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WOW, that was fast...........New rear tire needed soon!!

Surely most of you have owned motorcycles before. 8000-12,000 miles is pretty normal life for a rear tire on Harley's, Honda's BMW's etc. If you are making shotgun starts all the time you will get less mileage wear. 20# in front and 30# in the rear will go a long way to extended tire life. Check your tires at least once per week. Low tire pressure will cause cupping and wear on the out sides. Too much pressure will cause inside or middle wear. Front tires should be with in 1/2 # of each other. All this assumes you have proper front AND rear alignment.

Jack
 
Check out the Yokohama s.Drive

I've got just short of 7000 miles on my Spyder now, and I too need to replace the the rear tire. Was gonna do it at SpyderQuest, but I don't think I'll make it till then. So I've been reading the various tire threads here on the forum. The Kumho Ecsta AST definitely seems to be the car tire replacement of popular choice, but Ann's comments are not the first I have read concerning "less than optimal" handling, especially as the tire begins to wear and especially in the rain. Not sure why, because that deep "V" cut would seem to throw off the water really well.

A lot of folks have recently shown interest in the Yokohama s.Drive tire in size 205/55R15. That tire is slightly narrower than the Kendra, which some have hypothesized would cut down some on the tendency to wear more in the center. However, it is exactly the same diameter as the OEM tire, so there shouldn't be any changes in how the Nanny or the speedometer react to it. Folks have said that it grabs the road a lot better than the Kumho, and it also wears well. But the jury may be still out because I don't know of anyone who has had it yet for several thousand miles. (Perhaps others will chime in here if they've had the Yokohama s.Drive for several thousand miles.) However, given what I've read about the Yokohama here on the forum, I think it will be the rear tire I will install on mine.

Do a forum search on "Yokohama" to read what others have said about it. (Same goes for "Kumho".)
 
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I'll stay...

I have done well with the kendas (old compound) so I'm sticking with them for not. If they fail I will see whats out there for this use...:thumbup:
 
205-55-15 Yokohama S. Drive rear works great

I've got just short of 7000 miles on my Spyder now, and I too need to replace the the rear tire. Was gonna do it at SpyderQuest, but I don't think I'll make it till then. So I've been reading the various tire threads here on the forum. The Kumho Ecsta AST definitely seems to be the car tire replacement of popular choice, but Ann's comments are not the first I have read concerning "less than optimal" handling, especially as the tire begins to wear and especially in the rain. Not sure why, because that deep "V" cut would seem to throw off the water really well.

A lot of folks have recently shown interest in the Yokohama s.Drive tire in size 205/55R15. That tire is slightly narrower than the Kendra, which some have hypothesized would cut down some on the tendency to wear more in the center. However, it is exactly the same diameter as the OEM tire, so there shouldn't be any changes in how the Nanny or the speedometer react to it. Folks have said that it grabs the road a lot better than the Kumho, and it also wears well. But the jury may be still out because I don't know of anyone who has had it yet for several thousand miles. (Perhaps others will chime in here if they've had the Yokohama s.Drive for several thousand miles.) However, given what I've read about the Yokohama here on the forum, I think it will be the rear tire I will install on mine.

Do a forum search on "Yokohama" to read what others have said about it. (Same goes for "Kumho".)


I had 4,500 miles on my 205-55-15 rear tire on 2014 RT (before I traded it in).
The S.Drive is a much better grip tire, a smoother ride (not as harsh as Kumho on small bumps), seemed to not wear at all in the 4,500 miles.
(You can go double the posted speed in corners on RT with the S.Drive tire, it grips that good).
I would recommend the tire.
Firestone tire shops usually can spin balance rear; & also front Federal tires/wheels on Spyders.
Jim
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I had 4,500 miles on my 205-55-15 rear tire on 2014 RT (before I traded it in).
The S.Drive is a much better grip tire, a smoother ride (not as harsh as Kumho on small bumps), seemed to not wear at all in the 4,500 miles.
(You can go double the posted speed in corners on RT with the S.Drive tire, it grips that good).
I would recommend the tire.
Firestone tire shops usually can spin balance rear; & also front Federal tires/wheels on Spyders.
Jim
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Jim, do you have any experience in the rain with this combo?
 
Jim, do you have any experience in the rain with this combo?

