Tire Wear Mystery

[SilverSurfer]

Okay ... I keep my front tire pressure at around 20-22.

Noted tire wear: You're looking at the Spyder head-on (looking into its beady little eyes). Tire wear is increased on the outer-right of the right tire, and the inner-right of the left tire (again, looking at the Spyder head-on). Bike mileage: about 15,500 miles.

My initial thought is that most of my riding is on two-lane highways where the crown of the road is higher to the rider's left (toward center of the road) and drops off to the right (toward shoulder of the road). This would mean that rubber contact is heavier on the edges of the tires showing the most wear. I'm not experiencing any pull of note to left or right. The wear has not worn the tread completely away ... but it is uniform.

Is this wear normal given what I've described, esp. because I inflate above mfg specs for handling, or might there be an alignment (camber) issue?

Thanks for any input.

~ Surfer

 

[NancysToy]

I suspect you have a problem with the steering not being properly centered.

 

[CyncySpyder]

Adding some visuals, 22K but I had a different wear pattern than yours

On ours, you can see the outside wore more on both, the left & right sides. We rotated at 22K & switched sides to even the wear & excrete as many miles as possible & we just switched to new tires today, now at 34K miles. Any suggestions on the remedy for this? Don't mean to hijack your thread, but trying to learn as much as I can as well

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[SilverSurfer]

On ours, you can see the outside wore more on both, the left & right sides. We rotated at 22K & switched sides to even the wear & excrete as many miles as possible & we just switched to new tires today, now at 34K miles. Any suggestions on the remedy for this? Don't mean to hijack your thread, but trying to learn as much as I can.

Now if that were a car, I'd say you had a camber adjustment issue. Meaning your wheels are angled like this: \\ \*/ //. If it were the inner edges instead, the camber would be angled like this: // \*/ \\. On mine, the effect is as if my wheels were angled like this:
// \*/ // This is what gave me cause to believe it was my inflation pressure, type of ryding (including three times down the dragon), and all manner of other twisties, and two-lane highways.

Noting Nancy's Toy's response:

I suspect you have a problem with the steering not being properly centered.

Hmm, I'm not noting that my handlebars are off-center when traveling in a straight line.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

THIS TIRE WEAR ISSUE

On ours, you can see the outside wore more on both, the left & right sides. We rotated at 22K & switched sides to even the wear & excrete as many miles as possible & we just switched to new tires today, now at 34K miles. Any suggestions on the remedy for this? Don't mean to hijack your thread, but trying to learn as much as I can View attachment 55215View attachment 55216View attachment 55217​

[/QUOTE Dave, your tire wear is not the norm for most Spyders that I have seen...most wear the inside edges....Someone with better alignment skills should chime in ...PLEASE......Mike

 

[Schnauzer]

1st question is ask yourself which manufacturer are you quoting. I'm sure that Kenda doesnot reccomend running that low of air pressure. BRP says it helps on the handling.
2nd question are you willing to pay out of pocket for more tire replacement for roughly 10% better handling if that much. Low air pressure will cause a tire to feather/cup just as a bad shock will do. Since we run 2 tires on the front, we need to treat this as an automobile since the 2 tires are working against each other in a sense. Rotating the tire will help keep the tread wearing evenly and will make it last longer. I run 25-26 psi and rotate @ 6k. We have over 25k on our OEM tires and am willing to bet there is right around 45% tread left. For the price, I will convert over to an auto tire for the front when the time comes. Keep in mind this is my opinion from my experience, "To each his own".

 

[ThreeWheels]

Noting Nancy's Toy's response:




Hmm, I'm not noting that my handlebars are off-center when traveling in a straight line.

I had something similar. The outer right 1/3 of the right tire (as you describe it) was worn almost flat and the inner right of the right tire and the entire left tire were worn evenly.

The steering was off center and I never noticed it. The bars felt straight. After 10,000 miles, the bike seemed to pull to the right (as you describe it). The steering was centered, the tires were changed and I've got about 13K on the new set with no problem.

The tires look like they can go another 12 K easily.

As a total aside, the typical convention is to describe left/right from the vantage point of sitting on the bike, opposite of how you describe it. I don't mean to sound persnickety, just trying to be helpful.

 

[SilverSurfer]

I had something similar. The outer right 1/3 of the right tire (as you describe it) was worn almost flat and the inner right of the right tire and the entire left tire were worn evenly.

