Advise re; tire wear

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

THE ALTIMAX

Finally getting back to the tire issue. Rear is getting pretty bald in the center. I ordered the General Altimax in 205/60 on Ebay today and have found a small bike shop that does work on Spyders so when the tire comes in I will be good to go. Based on your general recommendations I think I will start at 22 PSI and see how that handles.hyea:

I can't believe the difference in cost of the tire and install. I am paying less than 1/2 of what I paid a dealer for a far less quality tire. Ouch. I don't begrudge the dealers, we need them there, but holy cow...........

I think you were thanking me ???? if so I appreciate it :clap:....... At any rate ... you will really like the Altimax, others here who have tried it have had good things to say ....... and YES that psi will be more effective in wet weather than a higher psi ..... also the tire will feel more comfortable ,........ Mike :thumbup:

 

[SPYD3R]

TOOK DELIVERY

I TOOK DELIVERY OF 6 MICHELIN HYDROEDGE TIRES TODAY.... 215/60R15's....
1 for my SPYD3R, 1 for FISPYDER SPYD3R and 4 for my wifes Camry.... these tires were $65 + S&H... they have an 800 CTQG rating, and i hope to witness no less than 40,000 miles (if i keep my F3 that long)...

the '60' series also correct the discrepancy between the speed-0 & your GPS...
right now i'm still running on the KUMHO in the rear, and still love that tire, but i can't find them anymore... the HYDROEDGE also has been discontinued, but still available... mine were shipped in from Massachusetts... and i'm still thrilled to the MAX on the HANKOOK's up front....
but hey, each to their own....
hope this helps somebody out there....
Dan P
Easley, SC
SPYD3R

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

I TOOK DELIVERY OF 6 MICHELIN HYDROEDGE TIRES TODAY.... 215/60R15's....
1 for my SPYD3R, 1 for FISPYDER SPYD3R and 4 for my wifes Camry.... these tires were $65 + S&H... they have an 800 CTQG rating, and i hope to witness no less than 40,000 miles (if i keep my F3 that long)...
View attachment 142121
the '60' series also correct the discrepancy between the speed-0 & your GPS...
right now i'm still running on the KUMHO in the rear, and still love that tire, but i can't find them anymore... the HYDROEDGE also has been discontinued, but still available... mine were shipped in from Massachusetts... and i'm still thrilled to the MAX on the HANKOOK's up front....
but hey, each to their own....
hope this helps somebody out there....
Dan P
Easley, SC
SPYD3R

​SO WHO DID YOU GET THEM FROM !!!!!!!!!!!.............THANK YOU - MIKE

 

[jcthorne]

Those Michelin HydroEdge tires have been out of production for a number of years. The tires you bought are already OLD. Tires only live 7 years. No matter if you use them or not. I would not go looking for old tires for my bike.

We sell, install and use on our own bikes the Yokohama S-Drive 205/55-15 its a near EXACT match in physical size to the OEM tire and MUCH better wet and dry road traction than the general use passenger car tires. The Yokos are high performance sports tires. These work very well on the Spyder. Yoko just released a tire that will fit the front as well so we are going to try a pair before recommending them. For the last couple years we have been recommending and installing the Continental ContiProContact for the front. Far better than the Kenda but we have high hopes for the Yoko performance tires up front.

 

[SPYD3R]

BROWNS

​SO WHO DID YOU GET THEM FROM !!!!!!!!!!!.............THANK YOU - MIKE

BROWN'S TIRE & MUFFLER
GREENVILLE, SC

he searched his 'tire website' and found a bunch in Taunton, Massachusetts... i have no idea of the warehouse name....
Dan

 

[fulltimer]

If you are asking me...........

I am getting the general off of Ebay for $68.99 frt. free.

As an RV'er I am well aware of the tire age concerns. Just have to hope these aren't left overs with too much age on them. Time wise, this last rear lasted me about a little less than 2 years.

I think I have several thousand miles left of the fronts so will not be looking for new tires there yet.

 

[Deanna777]

I am getting the general off of Ebay for $68.99 frt. free.

