New Tires...Brand and Size

[MrBill5491]

Well it looks like I may soon be in need of a new rear tire. the Kenda is just about down on the wear indicators. There is a bit over 8,000 miles on them. Since I'm new here, and I have looked over some of the other comments on tires, what say ye? New rear. Front tires are in great condition (for a Kenda) so I'll run them until next spring.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Well it looks like I may soon be in need of a new rear tire. the Kenda is just about down on the wear indicators. There is a bit over 8,000 miles on them. Since I'm new here, and I have looked over some of the other comments on tires, what say ye? New rear. Front tires are in great condition (for a Kenda) so I'll run them until next spring.

Not quite sure what you're asking here, MrBill :dontknow:

But YES, it sounds like it's close to time for you to get a new rear tire, and I'd strongly suggest that you choose an auto tire replacement instead of an OE spec Kenda OR one of its cloned alternatives. :thumbup:

There's heaps of info here on tire brands & sizes that will work on our Spyders, some good recommendations just a few posts up in this very thread - check 'em out, make your choice, remove the rear wheel, get the new tire fitted, replace the rear wheel, and then revel in the improved ryding that anyone who's only ever run Kendas simply wouldn't realise was available! hyea:

 

[Steve W.]

The three on-line sources that I know of are Tire rack .... Vulcan tire ...& Simple tire .... 165/60-15 , front and 205/60 or 65-15 , rear ..... Mike :thumbup:

I am not sure where the shop that I had mount the tires bought them, but he got them just a dollar or two different than the price I got at Vulcan Tire.
The sizes I got were 175/55-15 on the front and 205/65-15 on the rear.

Well it looks like I may soon be in need of a new rear tire. the Kenda is just about down on the wear indicators. There is a bit over 8,000 miles on them. Since I'm new here, and I have looked over some of the other comments on tires, what say ye? New rear. Front tires are in great condition (for a Kenda) so I'll run them until next spring.

Hey, MrBill, I see you on GSR, nice to see you here, too. I think you will be happy with just about ANY non-Kenda tire. As shown just a few lines above this, I have installed Vredestein Quatrac 5 tires on my wife's '17 RT-S and we REALLY like them. Why not splurge a little? Even though there is still tread on the front tires, get rid of them, too. You will probably wonder why you didn't do it sooner. :thumbup:

.

 

[MrBill5491]

Hi ya Steve lol. Oh yeah, Kendas are nasty. Though the fronts are doing fine. Lots of tread and they stick pretty good. Just that back tire like any motorcycle tire takes it in the butt.

 

[Steve W.]

I never measured the tread on the front tires before taking them off. About 4500 miles, they still had a lot of tread, but I wanted to get rid of them anyway.

.

 

[Lovat 09]

Generall Altimax RT43 215/60 R15

Have never commented on this site before but have read lots over the yrs,
Went to replace the rear on my 2015 RT with the above mentional general, the dealer is ok with installing the origional with a car tire as long as it's the same size, he was very nervous on the 215/60 saying it will blow of from rim,
Ending up bringing the tire back home along with a new 2021 RT, They nade a deal I could not resist.
Question, are his comments vaild, and would you store the general and replace new origional when worn down,,Thanks

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Have never commented on this site before but have read lots over the yrs,
Went to replace the rear on my 2015 RT with the above mentional general, the dealer is ok with installing the origional with a car tire as long as it's the same size, he was very nervous on the 215/60 saying it will blow of from rim,
Ending up bringing the tire back home along with a new 2021 RT, They nade a deal I could not resist.
Question, are his comments vaild, and would you store the general and replace new origional when worn down,,Thanks

He is ONLY slightly helpful, but as far as tires go He is CLUELESS. That General is about 3 X's as strong as any Kenda ( for spyders ), and this is the MOST important thing about Auto tires for Spyder's. Annnnnnnnnnnnnnd as far as blowing OFF the Rim, maybe at 150+ psi, :gaah: wnich should never be put in any tire - period ..... if can find someone to mount that tire ( you will probably have to remove the wheel ) ONLY use 18-19 psi in it. .... the tire will perform at it's best at that psi ...... any questions PM me or Peter Aawen ..... Mike :thumbup:

 

[ollicat]

So Vredestein 165/60 R15 for both the front and back work with no modifications? Is that correct?

 

[troop]

So Vredestein 165/60 R15 for both the front and back work with no modifications? Is that correct?

NO ... The 165/60R15 is for the fronts only. The rear Vredestein, I believe, is a 205/60R15

 

[Steve W.]

So Vredestein 165/60 R15 for both the front and back work with no modifications? Is that correct?

NO ... The 165/60R15 is for the fronts only. The rear Vredestein, I believe, is a 205/60R15

Agree, somewhat.

165/60R15 or 175/55R15 on the front.

205/60R15 or 205/65R15 on the rear.

Some have also done 215/60 or 225/55 on the rear.

A quick glance under the bike will show that the front and rear are NOT the same size.

.

 

[MT45]

Continental ContiPro Contact 175's

Thought I’d share my findings for installing the ContiPro Contact 175/55/r15 car tires on my 2019 Spyder RT Limited
I’ll start with the answer. They don’t fit.

