Got a screw in the tread - Repair or replace the front tire(s)?

[Donnieshacks]

After pulling into a parking spot to meet a friend for lunch, some guy told me I have a nail in my front tire. Sure enough, there's a screw in it. Annoying. I rode it around another 10 miles or so because it doesn't seem to be losing air. Anyway, I bought a plug kit on the way home but didn't use it yet. The screw is in the center of the tread, about 1.5" from the sidewall. Original Kendas, 2880 miles. Seems to ride fine as in no pulling to either side. I do notice the front of the bike (most noticeable looking at the top of the windshield) seems to rock side to side when cruising. I had a 2018 RTL and don't remember this.

Wasn't planning on new front tires yet but thinking about it now that I might be plugging one of the fronts, I do notice that tire looks a little more worn on the inside edge than the other tire. I would assume that's more alignment, but I can't really feel an issue. Seems to track fine.

So... opinions please on to plug and keep both Kendas, or to replace them both with car tires. I do not see the Quads in the stock size. I do see Continentals in (I think 165/65/R15 on Amazon). Was considering them if I decide to go that route. Thanks!

 

[Cobwebs]

It would be a sheer fluke if it came from the factory correctly aligned, that would be my first task.

 

[Peter Aawen]

:agree: So get that sorted ASAP, and if you need to ride on a plugged tire in the (short!) interim, do so with care!!
:lecturef_smilie: We KNOW these Kendas don't have much strength in their construction, and even if it hasn't actually caused a real 'puncture' yet, a screw into the tread will most likely have introduced some air & moisture into the tread plies and belts, so they ARE now deteriorating further, probably quite rapidly if you've driven in the wet or thru a puddle/patch of water since that screw went in. And that means you're now not only riding on what's arguably one of the weakest tires around for any vehicle like ours (or any auto, for that matter! ) but it's also deteriorating further, basically rotting from the inside out, so you risk a sudden catastrophic failure when you least expect it! :yikes:

So get the wheel alignment sorted ASAP, then replace both the fronts with new, better quality auto tires & run them at a better (lower) pressure for the lighter load of a Spyder over that of a car. And unless your local Authorities stipulate otherwise, you don't really need to restrict yourself to ONLY the nominal size printed on the sidewall, you should be readily able to increase the width &/or profile one size or so with impunity! There are quite a few people out there in Spyder world running 175/65R15's up front with NO issues; plus some even running 185/50's or 45's with little issue, altho personally, I chose to stick with 175/60R15's! Mind you, here in Oz we can legally & without issue fit anything that is within the various State's guidelines & rules size wise just so long as it meets or exceeds the OEM Tires load & speed specification, and AFAIK, there's nothing manufactured in a viable size for our Spyders that doesn't beat the specs of the Kendas with ease! :thumbup:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

IMHO if it was an Auto tire I'd just have a patch " Vulcanized " inside the carcass ....But a Crapenda , :agree: ... Kenda's tire construction is Marginal at best. .... don't risk it .... Mike

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Take it to a tire shop and have them put a boot or patch in it. Don't trust a plug as a long term fix. With only 2880 miles you might as well get as many miles as reasonable out of them before replacing.

 

[2dogs]

I kinda go with BK and Idaho. Get the inside vulcanized patched ASAP. Keep an eye on it like with a FOBO and run it out if possible. If we were closer I'd give you a good OEM tire to have as a backup. But NY is a long way from CA. Good luck.

 

[Mikey]

A alignment would be a good thing to do, but it would not be a priority in my book. Doing something about that tire would be first. The front tires on that bike can be serviced by most tire shops, if you want to patch it I would have it broke down and patched from the inside. As far as your tire wear, it is the nature of the beast, these things will wear like you say no matter how well your front end is aligned. Good luck!!

 

[K80Shooter]

The 1st thing that I would do is to mix some water & dish detergent together and check for a leak while moving the screw around with a screwdriver or something similar.

Youd be surprised how many times that whatever is in the tire does not completely puncture it.

Also I agree with BK and others, get it repaired properly and not with a plug. Odds are with a plug it will eventually start leaking.

As for me, I replaced my front Kendas at 3,000 miles just because I wanted too and not that they were worn out.

 

[baxter]

Keep it simple, cheap and easy. Plug it and go.

 

[2dogs]

Keep it simple, cheap and easy. Plug it and go.

I respectfully disagree baxter. OEM tires seem to be, from many posts on this site, lacking the internal construction to safely and securely hold a plug. I've patched numerous trailer tires and had more success with strips than plugs. Plugs failed more often than the strips. Most of my experiences have been in off highway and in backcountry situations where options were limited. Once back in civilization, damaged tires were properly repaired with internal vulcanized patches. Plugs and strips are meant only as a temporary fix and not a permanent solution.

 

[chipveres]

+1 for patch it from the inside.

 

[Bfromla]

Soapy water test, look for bubbles, maybe you got lucky & can remove without further damage. If it's closer to the sidewall, most tire shops will not touch, if they think it is. Especially if you mention anything motorcycle. (Hopefully they won’t read the tire)

(Locally anyway) park the Spyder take tire off & good luck. Hopefully whoever even has the newer plug/patch combo

.

