What Front Tire Pressure in an F3?

[troop]

At your weight, I'd run 16# all the way around...

 

[Deanna777]

Hi Deanna, not sure yet in the process of switching the tires. But I trust the tire gurus on this forum. But will let ya know as soon as they're on. Waiting on the 2 front to be delivered then off to TX Outlaw Cycles to get 'em mounted. I already have the beads balance so they'll just put 'em in the new tires. So hopefully Thurs I'll be able to test drive.

HI Mojammn,

OK. I hope you get the 2 front tires delivered soon. Good luck at TX Outlaw Cycles.

My Spdyer is still in hibernation until next month, due to insurance restraint. In April the spyder will have full coverage.


Deanna

 

[Mojammn]

Not only do I have more experience on Spyders, but I have expertise on Tires. I had enough schooling to be classified as an " expert witness " in court ..... Not bragging just giving a reason why I can be trusted to give you supportable facts ..... and so does Peter Aawen ..... Mike

Hey Blueknight, I've been reading all the posts etc I find. I just switched to car tires from the Kenda's to same size in front/rear with Gen Altimax rear & 5star reviews no brand front tires all with bead balance. I've had my 2016 Spyder f3 limited almost 2 yrs & put a little over 10k miles on (at 31k) I'm 5' 110lbs aggressive fast rider. I'm running 28 psi in rear, front I've adjusted from 20 to 15 now & I cannot get it smooth. I've checked EVERYTHING that's been recommended to no avail. Including belt & still gotta shake only at 55-65 mph. I ran 28 psi in the Kenda's. Is there anything wrong with doing that? Other than specs recommended for Spyder. (I'm so frustrated & we're due to leave Thurs to Bike Rally)

 

[troop]

Hey Blueknight, I've been reading all the posts etc I find. I just switched to car tires from the Kenda's to same size in front/rear with Gen Altimax rear & 5star reviews no brand front tires all with bead balance. I've had my 2016 Spyder f3 limited almost 2 yrs & put a little over 10k miles on (at 31k) I'm 5' 110lbs aggressive fast rider. I'm running 28 psi in rear, front I've adjusted from 20 to 15 now & I cannot get it smooth. I've checked EVERYTHING that's been recommended to no avail. Including belt & still gotta shake only at 55-65 mph. I ran 28 psi in the Kenda's. Is there anything wrong with doing that? Other than specs recommended for Spyder. (I'm so frustrated & we're due to leave Thurs to Bike Rally)

Sadly, BlueKnight passed away a few months ago. Peter will be along soon to help you. But at your weight, I'd think no more than 17# in that rear Altimax.

 

[Peter Aawen]

@Mojammn, it's basically the air pressure inside the tires that carries the load on them, and the OEM Kenda tires are lightly (& often poorly) constructed tires that NEED those high air pressures you mention in order to carry the load that you & your Spyder put on them. But if you are now running 'real' car tires instead, tires that are constructed well enough to safely carry 2 or 3 times the weight of you & your Spyder, then I doubt that you REALLY need that much air in the rear to carry the same load!! So by still running 28 psi in the rear, you are grossly over-inflating it and likely to suffer from a harsh ride, odd vibrations, accelerated wear, reduced traction (especially in the wet!), overworked suspension, increased risk of tire damage from road hazards/debris, and the list goes on!!

I have not yet found anyone who is heavy enough to warrant regularly running anything much more than 18 psi in any 'real' car tire fitted to a Spyder or Ryker. Sure, it might feel a little different &/or 'softer' than what you're used to at first, but if you've spent a while riding on over-inflated tires and getting used to that feel, it'll probably take you a similar while to get used to riding on tires that are inflated closer to the ideal pressure for the load imposed upon them - and remember, these are 'Radial' tires, they are meant to feel a bit 'soft' - that's how they provide so much better traction, ride, wear, etc, etc than cross-ply tires.

So as @troop suggested, I'd also suggest that you run no more than about 17 psi in that rear Altimax, altho I wouldn't ever go lower than 14 psi.

And while that shake you've still got at 55-65 mph certainly could be tires (have you checked for any abnormal wear, run-out, or defects in your 'no brand' front tires??) it could also be a lot of other things besides your tires - have you tried a proper wheel alignment (which generally means NOT a dealer!); checked (& maybe reduced??) the belt tension; considered installing a belt vibration dampener (or changing/removing it if you already have one fitted?); made sure all the suspension & driveline bearings & bushes are in good nick, etc, etc, etc??

Good Luck!