Based on many threads here I had my fingers crossed that maybe they would be a simple bolt on. No luck … BUT the solution for me was not that difficult

The fix:
Part A
Replace all 4 hex head screws (#8 x 9/16”) that connect the black part of the plastic fender to the colored (painted) Tupperware part. This will lower the overall profile of these screws
Part B
Install some 1/4” nylon shims and longer screws (#8 x 3/4”) You’ll use these to effectively push the fender assembly back off its steel mounts by 1/4” toward to center of the bike and effectively away from the tire

Parts list:
1/4” thick, 3/8” OD nylon shims (8 pieces)
#8 x 9/16” long Trusshead screws (8 pieces)
#8 x 3/4” long Trusshead screws (8 pieces)

The fix in part A calls for 4 pieces of 9/16” screws (each side) are mostly appreciated in the top and bottom portions of the fender where the tire comes closest. These screws hold the black ABS plastic to the colored bits of Tupperware that make up the fender top. Replacing these 4 screws lowers the profile of that area by a few millimeters and that’s a good thing because these screws are the main area the tire wants to rub AND is also the most dangerous. The lower screw on the inside of the fender (toward back of bike and closest to ground). The tire can exert tremendous pressure on this screw/mounting area based on the tire rotation hitting that screw in a “push into” manner (vs the top inside screw where a tire rub would be pushing away). Hard contact with that lower screw could literally (and probably instantly) rip the entire fender off the steel mounts. That lower screw is the main concern and with the fix I did here it completely eliminated it as a potential problem.

In part B, you are creating an additional 1/4” of space between the fender and the tire (and, of course the 4 screws you just installed) by installing nylon spacers BEHIND the metal fender bracket and the black ABS portion of the fender plastic.
Note that I did try to run the tires with only replacing the 4 fender hex head screws (no shims) but got extensive rubbing simply driving straight and was marking the tires during aggressive cornering. Shims are the way to go.

LATE EDIT - NOTICE VERY SLIGHT RUBBING INSIDE OF TIRE
Just noticed the wire wraps that capture the wiring running up the vertical frame rail that the fender is mounted on are just slightly rubbing one side (inside of the tire)
See the images and note how I fixed by adding 2 pieces of 3/16" thick washers to the inside of where that frame rail mounts
Pulls the entire assembly toward the inside (center) of the bike and away from the tire - now clears by more than an 1/8"

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I'm surprised you had a fitment issue .... others here have been using this size on other Spyders ( but we've learned not all tires are excactly the same size for the size printed on the tire ) .... it could be the 2019 are made slightly different than past years .... but have done what I did years ago to fix the issue ..... thanks for sharing ..... and Nice pics .... Mike :thumbup:

 

[MT45]

I'm surprised you had a fitment issue .... others here have been using this size on other Spyders ( but we've learned not all tires are excactly the same size for the size printed on the tire ) .... it could be the 2019 are made slightly different than past years .... but have done what I did years ago to fix the issue ..... thanks for sharing ..... and Nice pics .... Mike :thumbup:

I was surprised too Mike but I'm not sure I ever saw anyone with a '19 try these tires. Quite a few earlier years than 2019 worked without modification according to the forums here.

Also, full credit to you for the spacer idea! I knew I had read that somewhere!

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I was surprised too Mike but I'm not sure I ever saw anyone with a '19 try these tires. Quite a few earlier years than 2019 worked without modification according to the forums here.

Also, full credit to you for the spacer idea! I knew I had read that somewhere!

Thanks for the compliment :yes: ..... Although I said the year Spyder ( 2019 ) might be the issue, The BRAND of tire may really be the issue .... From reports on the forum many.many folks have been using Vredestein Q-5 and Quatrac models in 175/55-15 on all years of RT's ..... I discovered that the General Altmax RT 43 is larger than normal in 175/65-15 size .... I had to shim that one to get it to fit my 14 RT ( with basic fenders ) Both Peter and I have stressed the fact that tire charts are " mathematical " sizes, actual tire sizes can be quite different ..... glad it worked out for you ...Mike :thumbup:

 

[mecsw500]

One has to be careful when dealing with the roiling circumference of a tire versus its static unloaded stationary circumference. The real, or rolling circumference, is effected by the tire construction, the tire pressure and the speed of rotation at which it is calculated (I think DIN spec says that is 60 kmh) and probably half a dozen other criteria.

So, when comparing a car tire with the OEM tires, there will probably be a circumference difference down to the stiffness of the sidewall construction and the air pressure utilized, as well as of course the fact that manufacturers dimensions may not actually be what exactly is stamped on the tire.

Ignoring the speed issue, about the only way to really measure the real rolling circumference is to mark the tread with a dab of paint and then roll it across the garage floor and measure the distance between the marks it leaves.

Apparently a good approximation is to measure the radius from the center of the hub to the highest point of the tire, then measure the radius from the center of the hub to the ground, at the pressure you normally use. Then you can calculate the rolling circumference (at 0 speed) by taking the average of the two radii values and calculating the circumference for the tire with the equation C=2(pi)r, where C is the rolling circumference and r is the average radius you measured.

From what I can tell, the nearest real rolling circumference to the Kendra in available car sizes, is 165/55R15, then 175/55R15 followed by 165/60R15. Of course the 175 may or may not fit the fender. On the rear the 225/50R15 and then 205/55R15 seem to be really close to the OEM Kendra as well.

The Kendras that came stock on my 2021 RT Limited to be fair I don't think aren't that bad, in the dry or the wet. They seem to stick OK and they feel alright to my mind and the front / back feel seems well matched. Mileage we will have to wait and see. Your mileage may vary, quite literally, of course.

Merry Christmas everyone.