If is actually punctured opcorn: good luck

 

[Cobwebs]

A alignment would be a good thing to do, but it would not be a priority in my book. Doing something about that tire would be first. The front tires on that bike can be serviced by most tire shops, if you want to patch it I would have it broke down and patched from the inside. As far as your tire wear, it is the nature of the beast, these things will wear like you say no matter how well your front end is aligned. Good luck!!

Not my experience and I've saved a few now by correcting the alignment. If he's putting new tyres on and wants to correct the side to side rocking he's experiencing without adding to it by screwing up those new tyres from day one, then an alignment is necessary.

 

[Donnieshacks]

I like my new to me Spyder and am already doing mods to my liking. Birthday is coming up on Saturday and I feel like treating myself... not that I ever need a reason. Would 175/55/r15s work? I see them in the Quatracs on Tire Rack. They only have 1 in stock of 165/60/ 15. Thanks! Btw- I do not want the shim anything and do anything to fit these. Otherwise, I can get 165/65/15s Continentals from Amazon now.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I like my new to me Spyder and am already doing mods to my liking. Birthday is coming up on Saturday and I feel like treating myself... not that I ever need a reason. Would 175/55/r15s work? I see them in the Quatracs on Tire Rack. They only have 1 in stock of 165/60/ 15. Thanks! Btw- I do not want the shim anything and do anything to fit these. Otherwise, I can get 165/65/15s Continentals from Amazon now.

Hi, I'm the one who discovered the Vredestein tires ..... I have been recommending them for a few years now ... they are a Great tire .... I have many thousands of miles on various Spyders ( no Rykers yet :dontknow ... Normally wider tires will allow Higher " G " forces in the twistie's .... however the VSS system in our Spyders will not allow " G " forces above what's programmed into it. .... I recommend the 165/60- 15 size, because it will perform equally to the 175/55- 15's as far as traction goes , and they will be a hair better in the wet .... good luck ... Mike ...... and PS the 165's are less money :roflblack:

 

[Donnieshacks]

Hi, I'm the one who discovered the Vredestein tires ..... I have been recommending them for a few years now ... they are a Great tire .... I have many thousands of miles on various Spyders ( no Rykers yet :dontknow ... Normally wider tires will allow Higher " G " forces in the twistie's .... however the VSS system in our Spyders will not allow " G " forces above what's programmed into it. .... I recommend the 165/60- 15 size, because it will perform equally to the 175/55- 15's as far as traction goes , and they will be a hair better in the wet .... good luck ... Mike ...... and PS the 165's are less money :roflblack:

There's only 1 left in that size. The rest are coming late July. TR has 175/5515 now in stock. That's why I asked. I'd like to get a pair of new tires. Just wanna make sure the 175s will fit my 2019 RTL without rubbing or having to modify anything.

 

[Peter Aawen]

There's only 1 left in that size. The rest are coming late July. TR has 175/5515 now in stock. That's why I asked. I'd like to get a pair of new tires. Just wanna make sure the 175s will fit my 2019 RTL without rubbing or having to modify anything.

They should fit! :thumbup:

Admittedly, they're not Vredesteins (only cos they're bloody hard to get here in Oz! ) but I'm currently running a pair of 'largish' 175/60R15 Kumho's on the front of my Spyder without any issue or shims; altho to be absolutely up front about it, quite a while back, I did replace the OEM raised Hex Head screws that hold the Fenders & Fender Skirts onto the tubular fender supports with flatter, lower profile Pan Head screws that don't project into the wheel space at all, just to be sure to be sure that the raised hex heads that projected out into the wheel space about 10mm didn't ever touch the tires. hyea:

That said, they never really did touch any of the range of 175's that I've run up front, but back then I was still occasionally testing a variety of tires & sizes for a few organisations so I really needed to be sure that I wouldn't be adversely affecting anyone else's tires/property while I was running them on my bike!

 

[EdMat]

There's only 1 left in that size. The rest are coming late July. TR has 175/5515 now in stock. That's why I asked. I'd like to get a pair of new tires. Just wanna make sure the 175s will fit my 2019 RTL without rubbing or having to modify anything.

I am currently running 175/55R-15 Q5's on the front of my 2019 RTL. Love them. 34,000 + miles on them.

 

[WRCLVR]

I am currently running 175/55R-15 Q5's on the front of my 2019 RTL. Love them. 34,000 + miles on them.

Did you have to do any mods to the fender holding screws for clearance purposes? I will be replacing fronts this summer and would love to know. Dont mind refitting with pan head bolts to gain clearance tho....

BTW i have same year bike in Phoenix Orange dark edition...what an awesome colour !!! too bad CanAm doesnt put that on the newer S2S

 

[blacklightning]

Only you can determine what to do. As for me, I would check with soapy water to determine if it actually went through the tire. Hopefully it didn't. If it did, I would try a plug. I have plugged more tires than I can even count. No issues with any of them. If I did decide to remove the tire and patch it, I would probably just go ahead and replace the tire with a new one.