 

[Mojammn]

@Mojammn, it's basically the air pressure inside the tires that carries the load on them, and the OEM Kenda tires are lightly (& often poorly) constructed tires that NEED those high air pressures you mention in order to carry the load that you & your Spyder put on them. But if you are now running 'real' car tires instead, tires that are constructed well enough to safely carry 2 or 3 times the weight of you & your Spyder, then I doubt that you REALLY need that much air in the rear to carry the same load!! So by still running 28 psi in the rear, you are grossly over-inflating it and likely to suffer from a harsh ride, odd vibrations, accelerated wear, reduced traction (especially in the wet!), overworked suspension, increased risk of tire damage from road hazards/debris, and the list goes on!!

I have not yet found anyone who is heavy enough to warrant regularly running anything much more than 18 psi in any 'real' car tire fitted to a Spyder or Ryker. Sure, it might feel a little different &/or 'softer' than what you're used to at first, but if you've spent a while riding on over-inflated tires and getting used to that feel, it'll probably take you a similar while to get used to riding on tires that are inflated closer to the ideal pressure for the load imposed upon them - and remember, these are 'Radial' tires, they are meant to feel a bit 'soft' - that's how they provide so much better traction, ride, wear, etc, etc than cross-ply tires.

So as @troop suggested, I'd also suggest that you run no more than about 17 psi in that rear Altimax, altho I wouldn't ever go lower than 14 psi.

And while that shake you've still got at 55-65 mph certainly could be tires (have you checked for any abnormal wear, run-out, or defects in your 'no brand' front tires??) it could also be a lot of other things besides your tires - have you tried a proper wheel alignment (which generally means NOT a dealer!); checked (& maybe reduced??) the belt tension; considered installing a belt vibration dampener (or changing/removing it if you already have one fitted?); made sure all the suspension & driveline bearings & bushes are in good nick, etc, etc, etc??

Good Luck!

Hi Peter, Apologies for just replying now, been out of town. I did lower the psi on front to 16. It made a big difference & seemed smoother. But I still get a shake/severe vibration at 68-73. But it seems to come & go. I haven't lowered the rear tire (@28psi) but planning on doing that tomorrow & test riding. It is a little too bouncy I've noticed.

I'm not really feeling the Shake/vibration/wobble (not actually able to pinpoint the feel) but really seems just seems like a severe vibration & at times unbalanced tires (I have balance beds in all 3.) Outlaw Cycles think I might have a defective tire, they did the balance for me. I feel it more at my feet except at higher speed it seems like it's the whole bike. I have checked the wheel bearings, tie rods, ball joints, etc etc. The Front end is tight & I have no pull or drift in steering. Same as the rear. I'm thinking lower psi in the rear tire & adjust the tension... again.

I'm at my wit's end. I called Kent Powersports, they said 2016 F3's alignment rarely needs realignment unless I've hit something. I have tried everything that has been recommended/suggested on this forum & researched. So I stepped back & took a break from it for 4 days. Anything advice/recommendations... I'm listening!!

Mojammn

 

[Peter Aawen]

At this stage, I reckon you need to lower that rear tire pressure (Spyders, regardless of how heavy the load on the bike is, extremely rarely want/need any more than 18 psi in a General Altimax ) will make a vast difference to your ride comfort & traction (and your tire life too! ) and dropping your belt tension to the lower end of the range others have recommend here on the Forum - 160 on Kriket II comes to mind.

If that doesn't sort it for you, then maybe look at installing a 'belt tensioner' from Lamonster or similar - only they AREN'T 'belt tensioners', they are actually 'vibration dampeners' for the belt induced harmonic vibrations that quite a few report getting at around 70 mph. If that doesn't fix it, then yes, you could possibly consider looking for a defective tire, but with A/mkt tires like the Altimax, that's generally a whole lot rarer/less likely than an F3 needing a re-alignment after it's been done properly...

Sorry I can't be of more help, but that tire pressure lower/to 18 psi is usually the FIRST essential step toward resolving this sort of thing on any Spyder running a/mkt tires...

 

[Mojammn]

At this stage, I reckon you need to lower that rear tire pressure (Spyders, regardless of how heavy the load on the bike is, extremely rarely want/need any more than 18 psi in a General Altimax ) will make a vast difference to your ride comfort & traction (and your tire life too! ) and dropping your belt tension to the lower end of the range others have recommend here on the Forum - 160 on Kriket II comes to mind.

If that doesn't sort it for you, then maybe look at installing a 'belt tensioner' from Lamonster or similar - only they AREN'T 'belt tensioners', they are actually 'vibration dampeners' for the belt induced harmonic vibrations that quite a few report getting at around 70 mph. If that doesn't fix it, then yes, you could possibly consider looking for a defective tire, but with A/mkt tires like the Altimax, that's generally a whole lot rarer/less likely than an F3 needing a re-alignment after it's been done properly...

Sorry I can't be of more help, but that tire pressure lower/to 18 psi is usually the FIRST essential step toward resolving this sort of thing on any Spyder running a/mkt tires...

Thank you Peter... I will do that today!
Mojammn