My Altimax experience.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Riding with my wife most of the time, @ about 350 lbs total. What do you guys run for psi? Looks like most run around 20 according to what I saw on other threads, but that was with varying brands of tires.

Try 18 psi, This seems to be the sweet point. and addresses handling wet & dry and comfort …… Mike hyea:

 

[RapidSpyder]

Will do, thanks. Picking it up this morning and hopefully getting it on today so we can go see the colors this weekend.

 

[PinkRosePetal]

26 to 28psi in the rear.

 

[RudyB]

I got 28000miles on my Altimax before I changed it out for another Altimax

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

26 to 28psi in the rear.

:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: ……….. I guess you missed the part about His tire being an Altimax ………….Not a Kenda :gaah:..... Mike hyea:

 

[RapidSpyder]

The mechanic that is installing the tire (a former CanAm mechanic) said that being a non OEM size tire might cause issues with the traction control. Said the Spyders can be a little temperamental. Have any of you had an issue with this? He said if it does the light will usually come on after about 10 miles. Said it takes a little while for the computer to figure out somethings off.
Also is there going to be an issue since the tire isn’t a unidirectional tire for wear?

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

The mechanic that is installing the tire (a former CanAm mechanic) said that being a non OEM size tire might cause issues with the traction control. Said the Spyders can be a little temperamental. Have any of you had an issue with this? He said if it does the light will usually come on after about 10 miles. Said it takes a little while for the computer to figure out somethings off.
Also is there going to be an issue since the tire isn’t a unidirectional tire for wear?

Folks who have little to NO knowledge about a subject should not give advice ….. None of what that " mechanic " said is true...… good luck …. Mike hyea:

 

[RapidSpyder]

short trip back from the shop in the rain, felt like it had a better grip on the road already!

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

View attachment 176002

short trip back from the shop in the rain, felt like it had a better grip on the road already!

18 or 17 psi helps a lot with the WET road traction ( Dry is excellent ) as well as improving the comfort level ….. Tires are really another part of the suspension, if they are hard or very hard, you will definitely feel that no matter how soft the normal suspension is ….. Mike hyea:

 

[RapidSpyder]

Update on my Altimax:

Put on about a hundred miles in the hills yesterday. Definitely has more grip and runs quieter than OEM. Also the speedometer is only 1 mph off of the gps now.
The “but” is that it might have too much grip on the road. It tends to want to grab the grooves in the road, especially on newly grooved road. Not a good feeling. My wife’s car does the same thing, but to a much lesser extent. It does get better as the tires wear in, but I don’t think I want to put up with it for a couple thousand miles. Lots of the major roads around here that I drive on are grooved. Might have to try something else.

 

[AeroPilot]

I felt that little grip/wiggle too when they were new

Rapid Spyder- I too felt that grip/wiggle when I first put the General on my RT. I wasnt sure if if it was a little bit of the new tire mold release acting up or just how they grip. Either they wore in or I got used to it after a couple thousand miles, but I am quite comfortable with them now for how I ride...:yes:

 

[RapidSpyder]

Rapid Spyder- I too felt that grip/wiggle when I first put the General on my RT. I wasnt sure if if it was a little bit of the new tire mold release acting up or just how they grip. Either they wore in or I got used to it after a couple thousand miles, but I am quite comfortable with them now for how I ride...:yes:

Hmmm. Maybe playing with tire pressure might help too?

 

[PatrickH]

I got in from a two day trip on my 2015 RT this evening and during my after ride check up I noticed my General Altimax was showing the REPLACE TIRE tread marker to me. This tire has a few miles over 20,000 on it and will be replaced with another Altimax this week. I ride two up 95% of the time, we ride the twisty roads of SE Ohio and West Virginia often, and my traction control warning light has been on so much I think it burned out. I think 20,000 miles on a tire that works very well and was used very hard is pretty darn good. When you factor in I paid under $90 for it that makes the deal even better. I picked up another Altimax also under $90 and I will install it myself. :thumbup:

Hello NavyDad,
Just wanted to check back in with you to tell about my experience w/Altimax that I installed on my 2014 RT in December 2021 with your message help and advice. I've been delighted with the performance (and, as you'd predicted, am even getting speedometer readings that are much closer to correct). Because I overpressured my previous Kenda rear tires I wound up wearing out the middle of the tread. To help prevent that happening w/my new Altimax, I've decided to monitor tread wear carefully (to hopefully be able to make adjustments when I see bad patterns emerging). To do that I've developed a little monitoring chart that I've attached, FYI.
Again, thanks for the great information.
Regards, PatrickH

 

[Piratezz]

Patrick, am looking at your chart, and me thinks you are on the high side with your PSI, Blueknight/ Mike states that 15/16 psi for the rear, when using a cartire, is right in the ballpark,
I still run a Kenda in the rear, but for the fronts Blueknight was spot on, I run em at 12/13 psi, and they grip like no other

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Update on my Altimax:

Put on about a hundred miles in the hills yesterday. Definitely has more grip and runs quieter than OEM. Also the speedometer is only 1 mph off of the gps now.
The “but” is that it might have too much grip on the road. It tends to want to grab the grooves in the road, especially on newly grooved road. Not a good feeling. My wife’s car does the same thing, but to a much lesser extent. It does get better as the tires wear in, but I don’t think I want to put up with it for a couple thousand miles. Lots of the major roads around here that I drive on are grooved. Might have to try something else.

Un-fortunately ....the " Perfect tire " has yet to be developed Yet :roflblack:..... good luck .... Mike:thumbup:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Patrick, am looking at your chart, and me thinks you are on the high side with your PSI, Blueknight/ Mike states that 15/16 psi for the rear, when using a cartire, is right in the ballpark,
I still run a Kenda in the rear, but for the fronts Blueknight was spot on, I run em at 12/13 psi, and they grip like no other

Well let me clarify your PSI's .... both Peter and I like 15 to 17 ( 17 if aggressive ) for front and 18-19, for the rear of ANY Auto tire on a Spyder....... Mike :thumbup:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Hello NavyDad,
Just wanted to check back in with you to tell about my experience w/Altimax that I installed on my 2014 RT in December 2021 with your message help and advice. I've been delighted with the performance (and, as you'd predicted, am even getting speedometer readings that are much closer to correct). Because I overpressured my previous Kenda rear tires I wound up wearing out the middle of the tread. To help prevent that happening w/my new Altimax, I've decided to monitor tread wear carefully (to hopefully be able to make adjustments when I see bad patterns emerging). To do that I've developed a little monitoring chart that I've attached, FYI.
Again, thanks for the great information.
Regards, PatrickH

It has been reported many, many times by both Peter & I that for Kenda REAR tires altering / lowering the PSI for the REAR tire will have minimal effect on wear .... the issue with the Kenda has to do with the Fact that it has a Weak carcass and is wide also, this allows it to Balloon at anything above 35 MPH ..... and this is why they wear at an alarming rate. I'm not knocking " NavyDad ", however He is in the " learning " process about " tire use for Spyders " ..... both Peter and I figured this out over a Decade ago ...... good luck .... Mike :thumbup:

 

[vito1943]

Good into to know for the future. I have the Kenda stock tires on the 2021 RT I bought last June, and the tires all look good with about 4,000 miles so far. I wouldn't even try to remove the rear wheel, so I guess I will go to t he Can Am dealer when the tires need replacing. I am assuming that a car tire shop would not know how to remove the rear wheel and mount a new tire. I just wonder if a Can Am dealer would install car tires that I brought in myself. Anyone try that at their dealer?

 

[bigbadbrucie]

Good into to know for the future. I have the Kenda stock tires on the 2021 RT I bought last June, and the tires all look good with about 4,000 miles so far. I wouldn't even try to remove the rear wheel, so I guess I will go to t he Can Am dealer when the tires need replacing. I am assuming that a car tire shop would not know how to remove the rear wheel and mount a new tire. I just wonder if a Can Am dealer would install car tires that I brought in myself. Anyone try that at their dealer?

My dealer does that...anything I being in....he will NOT order one though, I have to bring it in. I’m up here in Canada.

 

[sledge]

I got 28000miles on my Altimax before I changed it out for another Altimax

My goodness, 28,000 miles on ONE tire???? That's amazing for a motor cycle. Good deal.