General Altrimax 43 (wear)

[Wmoater]

Dad just traded his 14 RTL with 109,000. It was 3/4 all Arizona/ NM/ UTAH riding. He replaced his OEM rear tire at 7200 with the Altimax. He got roughly 32000 on the first one, 34000 on the second one and traded with his 3rd one on. He rides pretty much 2up all the time. I switched my rear at 7800 for an altrimax. I have 24000 on that tire right now and the “ment” is almost gone so it says “replace” which means time to change. I ride 2up exclusively only thing different is I ride a lot of tar chip roads. Almost every road in western pa and eastern Ohio is chipped. Dads is smooth blacktop out there. I have maybe 4000 left. Tread looks good, depth is still above the bar but getting down but the indicator says “replace.” I run it at 18-20 psi like dad. My wife is a bit heavier than mom but still combined we’re at 358 lbs. I have the front adjustable shocks from Baja Ron but dad ran stock. Mine are turned 2 times or 4 inches on front clearance. Not sure if that makes a difference. What would cause me to be 6-8000 shorter? The chipped roads? What is your average mileage on the altrimax 43 rear tire? I’m not complaining because it’s still 4 times longer than OEM. Still has great bite and doesn’t spin. I was on wet road yesterday and it never slipped even turning and heading up hill. Great tire not complaining just wondering why I didn’t get the 30000 plus like dads. Just curious what others are getting.

Both RTL’s by the way. His 14 mine 17.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Dad just traded his 15 RTL with 109,000. It was 3/4 all Arizona/ NM/ UTAH riding. He replaced his OEM rear tire at 7200 with the Altimax. He got roughly 32000 on the first one, 34000 on the second one and traded with his 3rd one on. He rides pretty much 2up all the time. I switched my rear at 7800 for an altrimax. I have 24000 on it right now and the “ment” is almost gone so it says “replace” which means time to change. I ride 2up exclusively only thing different is I ride a lot of tar chip roads. Almost every road in western pa and eastern Ohio is chipped. Dads is smooth blacktop out there. I have maybe 4000 left. Tread looks good, depth is still above the bar but getting down but the indicator says “replace.” I run it at 18-20 psi like dad. My wife is a bit heavier than mom but still combined we’re at 358 lbs. I have the front adjustable shocks from Baja Ron but dad ran stock. Mine are turned 2 times or 4 inches on front clearance. Not sure if that makes a difference. What would cause me to be 6-8000 shorter? The chipped roads? What is your average mileage on the altrimax 43 rear tire? I’m not complaining because it’s still 4 times longer than OEM. Still has great bite and doesn’t spin. I was on wet road yesterday and it never slipped even turning and heading up hill. Great tire not complaining just wondering why I didn’t get the 30000 plus like dads. Just curious what others are getting.

I have them on my front ( 14 RT ) and have a bit over 40,000 m the " wear " warning appeared about 4000 mi. ago, however After measuring the tread depth, I decided not to change them ..... I have new tires and plan to do it over the winter .... I think the WEAR warning is more a legal CYA then what is needed. .... Just my experience - do what you think is best ...... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Wmoater]

I have them on my front ( 14 RT ) and have a bit over 40,000 m the " wear " warning appeared about 4000 mi. ago, however After measuring the tread depth, I decided not to change them ..... I have new tires and plan to do it over the winter .... I think the WEAR warning is more a legal CYA then what is needed. .... Just my experience - do what you think is best ...... Mike :thumbup:

Fronts vs back are 2 different beasts. This is just me thinking out loud but average front is 2 times maybe 3 longer than rear. If that’s correct then 24000-28000 is within average. Hmmm interesting.

 

[JayBros]

I'm on my third Altimax and because of my sequences of long distance tours and wear of the existing tires I have replaced two of them early rather than needing a new one when out on the far side of beyond. That said, the first two would have been good for 20-24K miles the way I was riding at 24 psi. Current tire is running at 18 exclusively, is checked before every ride and am hoping for better life on it across the entire tread width. The hooligan factor decreases as I age too but it still rears its head occasionally.

 

[Lew L]

.

I changed out the OEM at around 6500 miles as it was worn out. Now have over 30k miles and will change it out this winter for another General Altimax.

Lew L

 

[2dogs]

I'm on my third Altimax and because of my sequences of long distance tours and wear of the existing tires I have replaced two of them early rather than needing a new one when out on the far side of beyond. That said, the first two would have been good for 20-24K miles the way I was riding at 24 psi. Current tire is running at 18 exclusively, is checked before every ride and am hoping for better life on it across the entire tread width. The hooligan factor decreases as I age too but it still rears its head occasionally.

