Does my rear tire need replacing?

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

:banghead::banghead: ……… Harley Davidson has Car tires on their Trikes from the FACTORY ……. THERE IS NO CERTIFICATION by anyone to use them ………. not the NHTSA ...not DOT ….not EPA or any other regulatory body …...

I expect if you were to look in the Tire and Rim Association Yearbook you would find a cross correlation between rims and tires that HD states (certifies?) are suitable to be used on their trikes. This page states the subject wheels are for trikes: https://www.harley-davidson.com/store/-pa-19-40900070--1

Tire and rim combinations is a case of where NHTSA, in cooperation with the TRA, has developed specifications of performance and fit but the manufacturers themselves are the ones who say such and such a combination meets those requirements. I agree, NHTSA itself does not certify, or verify, the suitability of specific tire and rim combinations for specific vehicles. I've tried to make that clear.

I guess I should never have used the term "certify" when in fact I meant "verify", "attest to", "declare", "state", etc. I'm using the term certify in a wider sense not limited to a role of a regulatory body.

 

[UtahPete]

There are dealers who say Kenda is the ONLY tire acceptable for the Spyder. There are dealers who tell customers that they will lose their franchise if they install ANY tire brand other than Kendas. There are dealers who say the warranty is void if any other tires except Kendas are installed. There are dealers who say any tires except Kendas will upset nanny. I have personally heard all the above from more that one dealer. And, all the above are completely false. Responsibility for spreading all this erroneous information falls squarely upon BRP. All BRP need to do is tell their dealers that it is OK to substitute other tire brands that meet or exceed their tire specification. The law allows this. (See Moss-Magnuson Act.) But will they, Nooooooo. They are too entrenched with doing business with Kenda. Charging WAY too much for INFERIOR tires. I spent the better part of a year trying to get my bike to handle correctly. I did lots of upgrades, went through two rear Kenda tires and still my bike was unsafe. And I mean it was downright scary at any speed over 65 MPH. Finally got rid of all 3 Kendas and now I have a ride I can enjoy. Do I sound angry? You bet I am. Turns out my front tires, while looking fine, actually had tread separation all along. Riding a bike with dangerous tires put me at risk and all BRP had to do is come clean and admit there are considerable problems with their choice of tires. Not all the Kendas are bad. But mine were. Rant over.....

I think it's safe to say the Kendas are good, safe tires that are designed for the way Spyders are meant to be driven. BUT, the rear tire in particular has 1/2 the service life of the fronts and is the most likely to be replaced by a car tire when it wears out.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

OMG

I expect if you were to look in the Tire and Rim Association Yearbook you would find a cross correlation between rims and tires that HD states (certifies?) are suitable to be used on their trikes. This page states the subject wheels are for trikes: https://www.harley-davidson.com/store/-pa-19-40900070--1

Tire and rim combinations is a case of where NHTSA, in cooperation with the TRA, has developed specifications of performance and fit but the manufacturers themselves are the ones who say such and such a combination meets those requirements. I agree, NHTSA itself does not certify, or verify, the suitability of specific tire and rim combinations for specific vehicles. I've tried to make that clear.

I guess I should never have used the term "certify" when in fact I meant "verify", "attest to", "declare", "state", etc. I'm using the term certify in a wider sense not limited to a role of a regulatory body.

Are Trikes " MOTORCYCLES " or something else ??? … My whole point in this discussion was to clarify that BRP is throwing a lot of HOOEY about the Spyder tire - wheel thing. They actually have NO FACTS to back up THEIR claims and HD is living proof of that.....Question - how can one manufacturer claim one thing and another ( ie HD ) do exactly the opposite and sell their product Legally....You seem to deny that Gov't is in the Verbiage business to make things so Obscure that no one really understands what the regs are ….. Have you ever called the IRS, ask the same question of ten different agents and I'll bet you get 7 different answers...…….. :thumbup:

 

[Deanna777]

I changed the rear tire(OEM) at 5,824 miles. It was not safe to drive, so I am running a General Altimax RT 43. I know have 18,588 miles on the General Altimax Tire.

Deanna

 

[ARtraveler]

Are Trikes " MOTORCYCLES " or something else ??? … My whole point in this discussion was to clarify that BRP is throwing a lot of HOOEY about the Spyder tire - wheel thing. They actually have NO FACTS to back up THEIR claims and HD is living proof of that.....Question - how can one manufacturer claim one thing and another ( ie HD ) do exactly the opposite and sell their product Legally....You seem to deny that Gov't is in the Verbiage business to make things so Obscure that no one really understands what the regs are ….. Have you ever called the IRS, ask the same question of ten different agents and I'll bet you get 7 different answers...…….. :thumbup:

I am betting 10 different answers. :thumbup:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

They actually have NO FACTS to back up THEIR claims and HD is living proof of that.....Question - how can one manufacturer claim one thing and another ( ie HD ) do exactly the opposite and sell their product Legally....

Straight from the owner's manual.

The tires have been specifically designed
for the Spyder roadster. Use
only the BRP recommended tires,
which can be ordered only from an
authorized Can-Am roadster dealer.

The only way you can unequivocally say they have no facts is to see and read all the documents related to this part of the Spyder design process. I'm sure you know you'll never get to do that! Maybe, like you said earlier, it is all based on $ $ $, but we probably will never be able to learn if that is the case! They might make some sort of argument that H-D trike wheels travel only in a straight line whereas Spyder tires are used for steering. It probably would be a pretty tenuous argument. In fact they may have at best a tenuous argument why we should only use the OEM tires. Regardless of how strong or weak that argument is, we will probably never see or hear it. I have never seen any documentation of any sort where BRP, as a corporation, has said using car tires is dangerous and must not be done. Have you? The statement above is about as restrictive as they can be without running afoul of the Moss-Magnuson Act.

The upshot is BRP makes the statement quoted above and that is what they are going to stand by. They have no obligation, legally, morally, or otherwise, to make a determination that "P" marked tires are good to use on the Spyder. What we as owners have is tens of thousands of miles of positive experience using car tires with no failures that can be attributed to using car tires.

And you're right, Government regs are often interpreted incorrectly, or differently. Most of the time that is because reading and understanding regs can be just plain tough! I know, I've read many, enforced many, and even written some!