Need tire recommendations asap.....

[Firefly]

Can't get rid of front end wobble.

Original rims and OEM Kenda tires with 8,000 miles. Wobble started about 500 miles or so ago.

Put new rims and new Kenda tires on. Professionally balanced. Same wobble. Added Ride-On, problem got a little better. Removed wheel weights, problem got a little better.

So the problem still exists and I believe it's due to bad Kenda tires.

I'm reluctant to try new Kenda tires, thinking maybe there's a manufacturing problem, or that the soft sidewalls are more apt to cause the tires to become out of round, etc.

So... who has used an aftermarket tire... on an RT... put a good amount of miles on it and been happy?

What tire would be a good option?

Thanks!

 

[Bob Denman]

Dan,
You might want to pick Ron's brain...(rnet)
He sells and installs tires on Spyders, and is a great source of information. :thumbup:
*BING*

 

[CyncySpyder]

Many options are out there, I took Mikes (BlueKnight911) suggestion & went this route

We switched at 22,000 miles and are now at 37,500 and the tires still look brand new. Having 4 ply sidewalls instead of the OEM 2 ply, they do ryde a bit stiffer, but with playing with the PSI and changing our Elka settings, we've got a pretty smooth ryde and are very happy with our choice :2thumbs:

 

[Chupaca]

Little checking..!!

I assume you have had all the front end checked, bearings, ball joints, alignment etc. Not that it doesn't happen but rims and tires, if balanced properly, aren't a major cause for wobble...jmo :dontknow: your choice of tires is vast and everyone has to choose or go with who you trust the most..good luck...

 

[Bob Denman]

Dave,
What size are those Generals?
(I tried to find it on the tire...:shocked

 

[Firefly]

I assume you have had all the front end checked, bearings, ball joints, alignment etc. Not that it doesn't happen but rims and tires, if balanced properly, aren't a major cause for wobble...jmo :dontknow: your choice of tires is vast and everyone has to choose or go with who you trust the most..good luck...

Checked as good as I can without going to dealer. The problem is not consistent and happens at different speeds. On the one set of rims I can tell the tires are out of round. On the other ones the tires are cupped after 8,000 miles.

This only started sometime after Spyderfest. Only change to the Spyder was I had the Swaybar installed.

I guess I could try lightening the tension on the Elka's, but this really screams of a tire problem to me.

 

[jerpinoy]

First you must find out why you got this issue. Getting new tire will solve the problem? You mentioned you got elka and sway bar and then wobble issue showed up.........

 

[Spyder_Cowgirl]

Checked as good as I can without going to dealer. The problem is not consistent and happens at different speeds. On the one set of rims I can tell the tires are out of round. On the other ones the tires are cupped after 8,000 miles.

This only started sometime after Spyderfest. Only change to the Spyder was I had the Swaybar installed.

I guess I could try lightening the tension on the Elka's, but this really screams of a tire problem to me.

Firefly ... I think this is on an RT? If so, please check that the "links" on the new anti-swaybar are still tight. Ron had a "mini-recall" at one point in the not too distant past where the bolts on SOME spyders were too short to safely keep the nylock nuts tight. I know he offered to ship longer bolts to anyone that had the problem and, of course, shipped the longer bolts from then on with all new units. BUT, it still might be worth checking -- a mirror and flash light are all you need.

Best Regards ... Ann

 

[Firefly]

Thanks for the idea on the sway bar bolts. I'll double check them... But this was installed at Spyderfest by Harvey, well after Ron's 'recall'.

The problem didn't start right after the sway bar was added.... I just mentioned that as it was the only mod made recently.

The fenders and handlebars shake at different speeds..... Screams of a tire problem to me.

 

[NancysToy]

Thanks for the idea on the sway bar bolts. I'll double check them... But this was installed at Spyderfest by Harvey, well after Ron's 'recall'.

The problem didn't start right after the sway bar was added.... I just mentioned that as it was the only mod made recently.

The fenders and handlebars shake at different speeds..... Screams of a tire problem to me.

I'd also check the shock bushings and a-arm bushings. You will notice a "wobble" from a suspension problem long before the tires show uneven wear.

