Kenda tires - I don't quite understand why everyone has a huge dislike to Kenda tires. I have over 22,000 km on all three of my Kenda tires and still have 50% tread left. I run 26 psi rear and 20 psi front, no cupping, and no center wear on rear. Sorry, just my finding. I'm not a new rider either, I've been on two wheels for over 60 years, and on three wheels for the past 3 years.
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Kenda tires - I truly don't understand the hateful responses to Kenda tires. I have over 22,000 km on mine and they're only 50% worn.
- Thread starter Jimhunt
- Start date
BajaRon
Well-known member
That, frankly, is incredible. Not surprising for the fronts. They should last you about 25k (40,000 km). Most get around 9k miles (15,000 km or so) from the rear tire, and I never saw one that did not wear in the middle.
Another sign of a good tire is how much weight it takes to balance it. Typically, Kenda OEM tires take a lot of weight. And they are not always round, a fatal flaw that cannot be corrected without a truing machine.
I just pulled a few rear Kenda's from our pile.
Another sign of a good tire is how much weight it takes to balance it. Typically, Kenda OEM tires take a lot of weight. And they are not always round, a fatal flaw that cannot be corrected without a truing machine.
I just pulled a few rear Kenda's from our pile.
TheMariner
Active member
It's not just the way they wear that makes car tyres attractive, it's also the way your Spyder handles sooooo much better when car tyres are used.
The right pressure in car tyres for Spyders is around 18psi.
The right pressure in car tyres for Spyders is around 18psi.
I guess maybe because I treat my Spyder as a touring machine and not a dragster or racer that it was never intended to be. I've been on sport bikes a lot in my life, so I do appreciate a good tire that I can trust in a high speed lean angle. My RTS does what it needs to do - Tour! Thanks for the pictures, Ron. I do appreciate your knowledge of these machines.
Bfromla
Well-known member
Don’t have to attempt to be a dragster, nothing stops the (rear) wear in middle. Usually at any psi that keeps them round. I managed 15k on my first, with nothing but lazy casual ryding on a majority of crap roads (Louisiana) at that. I won’t say I “hate” Kens, there's just definitely better options available & for what the SPYDERS are, they should by all means have better. From the get go! If the factory just needed something on there to help them roll, test & deliver, then Ok, swap them before giving the Spyder to the customer.
Mikey
Well-known member
It may have something to do with the construction of the roads you're running on also; not all roads are made with the same produce the same way, like sandpaper! Just sayin! But by all means you're doing really well with your back tire if you're at 50%, good job!!!
Monk/Bob
New member
It may have something to do with the construction of the roads you're running on also; not all roads are made with the same produce the same way, like sandpaper! Just sayin! But by all means you're doing really well with your back tire if you're at 50%, good job!!!
I think you hit a home run with that comment! The mountain roads in Arkansas have a lot of chip and seal, that will eat your tires up in no time.
BryanSD
Member
I didn't get more than 9,000 miles on the rear Kenda OEM tires but I've been extremely pleased with the Kenda KR20 Kanine. I got around 14,000 miles on my first rear KR20 before I needed to replace it. What I've noticed about the Kenda tires, maybe why some people dislike them so much, is the tread wear is linear and they're hard to predict end of life. I thought I would have all summer before my rear needed replaced and within a 1000 mile trip to/in/from the Black Hills I had a rapid deterioration. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it home.
ulflyer
Active member
While getting a new rear rotor and pads put on at BajaRon's shop a month ago, it seemed prudent to get a new rear tire as the General R45 prob only had another 6-8K left on it. I had already gone approx 18-20K. I liked the General a lot but for no reason other then to try something new I had the Shop put on the KR20 Kanine. When we left Greenville to head back to central N.C., it dumped big time half way home. I was really glad I had new rubber! Probably not a valid assumption, but it seems to provide a slightly softer ride than the General. Being an easy rider, that is what I like, rather than harder ride and longer milage on a tire.
LongIsland
Active member
I have to ask what does "dumped big time" mean?
Could price have something to do with it? I think I read somewhere the Kendas are more expensive than the car tires some have been going to, and they don't last as long. I've also read that car tires to replace the front Kendas are difficult, if not impossible to find in the correct size. Is this true?
troop
Well-known member
Quality car tires, such as Vredestein/General/Continental, are just slightly more expensive than OEM kenda/Kanine tires. Generally within $10/tire. Pre Covid, a couple of manufactures (Federal/Achilles) imported 165/55R15 tires, and they were decent for the Spyder. I currently have a set of Achilles 165/55R15 on my OEM wheels and really like them. They were quite cheap, generally going for around $60/tire. Alas, no more to be found
TerryTheSpyderRyder
Member
I just replaced my Kenda rear tire at 24k miles, its center was bald but I got a lot of miles out of it!
ulflyer
Active member
Sorry, not very clear. It was heavy rain, could often barely see 100ft ahead.
Jetfixer
Well-known member
It's not just the life of the tire that makes the Kenda's so terrible. For me, it's the extremely weak sidewall strength. We ride in the twisties a lot, and it is night and day difference in handling on car tires. A BajaRon sway bar, Elka shocks, and Vredestein tires, and my bike rides like it's on rails!
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