, that is almost certainly a bit high (unless the regular load of riders/pillion/gear on your Spyder is up over about 550 lbs?!
) so you may well have worn the middle of your rear tire more than is ideal, possibly in a more heavily worn 2-3 inch wide strip in the centre of the tread - but that will depend somewhat upon things like the ambient temps when you ride, how long you ride for, and the road surfaces you've been riding on... 
Are the edges of the tread still good, while the middle of the tread is worn down to/beyond the tread wear indicators? Any wear reaching the tread wear indicators anywhere across the tread face, even if it's just in one little spot, means the tire's worn out and should be replaced! For all but the heaviest loads/riders &/or hot & long distance riders, I'd suggest that about 18 psi is as high a pressure as you'd want to run in just about any a/mkt rear tire that'll fit our Spyders in OEM trim, IF you don't want to shorten your tire's potential life due to excessive wear in that middle strip. Sure, the 205 wide tires will be a bit less prone to this than a 215 or 225 wide rear tire, but like I said, 20 psi is really a little bit high...
But you say you're not even close to down near the tread wear indicators yet tho, so why does the dealer say you need a new tire??
Or is it only on the edges of your tire's tread that you aren't worn down?? Or are there some other wear or change indicators coming into play here??
A tire that was new in 2021 shouldn't be 'old' enough to warrant changing except for milage related wear; but uneven or patchy wear, scalloped tread blocks, heel/toe wear or feathering on the outer edges of the tread (inner, outer, or both!), or even just one side of the tread being worn more than the other could all point to a need for a new tire, beyond that worn down centre strip, of course!!
However, for anything but the previously mentioned centre strip wear that'll likely be due to over-inflation, I'd want the underlying cause of the abnormal wear to be rectified by the dealer FIRST, before replacing the tire, or you'll risk stuffing up the new tire too!! 
Dusterdude
Member
Peter, 20 pounds in the rear tire?
NO, as mentioned earlier in this thread and many times on this forum before, if it's an a/mkt car tire (ie. A tire that's NOT a Kenda or a Kenda clone!), which is capable of carrying loads of around 2-3 times the load you and your Spyder will impose upon it, then unless you and your pillion passenger weigh in at something over 550 pounds &/or it's very hot weather &/or you're riding at speeds above, saaay 90 mph for hours on end, 18 psi is about as high as you'll want to go if you want to avoid wearing the centre of the tread out due to over-inflation!
Now you might choose to run that sort of pressure in an a/mkt car tire fitted to your Spyder, but you should only do so in the knowledge that, possibly excluding the caveats above, your tire/s WILL almost certainly be over-inflated for the load they're carrying, so you'll get a harsher ride, more wear in the centre of the tread, expose your tire to a greater risk of puncturing due to hitting potholes or road debris (just like an over-inflated balloon will pop easily on bumping a wall or anything projecting) and amongst other things, your tire will likely be bouncing over some of the little bumps etc that are always present in any road surface, so your Spyder's suspension will be working harder and you'll have less traction than you could expect at a more appropriate 18 psi, especially in the wet!
Yeah, that is almost certainly a bit high (unless the regular load of riders/pillion/gear on your Spyder is up over about 550 lbs?!
For all but the heaviest loads/riders &/or hot & long distance riders, I'd suggest that about 18 psi is as high a pressure as you'd want to run in just about any a/mkt rear tire that'll fit our Spyders in OEM trim, IF you don't want to shorten your tire's potential life due to excessive wear in that middle strip. Sure, the 205 wide tires will be a bit less prone to this than a 215 or 225 wide rear tire, but like I said, 20 psi is really a little bit high...
But you say you're not even close to down near the tread wear indicators yet tho, so why does the dealer say you need a new tire??
Or is it only on the edges of your tire's tread that you aren't worn down?? Or are there some other wear or change indicators coming into play here??
A tire that was new in 2021 shouldn't be 'old' enough to warrant changing except for milage related wear; but uneven or patchy wear, scalloped tread blocks, heel/toe wear or feathering on the outer edges of the tread (inner, outer, or both!), or even just one side of the tread being worn more than the other could all point to a need for a new tire, beyond that worn down centre strip, of course!!