 

[bullant12]

I'm no expert on tires, but after 8,000 miles having a wobble... and changing tires didn't work, I'd look at other avenues.
Can you find another RT owner and swap the tires with and see if it has the same problem? That can give you a straight answer...:lecturef_smilie:

 

[Some Guy]

I'm no expert on tires, but after 8,000 miles having a wobble... and changing tires didn't work, I'd look at other avenues.
Can you find another RT owner and swap the tires with and see if it has the same problem? That can give you a straight answer...:lecturef_smilie:

Ut oh...I think my phone will be ringing soon! :doorag:

 

[NancysToy]

Ut oh...I think my phone will be ringing soon! :doorag:

I'm closer.....but my tires are older.

 

[Some Guy]

I'm closer.....but my tires are older.

Mine only have 500 miles on them. nojoke

 

[Rando]

Can you find another RT owner and swap the tires with and see if it has the same problem? That can give you a straight answer...:lecturef_smilie:

Excellent idea. By the way, my front tires on my RT were defective and I ended up replacing them with OEM. It fixed the wobble.

 

[DR Buck]

I have an absolute horrible not so much a wobble but a shake from 48 to 52 mph. It used to be at 40 -42 mph but after I added Ride-On, it changed to the higher speed. When I posted about this only happening after installing the new sway bar (http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...-and-now-have-Front-End-Wobble&highlight=baja) I was blasted for suggesting that is what caused it. :dontknow: I'd hate to think that after 6600 miles I need to buy new tires.

I'll be following this thread to see how you solve your issue as it sounds just like mine.

 

[Firefly]

I'm no expert on tires, but after 8,000 miles having a wobble... and changing tires didn't work, I'd look at other avenues.
Can you find another RT owner and swap the tires with and see if it has the same problem? That can give you a straight answer...:lecturef_smilie:

Let me clarify....

I changed the tires AND rims. I had bought some smoked chrome rims... and already had some new Kenda's laying around my shop.... so I mounted them up and tried them.

So two changes at once... not a good thing I know.. but was easier and quicker.

 

[Firefly]

I'm closer.....but my tires are older.

It's not just your tires that are older my friend..... :roflblack:

 

[Firefly]

Yesterday I but the old stock rims and tires back on. Wobble seems different with those ones on.

On my smoked chrome rims with brand new tires, I can see with the naked eye the 'bounce' when spinning them by hand. For sure a problem.

With my stock rims, I cannot see any bounce when spinning them by hand.

So this is what I've done today. Reduced the Elka's by 3 full turns. Springs were compressed to under 9"... around 8.75"... which seems pretty tight. Maybe adding the stiffer swaybar without reducing the shocks amplified the problem.

Will take a scoot and see. The tires really don't seem very worn, but the bike shop next door to me instantly said they were cupped... before I even mentioned I had a wobble issue.

Maybe the too stiff shocks caused some different kind of wear on the tires... thus cupping.

The wobble also varies based on the road I'm on. We've got some real ***** roads up here. I've often wondered about washboarded roads causing a good harmonic wobble on these beasts......

If today's change doesn't help, I'll order some new tires and in the meantime I'll tear the front down and inspect all the bushings, etc.... was hoping to avoid doing that. With this Spyder I'm more about RIDING than WRENCHING!

Thanks for all the input....

 

[Sarge707]

I have an absolute horrible not so much a wobble but a shake from 48 to 52 mph. It used to be at 40 -42 mph but after I added Ride-On, it changed to the higher speed. When I posted about this only happening after installing the new sway bar (http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...-and-now-have-Front-End-Wobble&highlight=baja) I was blasted for suggesting that is what caused it. :dontknow: I'd hate to think that after 6600 miles I need to buy new tires.

I'll be following this thread to see how you solve your issue as it sounds just like mine.

After reading the entire Thread you referenced (Above) you seem to indicate its not Bad anymore and only from 40-42 MPH Occassionally?
Now your saying a Horrible shake at 48-52?
I too have an occassional wobble between 40-42 but it happens so seldom I,m not gonna worry about it.

The only way you can be sure is to put back the stock Sway Bar and see what happens??? A lot of work BUT you would be entirely Sure. Not a job I,d want to do Tooo often.nojoke

I can,t remember if mine had any wobble before the sway bar because I wasn,t looking for it?? Then these post come out and I,m going 40-42 MPH so I can see if it does it!! I hope you find the problem!!!