RT-S Front tires

[Highwayman2013]

Good or bad on front of Spyder RT-S?
Federal 595 EVO
Federal Formoza AZ01

The Formozas are great tires.

 

[Deanna777]

Agreed. I joined this site before getting my Spyder then spent 4 weeks reading and searching through threads, especially "The Do's and Don'ts" where it suggested reading the Owners Manual......Twice. Many questions can be answered by "read the owners manual" but most are not. IMHO that's no different than doing the child's homework for them. They learn little.

Many here, especially newbies (BTW, I consider myself a newbie), don't bother to do a Search or bookmark important threads full of answers, finding it easier to have someone else give them the answer. Even trying to Search would teach them how to Search effectively. That's the difference between helping and enabling.......and why there's hundreds of tire and oil threads[/QUOT

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Does anyone actually have the specs on the OEM Kenda KR31 165/55R15 tires? I've used the advanced search function for here and the whole Internet, not a trace to be found. The Kenda website doesn't even mention the tire.
The reason I ask is I just received 2 new Vredestein 175/55R15 tires from Tire Rack, and they were very light. Almost motorcycle tire light. So I pulled out the old measuring stuff and jotted down a few numbers. These were not mounted at the time, which may make my dimensional numbers off somewhat. I'd like to compare the specs of the Vredestein to the Kenda. There is a pretty good lack of specs for the Vredestein's as well, but you can find more than the Kenda.

Vredestein 175/55R15 Specs as measured by me not installed.
Diameter (Inch) 22.4
Circumference (Inch) (Tape Measure) 70.75
Section width (Inch) 7
Tread width (contact patch) (Inch) 5.75
Weight (Lbs ± 1/4 lb) 13.25
Load Rating 77T (908lbs)
Tread 2 Ply Steel 1 Ply Polyester
Sidewall 1 Ply Polyester

There was also another sticker on the tire which had 3 symbols. Gas Pump was rated C, Tire running through rain was rated C, and Noise was 68dB. Not sure what this means as the traction is rated A right on the sidewall. Mine were made in the Netherlands 28th week of 2018. Shout out to all the folks giving us the years of actual hands on experience to make these selections easier.

You can read stuff about tires until you are blue in the face ….. What really matters is ….the Vredestein Quatrac 5 is the best tire for all Spyders … EVER MADE ,.....( at least up until now ) ….. The tires of today improve constantly …. right now theseare the best …. and the 175/55-15 is perfect for the newer RT's and F-3's ….. Use 15psi in them …. they work best with a lower tire pressure than the Kenda's ….. Mike hyea:

 

[h0gr1der]

Thanks for the assist Mike. I will say this about the Quatrac 5. The rubber is grippy (is that a word?), good looking tire. Almost stuck to my hand when I was carrying it. 400 treadwear, so it should last a while. The reason I plopped that information down was that I hear a lot of people talking 4 ply this and 2 ply that, but I don't actually see any specs for comparison. I did see that every 175/55R15 tire listed at Tire Rack was a 77T rating, with 908 lbs rating at 51 PSI (Vredestein max sidewall). I chose to get the 91V rated Quatrac 5 for the rear, hope it isn't too stiff. Figure the V rated stuff would be held to a better tolerance. I'd really like to know the specs off the OEM Kenda though. That information is very hard to find. I've been reading until my eyes bled.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Thanks for the assist Mike. I will say this about the Quatrac 5. The rubber is grippy (is that a word?), good looking tire. Almost stuck to my hand when I was carrying it. 400 treadwear, so it should last a while. The reason I plopped that information down was that I hear a lot of people talking 4 ply this and 2 ply that, but I don't actually see any specs for comparison. I did see that every 175/55R15 tire listed at Tire Rack was a 77T rating, with 908 lbs rating at 51 PSI (Vredestein max sidewall). I chose to get the 91V rated Quatrac 5 for the rear, hope it isn't too stiff. Figure the V rated stuff would be held to a better tolerance. I'd really like to know the specs off the OEM Kenda though. That information is very hard to find. I've been reading until my eyes bled.

Kenda tire specs/ info ??? …...….. They will bleed and you will never find about the Kenda's ……..This probably isn't necessary but 51 lb max is only used IF the weight the tire is carrying is at it's MAX ( 908lbs. ) …. and if you follow my recommendation about what psi to use ...you will be very happy.....Everyone who has tried it has been pleased ….. Mike hyea:

 

[ricford]

I was concerned about 'real' speed with tire size. I'm concerned because (in my Sierra) I had tires just one size larger. I was cruising the interstate at 78 mph, which is in that edgy OK you don't get a ticket envelope. I got a ticket. My speedo showed 78 but that cop's radar showed 81. Taxation by ticket. Looked on the truck door and saw the tire size difference. Started running with GPS and next tire change, got factory size tires. No more problems. IRT the 175's, that's what I run now (Contipro). But I'm thinkin of going to 155/60. I don't ryde so fast that it will matter and I don't slide around turns... Plus they fit the fender better. I've put 30 K miles on the Contipro and still no sign of wear. (rear tires changed twice. Probably should stop 'peeling out' (can you do that? n This link compares tire size with speed reading for any size tire at 100 mph/kph. https://www.tyresizecalculator.com/tyre-wheel-calculators/speedo-error-calculator

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I was concerned about 'real' speed with tire size. I'm concerned because (in my Sierra) I had tires just one size larger. I was cruising the interstate at 78 mph, which is in that edgy OK you don't get a ticket envelope. I got a ticket. My speedo showed 78 but that cop's radar showed 81. Taxation by ticket. Looked on the truck door and saw the tire size difference. Started running with GPS and next tire change, got factory size tires. No more problems. IRT the 175's, that's what I run now (Contipro). But I'm thinkin of going to 155/60. I don't ryde so fast that it will matter and I don't slide around turns... Plus they fit the fender better. I've put 30 K miles on the Contipro and still no sign of wear. (rear tires changed twice. Probably should stop 'peeling out' (can you do that? n This link compares tire size with speed reading for any size tire at 100 mph/kph. https://www.tyresizecalculator.com/tyre-wheel-calculators/speedo-error-calculator

The speedometer and odometer runs off the rear wheel/tire …… and if you switch to say a 215/60-15 … the difference is 2 mph & this is the true speed of the Spyder …..…. Mike