As an RV'er I am well aware of the tire age concerns. Just have to hope these aren't left overs with too much age on them. Time wise, this last rear lasted me about a little less than 2 years.

I think I have several thousand miles left of the fronts so will not be looking for new tires there yet.

I am running the General Altimax RT 43 on the rear of my 2014RTS-SE6 Size: 215/60 R15 @ 26psi. This is my 3 riding season with the General Altimax RT43, I have a lot of thread left. The spyder handles fantastic on dry, wet, roads. I do not hear any noise from the tire.

A lot of other spyder owners on this site are also running the General on there spyders. Deanna

 

[cyclekid58]

Car tire

I have seen many complaints about WET roads and Hydroplaning etc., especially with Car tires. If the rear tire pressure is lowered to 21 psi , the WET Grip of the tire will improve Greatly. ...........Mike :thumbup:

Orinally when the Altimax RT43 was put on the back of Deanna's spyder more than once you guys listed running it at 26lbs, what made you change that air pressure and how did you arrive at 21 lbs. Thus far I have had good luck with mine at 26 even in pouring wind driven rain but am certainly open to new things.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

CLARIFICATION

Orinally when the Altimax RT43 was put on the back of Deanna's spyder more than once you guys listed running it at 26lbs, what made you change that air pressure and how did you arrive at 21 lbs. Thus far I have had good luck with mine at 26 even in pouring wind driven rain but am certainly open to new things.

Correct info on this ..... I suggested to Deanna to use 21 psi ....... She chose to use 26 psi ..... Her basis for this is pure SWAG !!! ..... My basis is I went to school and received training to learn what works ...... Take your pick ... IMHO 21 psi with a car tire allows the tire to work closer to it's optimum considering the weight of the Spyder ..... Mike :thumbup:

 

[3whlLefty]

One more vote for the Atlimax

I'm in the Phoenix area and bought the General's from Discount Tire. They installed the fronts with no questions asked but could not balance them due to the small center hole. I'm running them as mounted with no issues so far.

I had the rear mounted at a local dealer, carried it in to them. They mounted and balanced for about $205. RideNow, the giant dealer in this area would not do the mounting. They run great!

I'm running 19 and 28 psi for now and plan to experiment with lower pressures. I like my tires to soak up part of those road bumps. I also want it to track thru the curves correctly.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

FRONT WHEELS

I'm in the Phoenix area and bought the General's from Discount Tire. They installed the fronts with no questions asked but could not balance them due to the small center hole. I'm running them as mounted with no issues so far.

I had the rear mounted at a local dealer, carried it in to them. They mounted and balanced for about $205. RideNow, the giant dealer in this area would not do the mounting. They run great!

I'm running 19 and 28 psi for now and plan to experiment with lower pressures. I like my tires to soak up part of those road bumps. I also want it to track thru the curves correctly.

Concerning what you said about front wheels .... The Spyder front wheels are similar to the Honda and can be spun balanced by the normal high speed balance machine at every tire shop I've ever used ( ie Hunter , Force etc. ) ....... and try 21psi in the rear ..... you will love it ...... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Vicspyder]

I use dynabeads in all my motorcycle tires. Much better than balancing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jcthorne]

Concerning what you said about front wheels .... The Spyder front wheels are similar to the Honda and can be spun balanced by the normal high speed balance machine at every tire shop I've ever used ( ie Hunter , Force etc. ) ....... and try 21psi in the rear ..... you will love it ...... Mike :thumbup:

The
latest edition Hunter balance machines that Discount Tire is buying do not come to the stores with a cone small enough to fit the Spyder front wheels. We bought one from Hunter and I take it with me when getting tires balanced for customers, IE I loan them my cone. We do a fair number of tire installs and the cone was not all that expensive.

 

[fulltimer]

Didn't exactly go as planned

I ordered and received a Altimax 605/60R15 and guess what. It was just narrow enough, we couldn't get it to seat on the rim. So down to Discount Tire we went and got a Yokohama 615/60R15 and it fits the rim just fine. It JUST fits in under the fender. It will be ok as the fender is part of the unsprung weight. I'll start at 22 PSI.

