Question: 2014 RT Rear Tire - any luck with BRP to help with replacement labor cost

[Jim&Teresa]

I know there's been a lot of threads on tires for the 2014 RT rear tire....

Just wondering if anyone has been successful for BRP to help out with costs for the first replacement?

I have my 2014 RT going into the dealer in about 3 weeks and will be replacing the OEM rear tire with the Kumho Ecsta AST (same size as OEM). The Spyder will have around 7500 miles on it by then and don't dare go much more with that OEM tire.

I've sent an email to BRP, but they said to talk to the dealer. It's not a dealer issue, it's a spec. issue with BRP. All I would ask BRP to do is pay for the labor to replace it as I already purchased the tire.

Anyways, any advice / input would be appreciated. I will take photos and odometer reading for documentation -- here's what it looks like now.....

 

[Chupaca]

Not yet..!!

as far as I know there hasbeen nothing...there was the mention of a bad batch, guess they have to deal with the manufacturer...:dontknow:

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Your tire looks just like mine did at about the same miles. Haven't heard of anyone getting anywhere on the rears. Some did get their front tires replaced though. You may want to keep the tire, I had the tire shop dispose of mine which may not have been a good idea.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Here are pictures of mine

 

[Bob Denman]

The trick with tires...

...You have no proof whatsoever of how careful and gentle of a rider you are on the bike. :shocked:
They'd have some warranty claims adjuster accuse you of putting so much rubber down on the roads (probably while drunk to the gills!), that the Towns around you had to bring in road-graders, to clean the mess up... :banghead:

I wish you the best of luck; but I'd not sit with your "hand on your fanny", waiting for the check! :gaah:

 

[Jim&Teresa]

The trick with tires...

...You have no proof whatsoever of how careful and gentle of a rider you are on the bike. :shocked:
They'd have some warranty claims adjuster accuse you of putting so much rubber down on the roads (probably while drunk to the gills!), that the Towns around you had to bring in road-graders, to clean the mess up... :banghead:

I wish you the best of luck; but I'd not sit with your "hand on your fanny", waiting for the check! :gaah:

You're right Bob! In my opinion, it's not a warranty issue as much as a known issue across the board with this 2014 RT rear tire. That's why I sent BRP an email hoping they knew that it was a known premature wearing tire and would "assist" with a portion of the first tire replacement. It's more the principle than the $'s here. I am ready to pay for the tire change, just checking the integrity of BRP to see if they stand behind their vehicles (especially one that cost over $30K!).

The BUDS report I received at my first service shows what RPM's etc. that I've been running -- which is conservative and so BRP would have documentation as the "type" of driver I am. You are absolutely correct that they do not know if I'm burning the tire off by laying down rubber somewhere - but I'm not....

Tires are tricky and you would think BRP would go back to the supplier, Kenda, for a refund on a tire that wears prematurely for many of us that have the 2014 RT. Maybe BRP will not go back to Kenda as BRP probably spec'ed the tire. There are so many of us with this same wear pattern and premature tire life with the 2014 RT.....

I hope my Kumho will get at least 15K miles....we will see! :thumbup: Oh well, out with the old (Kenda) and in with the new (Kumho)!

 

[Bob Denman]

That's right: you got the "junk" out from under your trunk, and now you've got some of the good stuff out back! :2thumbs:
(I like the idea of the BUDS report, showing rpm ranges... :clap

 

[Jim&Teresa]

That's right: you got the "junk" out from under your trunk, and now you've got some of the good stuff out back! :2thumbs:
(I like the idea of the BUDS report, showing rpm ranges... :clap

Yes, all I had to do is ask my dealer for the BUDS report and they printed it out for me. Here's a photo of the RPM ranges - probably hard to read but I'll summarize:

Page 6 of 6 of this BUDS report:
First graph is "normal" run time at 100% :thumbup: Limp Home 0%
Second graph is RPM's
0-1999 rpm's 23.32%
2000-3999 rpm's 75.46%
6000-7499 rpm's 1.22%
7500-8499 rpm's 0%
8500+ rpm's 0%

Nice to have, don't know if I'll have one printed for each time in the shop!

 

[SpyderAnn01]

It can't hurt if everyone with premature wear on their tires would email BRP and register their displeasure with the Kendas.

 

[Jim&Teresa]

It can't hurt if everyone with premature wear on their tires would email BRP and register their displeasure with the Kendas.

