2025 Improved Sea to Sky Tires, how are they?

[Snoking1127]

I like to ride a bit aggressive for a old fart, I have put about 20-35K miles on two 2018 Spyder RTL's and have only had the nanny kick in once, from spinning the rear wheel in gravel. All this on CAR Tires, aftermarket sway bars, an Elka Stage 1 shock on one of them, and it is claimed by BRP to cause issues with the nanny! Not on my watch! I played in the twisties yesterday and today, thinking how great these machines are when pushed a bit.

 

[mecsw500]

I just traded my 2021 RT LTD with the Kenda tires on it for a 2026 Sea to Sky with the new tires.

All I can say is they grip at least as well as the original Kendas. They seem to have a slightly stiffer sidewalls from initial impressions.

As for handling, they seem to have the nice smooth breakaway of the originals, which I like. No sudden loss of grip.

The only thing I find really irritating is that they have an asymmetric tread pattern. So, looking at the front of the bike, the left and right tires are not mirror opposites in tread pattern. Whilst it has no effect on their performance it really triggers my possible OCD. Why or why did they not make a symmetric tread pattern, or at least have a mirror image right tire and a left tire. The minute I saw this, it just became massively irritating. I guess I'll get over it, but why oh why did they do this?

 

[Bfromla]

Don’t forget those junker batteries

 

[mecsw500]

If the front tires are directionless, I assume the factory just receives tires orientated in one direction and it mounts all the tires the same way on every wheel. I guess this saves time and effort.

Either that and some Spyders are out there with opposite orientation than mine and some are out there with a symmetric orientation. That last setup would make me mad knowing that such a configuration actually exists in the wild. Just thinking about that possibility makes me all twitchy.

 

[hogmemberisold]

I went out and looked at the front wheels on our 25 S2S and the tires would look the same no matter how they are put on the wheel... the factory puts them on any way and they'll be the same...

 

[mecsw500]

I went out and looked at the front wheels on our 25 S2S and the tires would look the same no matter how they are put on the wheel... the factory puts them on any way and they'll be the same...

I know, I’m sorry, I just forgot the /s. Otherwise I would have remounted one by now. I’ve stared at the stupid things for so long by now doing mental gymnastics over it.

I know BRP was just saving money by not having two part numbers for front tires. But why did, for the love of all that is holy, did Kenda design an asymmetric tread pattern?

Didn’t it mess with anyone’s head at BRP when they signed off on this tread pattern design?

It’s the fact it messes with my probable OCD whenever I look at it. At least they took the antennae off now as that used to bug me.

Of course this is all stupid as the drive train and exhaust are asymmetric, as is the brake pedal and the handle bar clusters. But these are things that have to be that way, but tires of course don’t.

I truly hope I am the only one that lets these little things bother them in such an irrational manner. There is very probably something seriously wrong with me I sure. My brain thinks will it brake to the left or the right in the rain? The fact that it didn’t was even more confusing.

The reality of course is that it tracks and stops perfectly straight.

 

[Snoking1127]

Gotta agree!!

As has been the case before, it seems the 'new' XPS tires are the same old Kendas with a slightly different set of stamping and a new load of BS...

A fairly high percentage of people will just go with what they say. If it was true, there would be a sticker beside to the vin tag stating so. It would be interesting to sit in on a court case listening their "engineers" trying to justify it. We the people call the trike manufacturer bean counters to the stand. followed by the tire manufacturer.

 

[mecsw500]

Gotta agree!!

As has been the case before, it seems the 'new' XPS tires are the same old Kendas with a slightly different set of stamping and a new load of BS...

I’m afraid I don’t quite agree. Having ridden back to back on the original Kenda and now the new XPSs branded Kenda tires, I would say there are considerable differences.

First off, the similarities are they both have a smooth and predictable breakaway.

As for differences, they run quieter, they appear to be more rugged in construction with stiffer sidewalls, their tread depth is deeper, their ultimate grip level is higher and braking distances are hence shorter, and most of all their wet weather performance is far superior.

Am I saying they are a better option than car tires, well I guess that depends upon your choice of car tire brand and personal opinion.

Do ii think they are a considerable improvement though, for sure.

Are they a good enough improvement to stop people needing car tires, only time and personal opinions will tell.

BRP does come up with some BS decisions for sure, but I think they certainly have a point when saying these XPS branded Kenda tires are better than the ones they replace.

The more I ride on them, the higher my confidence level in them becomes.

 

[Snoking1127]

I’m afraid I don’t quite agree. Having ridden back to back on the original Kenda and now the new XPSs branded Kenda tires, I would say there are considerable differences.

First off, the similarities are they both have a smooth and predictable breakaway.

As for differences, they run quieter, they appear to be more rugged in construction with stiffer sidewalls, their tread depth is deeper, their ultimate grip level is higher and braking distances are hence shorter, and most of all their wet weather performance is far superior.

Am I saying they are a better option than car tires, well I guess that depends upon your choice of car tire brand and personal opinion.

Do ii think they are a considerable improvement though, for sure.

Are they a good enough improvement to stop people needing car tires, only time and personal opinions will tell.

BRP does come up with some BS decisions for sure, but I think they certainly have a point when saying these XPS branded Kenda tires are better than the ones they replace.

The more I ride on them, the higher my confidence level in them becomes.

How many weights did they put on to balance them? That is a telling sign of quality, or lack there of quality. Have you ever ridden a Spyder with quality car tires like the Vredesteins?

 

[mecsw500]

How many weights did they put on to balance them? That is a telling sign of quality, or lack there of quality. Have you ever ridden a Spyder with quality car tires like the Vredesteins?

Mine has two small weights on one and one small weight on the other. The rear has no weights.

I think that is in the probable normal range for car tires too.

My SUV with high specification tires has more weights than this, even accounting for larger size and mass.

My experience of course might not be yours but the overall tread pattern, pattern consistency and sidewall construction look to be a better quality than before.

I think we need to have more feedback both from new Spyder’s and older Spyder’s when retrofitted with these tires as the old style tires wear out, before we condemn them as BRP sourced rubbish. I’m keeping an open mind and await the feedback of others, especially as how they hold up from reviews of those members here who supply and fit tires as a customer service.

 

[troop]

How many weights did they put on to balance them? That is a telling sign of quality, or lack there of quality. Have you ever ridden a Spyder with quality car tires like the Vredesteins?

Some rims are not created equal. I have one PPA wheel that always requires a bit more weights no matter the tires.