Peter, thanks for all of your information. There are times when I am on long road trips and it is hot (New Mexico, Arizona) and I do 70-75 for hours at a time. I also carry two dry bags with camping gear and the frunk and trunk are loaded but nothing over 550 lbs. There is some wear in the center of the tire but nothing radical. This pic isn't the greatest but you can click on it for a little better look.NO, as mentioned earlier in this thread and many times on this forum before, if it's an a/mkt car tire (ie. A tire that's NOT a Kenda or a Kenda clone!), which is capable of carrying loads of around 2-3 times the load you and your Spyder will impose upon it, then unless you and your pillion passenger weigh in at something over 550 pounds &/or it's very hot weather &/or you're riding at speeds above, saaay 90 mph for hours on end, 18 psi is about as high as you'll want to go if you want to avoid wearing the centre of the tread out due to over-inflation!
Now you might choose to run that sort of pressure in an a/mkt car tire fitted to your Spyder, but you should only do so in the knowledge that, possibly excluding the caveats above, your tire/s WILL almost certainly be over-inflated for the load they're carrying, so you'll get a harsher ride, more wear in the centre of the tread, expose your tire to a greater risk of puncturing due to hitting potholes or road debris (just like an over-inflated balloon will pop easily on bumping a wall or anything projecting) and amongst other things, your tire will likely be bouncing over some of the little bumps etc that are always present in any road surface, so your Spyder's suspension will be working harder and you'll have less traction than you could expect at a more appropriate 18 psi, especially in the wet!
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Woodaddict
Active member
I think the odd groove styling on the Vdestrian, makes people think those grooves should criss cross. They don't, appearing to make center area look worn out.
Do the Lincoln head penny trick, if you don't have a tire depth gauge
Do the Lincoln head penny trick, if you don't have a tire depth gauge
Yeah, like @Woodaddict says, they're confused by that centre strip of rubber. That tire certainly doesn't look to be worn out to me, not from what we can see in the pic!
I can't recall exactly what method Vredesteins use, but can you find the tread wear indicators anywhere in the tread grooves? There should be at least three markers on the very side of the tread to point you at the wear indicators that'll actually be in the tread itself, either as a block of rubber fairly deep in each of the major grooves across the tread face, usually in 3 separate places around the tire, and generally they'll be in a stepped/diagonal line across the tread and in the deepest grooves; or they'll be visible as a word or symbol cut into that centre strip of rubber in the tread that'll change to something like 'Replace Tire' as the tread wears down. again, there should be at least three sets of markers positioned around the circumference and three sets of indicators either in the tread grooves or on that centre strip of rubber.
If you can find those tread wear indicators and take/post a pic of them, we should be able to see if a new tire is truly necessary.
I do have have a tire depth gauge and that's why I was asking the question. I think the center area is a little worn but still has some life.
Peter, Thanks again. I will look for those markers when I can move the bike around the garage. We are getting a little bit of blowing snow tonight.Yeah, like @Woodaddict says, they're confused by that centre strip of rubber. That tire certainly doesn't look to be worn out to me, not from what we can see in the pic!
I can't recall exactly what method Vredesteins use, but can you find the tread wear indicators anywhere in the tread grooves? There should be at least three markers on the very side of the tread to point you at the wear indicators that'll actually be in the tread itself, either as a block of rubber fairly deep in each of the major grooves across the tread face, usually in 3 separate places around the tire, and generally they'll be in a stepped/diagonal line across the tread and in the deepest grooves; or they'll be visible as a word or symbol cut into that centre strip of rubber in the tread that'll change to something like 'Replace Tire' as the tread wears down. again, there should be at least three sets of markers positioned around the circumference and three sets of indicators either in the tread grooves or on that centre strip of rubber.
If you can find those tread wear indicators and take/post a pic of them, we should be able to see if a new tire is truly necessary.
That'll be them!
Thanks Poppie, there should be a staggered line of those spread right across the tread face in the grooves like that, usually Four in total at each marked spot.
Dusterdude
Member
Thanks peter
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