:agree: I just wanted BRP to know about this issue. I'm sure they read this forum, but in order to have action done, you need to let them know that you have an issue and what it is. Our 2014 RT Limited is an awesome motorcycle - great machine. Only issue is this darn rear tire. Not a big problem, but you would think they could have spec'ed or designed a better rear tire for a $30K motorcycle! IMHO

If nothing happens, at least I tried.....:thumbup: I will be giving my dealer the letter from BRP and let them address it when I have the new tire mounted. I am fully aware (and willing) to pay for this...just seems wrong.....who buys a new vehicle and replaces a tire, at their costs, within the first 8,000 miles?????:dontknow:

 

[lyonsden]

:agree: I just wanted BRP to know about this issue. I'm sure they read this forum, but in order to have action done, you need to let them know that you have an issue and what it is. Our 2014 RT Limited is an awesome motorcycle - great machine. Only issue is this darn rear tire. Not a big problem, but you would think they could have spec'ed or designed a better rear tire for a $30K motorcycle! IMHO

If nothing happens, at least I tried.....:thumbup: I will be giving my dealer the letter from BRP and let them address it when I have the new tire mounted. I am fully aware (and willing) to pay for this...just seems wrong.....who buys a new vehicle and replaces a tire, at their costs, within the first 8,000 miles?????:dontknow:

My 2011 RT was not much better. It went 9500 before the rear tire change. Now have a Michelin Hydroedge. 9000 miles and still looks new.

 

[murphybrown]

Any Issue needs to go through Dealer

Have your dealer file a warranty issue repair order with BRP. BRP requires everything to be initiated and verified through an authorized dealer. That is Step 1. Costs nothing other than time to file incident report for warranty claim. :thumbup:

 

[KX5062]

I agree with Ann that if you're just trying to document unsatisfactory mileage out of the tire, then by all means. However, if you are truly expecting them to acknowledge a flaw and pay for it, then I believe you're mistaken.

Honestly, 7500 miles out of the rear Kenda is well within the ballpark for a performance "motorcycle" road tire, so from BRP's perspective I'm sure nothing is wrong with it. Now, as an owner, that's not really the way I see it, but that's different.

 

[MidTNDawg]

There was a time

some years ago when 2-wheel performance tires, i.e., BMW were routinely replaced at about 7500 miles. While that experience is in the past, I seriously doubt any "normal wear" part will receive even a good will warranty.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

Are these considered "performance" tires? It's a touring motorcycle!

 

[bluestratos]

Mine is almost gone at 6.5k so same problem here. I have an RTse6 so no burns outs are possible. These new factory tires are awful for wear but I dare not use a kumo again due to hydroplaning.

 

[KX5062]

Are these considered "performance" tires? It's a touring motorcycle!

I don't and I agree with you; however, I don't think BRP will see it that way. Especially, when it comes to publicly acknowledging a problem and then having to pay for it.

 

[KX5062]

Mine is almost gone at 6.5k so same problem here. I have an RTse6 so no burns outs are possible. These new factory tires are awful for wear but I dare not use a kumo again due to hydroplaning.

Plenty of other choices out there.

 

[the penguin]

At 10,000 km's down to wear bars rear tire on my 2014 rt. called brp got typical response, waste of time. dropped pressure from 28psi to 20psi, and have got 2,000 more kms. putting on an arachnid this week, hope it lasts longer, if not will try something else. will never buy another kenda tire ever, and will never give brp another cent if i can buy what i need aftermarket. i have posted a video on u-tube i made of my rear tire at speeds up to 130 km/hr. there is no ballooning like some claim, the problem with these kenda tires is they are defective.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

At 10,000 km's down to wear bars rear tire on my 2014 rt. called brp got typical response, waste of time. dropped pressure from 28psi to 20psi, and have got 2,000 more kms. putting on an arachnid this week, hope it lasts longer, if not will try something else. will never buy another kenda tire ever, and will never give brp another cent if i can buy what i need aftermarket. i have posted a video on u-tube i made of my rear tire at speeds up to 130 km/hr. there is no ballooning like some claim, the problem with these kenda tires is they are defective.

Hi, this is a really old thread and BRP changed the compound for the rear tire around June of 2014 so if your tire has a date of 2614 or later it should be the new compound. The Arachnid is a soft tire like the Kenda so don't expect to get any better wear out of it. I have worn out 1 Kenda and 2 Arachnids on my 2014 RT. If you are looking for longer tire wear try a car tire like a Kumho Ecsta AST