Just ordered my second Altimax. Been running it at 18psi (cold) and the center logo just recently appeared. However, like you, I'm not down to the wear bars yet. I've noticed there's much more center wear at 18 so I'm going to drop 2psi on the new Altimax and see how the wear runs out. Going to have to triple check my air gagues and FOBO to make sure I'm comparing apples to apples.

 

[2dogs]

.

I changed out the OEM at around 6500 miles as it was worn out. Now have over 30k miles and will change it out this winter for another General Altimax.

Lew L

If you'd quit spinning hookers in the snow out in the driveway you might get 40k out'a that Altimax. And don't tell us you haven't done that cause I know you have.
:roflblack::roflblack:

 

[Wmoater]

Just ordered my second Altimax. Been running it at 18psi (cold) and the center logo just recently appeared. However, like you, I'm not down to the wear bars yet. I've noticed there's much more center wear at 18 so I'm going to drop 2psi on the new Altimax and see how the wear runs out. Going to have to triple check my air gagues and FOBO to make sure I'm comparing apples to apples.

So how many miles on first one?

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Fronts vs back are 2 different beasts. This is just me thinking out loud but average front is 2 times maybe 3 longer than rear. If that’s correct then 24000-28000 is within average. Hmmm interesting.

" 2 different beasts " :hun: .... they BOTH wear out .... just at different rate ...... My comment dealt with the BRAND ..... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Navydad]

Dad just traded his 14 RTL with 109,000. It was 3/4 all Arizona/ NM/ UTAH riding. He replaced his OEM rear tire at 7200 with the Altimax. He got roughly 32000 on the first one, 34000 on the second one and traded with his 3rd one on. He rides pretty much 2up all the time. I switched my rear at 7800 for an altrimax. I have 24000 on that tire right now and the “ment” is almost gone so it says “replace” which means time to change. I ride 2up exclusively only thing different is I ride a lot of tar chip roads. Almost every road in western pa and eastern Ohio is chipped. Dads is smooth blacktop out there. I have maybe 4000 left. Tread looks good, depth is still above the bar but getting down but the indicator says “replace.” I run it at 18-20 psi like dad. My wife is a bit heavier than mom but still combined we’re at 358 lbs. I have the front adjustable shocks from Baja Ron but dad ran stock. Mine are turned 2 times or 4 inches on front clearance. Not sure if that makes a difference. What would cause me to be 6-8000 shorter? The chipped roads? What is your average mileage on the altrimax 43 rear tire? I’m not complaining because it’s still 4 times longer than OEM. Still has great bite and doesn’t spin. I was on wet road yesterday and it never slipped even turning and heading up hill. Great tire not complaining just wondering why I didn’t get the 30000 plus like dads. Just curious what others are getting.

Both RTL’s by the way. His 14 mine 17.

I also ride primarily two up on lots of nice twisty eastern Ohio roads and have the shock adjusters. Our combined weight is a bit less than yours. I got 27,000 out of the first Altimax and the second is wearing same as the first. I run 18 PSI in all three tires. You didn't mention how aggressively you ride, but I have Nanny intervening quite often. Your mileage is pretty much the same as mine so I would say a lot of it is due to the road conditions we encounter. At about 24 or 25,000 I noticed my wet weather traction wasn't as good even though the "replacement" indicator was showing all was still well. I rode it until it indicated replacement at 27,000. I'd say your right on target for this area.

 

[Peter Aawen]

....... What would cause me to be 6-8000 shorter? The chipped roads? What is your average mileage on the altrimax 43 rear tire? I’m not complaining because it’s still 4 times longer than OEM. Still has great bite and doesn’t spin. I was on wet road yesterday and it never slipped even turning and heading up hill. Great tire not complaining just wondering why I didn’t get the 30000 plus like dads. Just curious what others are getting.

Both RTL’s by the way. His 14 mine 17.