Anyone in the Phoenix area need a new 605/60R15 Altimax. I would be glad to sell it to you.:banghead:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

RIM SEATING

I ordered and received a Altimax 605/60R15 and guess what. It was just narrow enough, we couldn't get it to seat on the rim. So down to Discount Tire we went and got a Yokohama 615/60R15 and it fits the rim just fine. It JUST fits in under the fender. It will be ok as the fender is part of the unsprung weight. I'll start at 22 PSI.

Anyone in the Phoenix area need a new 605/60R15 Altimax. I would be glad to sell it to you.:banghead:

I find it hard to believe that tire ( 205/60R-15 ) would not - SEAT on the rim........ Others here have put 205's on the rear rim of Spyders without problems ....... I think it was the installer !!! :banghead::banghead::banghead: ......jmho....... Mike :thumbup:

 

[fulltimer]

I find it hard to believe that tire ( 205/60R-15 ) would not - SEAT on the rim........ Others here have put 205's on the rear rim of Spyders without problems ....... I think it was the installer !!! :banghead::banghead::banghead: ......jmho....... Mike :thumbup:

Can't agree there. I was out there tugging with them. It is just to narrow. But that 615 fit just fine.

 

[IGETAROUND]

advise re, tire wear

I'm in the Phoenix area and bought the General's from Discount Tire. They installed the fronts with no questions asked but could not balance them due to the small center hole. I'm running them as mounted with no issues so far.

I had the rear mounted at a local dealer, carried it in to them. They mounted and balanced for about $205. RideNow, the giant dealer in this area would not do the mounting. They run great!

I'm running 19 and 28 psi for now and plan to experiment with lower pressures. I like my tires to soak up part of those road bumps. I also want it to track thru the curves correctly.

3whlLefty,

Had the same problem when I replaced all three tires while in California visiting my sister. Bought three tires from Discount direct, made an appointment and they couldn't balance them because the center hole is too small.

Rode home ~ 3000 miles, absolutely no hop,bounce or imbalance issues. What I did find is that with 26 psi in the rear tire that my bike would hydro planning all over the road!!!!

When I reduced my rear tire pressure to 18 psi all of that went away!!!!!!!!!! This is my second Kumo Estaca (sp) that I've had on the back. I ran the first one @ 24-26 psi and was very unimpressed with it's wet road handling and traction.

As Peter and Blueknight911 have pointed out, ya have to let those sipes work, and the can't do their job properly at the higher pressures most people feel comfortable running.

I would guess that the rear tire has much less than 500 pounds pushing down on the road with just the bikes weight. The driver sits to the forward side of the rear tire so whatever poundage you contribute is not directly over the rear tire.

Just food for thought, but I will never go back to running above 20 psi in any of my Spyder tires!!! (Thanks for the catch Peter)

Al in Kazoo

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

INSTAL 205

Can't agree there. I was out there tugging with them. It is just to narrow. But that 615 fit just fine.

Well I just checked my records and back in 2012, I put a 205 / 60-15 General Altimax RT on my 2011 RSS which has the same size REAR WHEEL as every other Spyder ever made including yours ........ So I'm telling you it was THE INSTALLER .... Mike :thumbup:

 

[IGETAROUND]

balance cone

The
latest edition Hunter balance machines that Discount Tire is buying do not come to the stores with a cone small enough to fit the Spyder front wheels. We bought one from Hunter and I take it with me when getting tires balanced for customers, IE I loan them my cone. We do a fair number of tire installs and the cone was not all that expensive.

Jcthorne,

What size cone do you need and how much does it cost??? For as fast as these bikes run through tires might be a good investment.

Thanks,

Al in Kazoo

 

[Peter Aawen]

.....
Just food for thought, but I will never go back to running above 20 psi in any of my tires!!!

Al in Kazoo

Maybe you should qualify that a little Al - & never run more than 20psi in any of the (car) tires fitted to your Spyder!! (Not unless you weigh in at something over about 400lbs anyhow!) :shocked:

But when it comes to your car or truck, both of which might weigh in just a little heavier than your Spyder, now that might be a different matter! :thumbup: