Any feedback on Kanines after 2 years?

[Martin Slovakia]

The bigger question is, do you have a source for the Kenda Kanines?

Yes Martin The Vlogger i have them but they are expensive as cocaine Of course I just assume its expensive

 

[Martin Slovakia]

I recently resurrected a thread discussing the “then new”, Kenda Kanines, to see how riders were finding them. Unfortunately, that has created confusion as members are responding to some of the 2 year old posts without realising, for which I apologise……I’ll ask the question in this new thread……

Those of you who have been running the Kanines for while, how are you finding them in terms of wet/dry grip, ride comfort, longevity etc. I had the Kanines on the front for 12 months until I replaced them with higher aspect aftermarkets to get a little more road clearance, and they performed very well for me. However, I now want to upgrade from the questionable OEM Kenda on the rear. I am unwilling to remove the rear myself, and my trusted mech (10 hour round trip) won’t mount aftermarkets due to potential liabilities (he’s a very small shop).

If the general feedback is good on Kanines on the rear, I’ll look at getting him to mount one. If the feedback is not so good, I’ll keep looking for someone who will mount an aftermarket. I believe Askitee may have found someone, and he is relatively close to me.

I would also be very interested to know if those using aftermarkets find they provide better cushioning on rougher roads than the Kenda Kanines (or Radials) thinner sidewalls. From my perspective, the aftermarkets appear to offer better cushioning, but that may simply be the effect of increasing the shock preload. I’d be interested in others experiences.

Many thanks for any feedback:thumbup:

Pete

If I may say some point of view from my side.
1 - I run Kenda Kanine KR20 and I like them. Far from perfect, but wet, dry its all fine for me. plus their design its very catchy
As for pure grip, i play around pressure, to get the best out from them.
2 - In Germany people like to use... hmmm.. Nankang NS whatever it is.. they run it a lot on many spyders, but its semyslick and it has much better traction, however I would never run it as I like to ride when sky is falling down on me
3 - Kumho... never ever ever ever again.. good in dry, terrible in wet
4 - My most favourite aftermarket was toyo t1r but they stop to make simetrical tire and assimetrical is nono for me.. not that you cannot use it.. its doable, but i would get nuts seing my tire not simetrical
that is it from my imput,.
have an awesome day guys
m.

 

[BajaRon]

If I may say some point of view from my side.
1 - I run Kenda Kanine KR20 and I like them. Far from perfect, but wet, dry its all fine for me. plus their design its very catchy
As for pure grip, i play around pressure, to get the best out from them.
2 - In Germany people like to use... hmmm.. Nankang NS whatever it is.. they run it a lot on many spyders, but its semyslick and it has much better traction, however I would never run it as I like to ride when sky is falling down on me
3 - Kumho... never ever ever ever again.. good in dry, terrible in wet
4 - My most favourite aftermarket was toyo t1r but they stop to make simetrical tire and assimetrical is nono for me.. not that you cannot use it.. its doable, but i would get nuts seing my tire not simetrical
that is it from my imput,.
have an awesome day guys
m.

Thank you for the feedback. I agree with the comments on the Kumo. Fair weather riders love the Kumo. But if it gets wet at all, that is not a great tire.

I also agree that the Toyo TR1 was a GREAT tire! But alas, they quit making that one.

 

[Isopedella]

Wow.
Is that the KU31 Solus or the brand generally you are referring to?

Seems to work on all our local road surfaces here (vastly different from the US I guess) in all weathers, where it rains a lot.
While there are fair weather riders about the place I am not one of them. Ridden in everything except snow.

 

[BajaRon]

Wow.
Is that the KU31 Solus or the brand generally you are referring to?

Seems to work on all our local road surfaces here (vastly different from the US I guess) in all weathers, where it rains a lot.
While there are fair weather riders about the place I am not one of them. Ridden in everything except snow.

The only Kumo that comes in the original rear tire size 225/50R15 is the ECSTA AST. The Kumo Solus comes in a TA11 and TA31 version here in the states. They may be better than the ECSTA AST. But do not come in the OEM tire size, though they will fit the rear of the Spyder. However, the Solus does not test well against the Veredistein Quatrac or General Altimax options.

 

[Isopedella]

Ah. Ta. I have the TA31's the front only. OEM on the rear and it can be a little slippery under throttle so far.

Found the link to that tyre chart. Thanks. I will have to study it and compare with what's available down here.

 

[Peteoz]

If I may say some point of view from my side.
1 - I run Kenda Kanine KR20 and I like them. Far from perfect, but wet, dry its all fine for me. plus their design its very catchy
As for pure grip, i play around pressure, to get the best out from them.
2 - In Germany people like to use... hmmm.. Nankang NS whatever it is.. they run it a lot on many spyders, but its semyslick and it has much better traction, however I would never run it as I like to ride when sky is falling down on me
3 - Kumho... never ever ever ever again.. good in dry, terrible in wet
4 - My most favourite aftermarket was toyo t1r but they stop to make simetrical tire and assimetrical is nono for me.. not that you cannot use it.. its doable, but i would get nuts seing my tire not simetrical
that is it from my imput,.
have an awesome day guys
m.

Thanks very much for the feedback, Martin. It is much appreciated and very helpful. :thumbup:

Just as an aside, the Kuhmo Ecsta and Solus both perform very well in the wet out here in Oz and NZ. It is interesting that they aren’t great on European roads in the wet, as well as US roads. I ride in the rain, and never had an issue when I had the front and rear Kuhmo Ecsta on my previous F3.

I am definitely leaning toward an aftermarket rear tyre as I am more of a cruiser these days and our roads are shocking, so anything that absorbs that better is the way to go for me, and the aftermarkets do appear to be more forgiving over those poor roads. However, the Kanine appears to perform pretty well too, based on general feedback. So the decision will come down to whether I feel up to pulling the rear wheel myself. If I do, it’s aftermarket……if I don’t, it’s Kanine.

Pete

 

[Peteoz]

Found the link to that tyre chart. Thanks. I will have to study it and compare with what's available down here.

Unfortunately, you will find yourself getting frustrated with that tyre chart, Iso... so few (if any) of those tyres are available in Spyder sizes out here... and I imagine NZ would be much the same.

Pete

 

[Isopedella]

:gaah:

 

[CopperSpyder]

Kenda Kanine K20 @ 20PSI front & 26PSI rear

 

[BajaRon]

Kenda Kanine K20 @ 20PSI front & 26PSI rear

How are you liking those? Been wanting to put some on and see how they go myself. So far, mixed reviews on wear and mileage at the rear.

 

[CopperSpyder]

I have about 8K on them now, they have been really good so far. They are on a 2012 RTL; they were much better than OEM tires; and much better in the corners (sticky tires I call them). I like them and will get another set when needed.

 

[BajaRon]

I have about 8K on them now, they have been really good so far. They are on a 2012 RTL; they were much better than OEM tires; and much better in the corners (sticky tires I call them). I like them and will get another set when needed.

At 8K, you should be getting a good idea as to whether the rear is wearing in the middle (like OEM) or not.

 

[Jackhartjr]

Personally, I wouldn't have any Kenda on my Spyder! When I put the Vredesteins on the front of 2 different Spyders, and the ride changed by 100 percent, I was DONE with Kendas! We already know that the sidewall composition on the Kanines is the same as the crap Kendas that came on our Spyders, why think the tire is better?

 

[safecracker]

I have 29,000 miles on the "Kanines" up front. I just received after market tires to replace them, as they are almost worn out. I run 18 lbs in them. I have a Kumo Ecsta on the rear. It was installed by previous owner at 15,500 miles and it has a couple of thousand miles left, I run it at 20lbs.

 

[BajaRon]

Personally, I wouldn't have any Kenda on my Spyder! When I put the Vredesteins on the front of 2 different Spyders, and the ride changed by 100 percent, I was DONE with Kendas! We already know that the sidewall composition on the Kanines is the same as the crap Kendas that came on our Spyders, why think the tire is better?

I hear you. Right now I don't think you can beat the Vredestein tires on the front. And Kenda doesn't have to make a junk tire. They made the Spyder OEM tire to BRP's specs. When the patent ran out Kenda decided to make their own. I think there is no question that the Kanine is superior to the OEM Kenda. Though frankly, that's not saying much. But I'm always looking for other viable options I can offer the customer and I'm not all that happy with the Kumho rear tire. It's a decent tire and we carry it. But it's not a great tire. Still, it's the only decent aftermarket tire that we've found which comes in the OEM dimensions.

If the Kanine rear tire doesn't wear in the middle, then I would offer it to customers if I were happy with wet & dry traction.

 

[Tango]

The Chinese seem to be flooding the U.S. market with car and truck tires with so many different names. All made in China. Poor quality construction, less over sight on quality. And poorer quality rubber product. Prices are great. But you get what you pay for. :thumbup: Tom :spyder:

 

[Peteoz]

If you don’t have a sympathetic dealer who will install aftermarket tyres, and you can’t/won’t do it yourself, then the Kanines are a great alternative. I’m running Goodyears on the front and a Kanine on the back, and the Kanine looks fairly pristine after 15,000kms, with zero handling issues in either wet or dry..:thumbup:

Pete

 

[bikerbillone]

I am one of those located where dealers will only install Kendas. From what I'm hearing about Kanines, they are a step above the OEM Kenda's, so they will have to do the job. Good words from Ron. No mountain roads in Florida, and I'm not an aggressive rider, I think it will all work out.

 

[Little Blue]

My local Spyder Dealer only offers the Kenda tires. So I had to go with it. They had the 'Improved' Kenda so I went with that model.

Well, to my surprise it has been a little better tire for me. I currently have 5,000 miles on the tire. It seems to be wearing somewhat better. Time will tell for sure.