The chipped roads are almost certainly contributing to a slightly faster wear rate...... but so could your average speed; the top speed you ever reach; the ambient temps you ride in; the road temps you ride on; loads you carry, even if just a little differently arranged; the way your front shocks have been adjusted; the way your rear shock/spring has worn; the actual (exact) tire pressures you run while riding; how often you check and 'correct' your tire pressures; how often you adjust your tire pressures for changes in load &/or ambient & road surface temps; how much more than about 4psi your tire pressure does increase (or even worse, does not increase!!) during your first hour of riding; how fast you accelerate; how gentle/hard you brake; how aggressively (or not?) you corner; how old your tire was when it was first fitted; the conditions your tires were stored in before they were fitted; how often you corner; how smooth the roads you ride on are; how damp the roads you ride on get; how much you move around on the seat while you ride; where you sit on the seat; the position of your upper body, your stance, & your weight distribution as you ride; same for your pillion; how many bugs your tires hit while you ride;..... and the list goes on and on and on, devolving into all sorts of seemingly pointless but 'having some effect' minutae!!

I hope that you can begin to see that in terms of the exact rate of tire wear & therefore tread life, there are so many variables
which may make a difference in your tire's tread life that....

any DIRECT comparison of tread life between any two riders/machines/tires outside of rigidly controlled test conditions
is pretty much as pointless as :bdh: -


At best, tire testing & wear rates provide a basis for broad brush comparisons, but if there's any major or even 'minor but significant differences' in any of the applicable variables, all bets are pretty much off!! :shocked: And since you already know that the tire you are running now at the pressure you are running it at is lasting SIGNIFICANTLY longer than the OE Spec tire; plus I'd expect that you are also feeling more comfortable & likely safer on it too, why over-think it all & worry about what is effectively such a minor difference that it might or even could be due to something as simple as how much you ate before you climbed aboard, or maybe it was the surface temp & make up of the roads you ride on?? :dontknow:

Just enjoy the improvement you've got over the OE spec tires, and Ryde More, Worry Less! hyea:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

As Peter says, experience can vary widely. I've only run one Altimax on my 2014 RT. I got only about 18000 miles from it. Replaced it with a Cooper Grand Touring that has only about 10k on it so don't have any idea yet how well it's going to hold up.

 

[2dogs]

So how many miles on first one?

25K +/= a couple 100, and I expect to get another 5k before I get to the wear bars. Then I'll put the new one on.

 

[2dogs]

As Peter says, experience can vary widely. I've only run one Altimax on my 2014 RT. I got only about 18000 miles from it. Replaced it with a Cooper Grand Touring that has only about 10k on it so don't have any idea yet how well it's going to hold up.

Is your ECU stock?

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Is your ECU stock?

Yes it is.

 

[Lew L]

If you'd quit spinning hookers in the snow out in the driveway you might get 40k out'a that Altimax. And don't tell us you haven't done that cause I know you have.
:roflblack::roflblack:

Yes, yes I have------- With a flashed ECU it's easier than you thinknojoke

 

[Mikey]

Yes, yes I have------- With a flashed ECU it's easier than you thinknojoke

How's Nanny like that????:2thumbs:

 

[Lew L]

How's Nanny like that????:2thumbs:

Actually keeping the handle bars straight delays her intervention a bit.

 

[shakin_jake]

~~~Peter’s right, too many variables as to why you aren’t getting the mileage out of the same rear tire as a your Father gets, though I think the one variable you mentioned (chip seal roads) is plausible as a negating factor. After I sold my pan euro Honda (ST1100) I wanted a lighter touring platform, & went to a honda Silverwing scooter, attracted by not only its lack of heft, it also had goodLD potential so i outfitted it as such. Anyways, there was a guy on the yahoo Swing forum w/tons of LD cred who also got high mileage from his tires. Can’t remember his name but i do remember him crediting his high tire mileage to a few things, one of which he boasted that when exiting an interstate he swore he almost never braked before coming to a stop at the end of the off ramp. We know he had to squeeze the brake lever at some point but you catch the drift. IOW, he no make with the brake. Rather, he slaked off the throttle and let wind resistance slow him

I can’t ride that way. In fact, I’m just the opposite (L8br8kr). To my way of thinking , tires are generally an inexpensive item to replace. That said, ive always supplied the labor so any tire cost is paying for the tire to my door, and often X’s shipping was included, but your concern here if I’m not mistaken is why you aren’t getting the mileage that your Father is getting. Like Peter said, there’s too many variables to consider

When the time comes, I’d like to give the Kenda Kanines a whirl before I go dark side yet w/all the supply problems we hear about, ill end up taking what i can get


Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

 

[Deanna777]

I change the OEM at 5,824 miles to General Altimax RT 43, size 215/60R15 @ 26psi in June 2015.


The 2nd General Altimax RT 43 tire (rear) was changed 24,553 miles, in 4/11/2019.

My current spyder mileage is 29,123.

Deanna