I rode RT in light rain with S.Drive Yokohama 205-55-15 rear tire, and it griped good.
Not a downpour rain like you probably ride thru, but I was impressed.
The kumho I had on RT prior, I spun the rear tire in light rain at 35 mph.
I will be putting on S. Drive on my F3S SE6 in a couple thousand miles from now.
I really liked the grip, smoother over small bumps, not much wear in the short 4,500 miles.
Federal front tires also grip good in light rain.
(Doesn't rain much in Tucson, Az; ha).
Enjoy.
Jim
 
Confused!!!

Have been following the tire thread.... But, am getting confused on all the different opinions!!!! I need to replace my back tire on my 2014 RT-S. I'm thinking of going with the Michelin Defender 215/60/15. Does any one have this tire on their Spyder? Do you like it? How was the wear?

Thanks for the information.
Teri
 
I think that it may be a question of getting the proper size of tire.
The rear tire size(s) are pretty common.
The fronts: not so much... :shocked:
 
Have the Defenders on Front of our 2011 RT - 175/65R14 s

Have been following the tire thread.... But, am getting confused on all the different opinions!!!! I need to replace my back tire on my 2014 RT-S. I'm thinking of going with the Michelin Defender 215/60/15. Does any one have this tire on their Spyder? Do you like it? How was the wear?

Thanks for the information.
Teri

Love the wide groove and smooth roll on the front at 19.5 psi. We put them on about 20,000 miles ago and balanced by Discount Tire. Probably the last tires we will put on the front as they're a 60,000 plus rated tire. The wear has been great and maybe we'll look at the Defender for the next rear tire change although the Kumhos have been good so far. Haven't tried to keep up with any GS's or two wheelers, but this combination keeps up with the RT's and trikes we ride with.
 
OK

Love the wide groove and smooth roll on the front at 19.5 psi. We put them on about 20,000 miles ago and balanced by Discount Tire. Probably the last tires we will put on the front as they're a 60,000 plus rated tire. The wear has been great and maybe we'll look at the Defender for the next rear tire change although the Kumhos have been good so far. Haven't tried to keep up with any GS's or two wheelers, but this combination keeps up with the RT's and trikes we ride with.

You think that's smooth ....then try them at 19.5784934876 psi and see the difference.It will AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZE you :yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yikes:.......Mike :thumbup:
 
Good discussion and my experience....i can't

Please ignore the typo in the title... Can't edit it out..




I bought a 2014 RT limited last year.

I just took it in for service at 3700 miles and the dealer told me the rear OEM Kenda wouldn't pass inspection and had warn down in the middle. My RT was built around April 2014.

I don't drive it in any other than what I would consider an average way. No chirping starts etc.

In the discussion my dealer said he would contact BRP because he felt as I did that 3700 miles on a rear tire was not a normal change interval.

In the meantime I had purchased a Yokohama S-drive off of eBay in anticipation of my upcoming tire change.

About a a week ago I got a call from the dealer who informed me that BRP responded to them and will be replacing the rear tire under warranty.

So with a free replacement coming I guess I'll be sticking with the Kenda until it's time to replace it again with my Yokohama which I'll keep in storage. It will be interesting to see how the lifespan of this new Kenda compares to the one the came on the Spyder initially.
 
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New Tire

I just put a Mastercraft rear tire on my RT. It's 205/50/r15 cause the tire store ordered the wrong size. So I guess i'm an experimenton rear tires....stay tuned...
 
Have been following the tire thread.... But, am getting confused on all the different opinions!!!! I need to replace my back tire on my 2014 RT-S. I'm thinking of going with the Michelin Defender 215/60/15. Does any one have this tire on their Spyder? Do you like it? How was the wear?

Thanks for the information.
Teri

I am using a Michelin Primacy 215/60/15 for 11,000 miles and have had no problems. Hope to get 20,000.
 
Thanks for the responses Y'all...

Lotta good info here .......The Kumho has arrived now and I will be swapping em this coming weekend as the Kenda was hydroplaning in moderate rain at 35 mph on my (last minute decision) run to Natchez to eat at Big Mama's yesterday.....Using the info on another thread for rim removal and getting my local shop to do the swap..will keep ya posted!!! Thanks again neighbors!!
 
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It's done..

Bearings looked good,.belt tension looks good, new tire in place balanced and rolling good, and put about 100 miles on it to check everything....I really can' t tell any difference between stock yet.....wet weather will tell the tale......so far I just don' t feel any difference and if I can get 20,000 miles out of them I will be happy as all get out....thanks all...
 

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