The steering was off center and I never noticed it. The bars felt straight. After 10,000 miles, the bike seemed to pull to the right (as you describe it). The steering was centered, the tires were changed and I've got about 13K on the new set with no problem.

The tires look like they can go another 12 K easily.

As a total aside, the typical convention is to describe left/right from the vantage point of sitting on the bike, opposite of how you describe it. I don't mean to sound persnickety, just trying to be helpful.

You situation sounds sufficiently different that I don't think we have the same problem. "1/3" of the tire is not involved; just the edge tread. On your steering being off center, did you have this fixed as a project or just the tire change? On the aside, well no, just like cincyspyder above, we're conveying observations from the best vantage point.

 

[ThreeWheels]

You situation sounds sufficiently different that I don't think we have the same problem. "1/3" of the tire is not involved; just the edge tread. On your steering being off center, did you have this fixed as a project or just the tire change? On the aside, well no, just like cincyspyder above, we're conveying observations from the best vantage point.

I had been having front end alignment problems since the day I bouhht the Spyder. The steering was recentered when the tire was replaced when BRP developed a centering jig that was previously unavailable..
Both front tires and a (second) front alignment were done at about 10,000 miles.

 

[SilverSurfer]

I had been having front end alignment problems since the day I bouhht the Spyder. The steering was recentered when the tire was replaced when BRP developed a centering jig that was previously unavailable..
Both front tires and a (second) front alignment were done at about 10,000 miles.

Now that detail (the centering jig) is interesting. I'll make a note of it ... and thanks.

 

[Bob Denman]

I'm curious about what you will find; please let us know, and Good Luck! :thumbup:

 

[NancysToy]

Noting Nancy's Toy's response:

Hmm, I'm not noting that my handlebars are off-center when traveling in a straight line.

That means little, unless there was a huge problem. The effects of road banking and crown, wind, and slope make continuous small corrections in steering necessary as you ride/drive. The tires can be affected by a slight scrub, that you subconsciously corrct for, but never notice. Nobody ever checks to see if their vehicle goes straight with their hands off the handlebars or wheels, with no body english, on a perfectly level surface. There are only two ways to get this type of wear...either having the steering not centered (or the steering sensor not zeroed with the steering properly centered on a Spyder) or from having a twisted frame. The latter might not affect a Spyder, or could affect the rear wheel more, with the Spyder's tripod stance. I would have a dealer install the centering jig tool, check the alignment as to center (toe-in equal on each side with steering centered), and recalibrate the sensors. I have never seen that type of wear on Spyder tires under normal conditions. We all ride on crowned roads, but we all don't exhibit tire wear of that nature. JMHO

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

WEAR ISSUES

That means little, unless there was a huge problem. The effects of road banking and crown, wind, and slope make continuous small corrections in steering necessary as you ride/drive. The tires can be affected by a slight scrub, that you subconsciously corrct for, but never notice. Nobody ever checks to see if their vehicle goes straight with their hands off the handlebars or wheels, with no body english, on a perfectly level surface. There are only two ways to get this type of wear...either having the steering not centered (or the steering sensor not zeroed with the steering properly centered on a Spyder) or from having a twisted frame. The latter might not affect a Spyder, or could affect the rear wheel more, with the Spyder's tripod stance. I would have a dealer install the centering jig tool, check the alignment as to center (toe-in equal on each side with steering centered), and recalibrate the sensors. I have never seen that type of wear on Spyder tires under normal conditions. We all ride on crowned roads, but we all don't exhibit tire wear of that nature. JMHO

Scotty, would you like to take a guess as to what is going on with Dave's ( cyncyspyder) problem (above) and if it was the inside of the tires what would you do to correct that problem........Thanks .......Mike

 

[NancysToy]

Scotty, would you like to take a guess as to what is going on with Dave's ( cyncyspyder) problem (above) and if it was the inside of the tires what would you do to correct that problem........Thanks .......Mike

Outside wear both sides = too much toe-in.
Inside wear both sides = inadequate toe-in or heavy rider/passenger.

That is for the Spyder only, and assumes the camber is correct. There have been a few where the fixed camber was out of whack. That could happen to a damaged Spyder. too

 

[Bob Denman]

I'm not sure if this is worth a new thread or not... :dontknow:
Has anybody in here tried a set of Federal's SS657 tires on the front of their Spyder??

 

[billythekidd]

On ours, you can see the outside wore more on both, the left & right sides. We rotated at 22K & switched sides to even the wear & excrete as many miles as possible & we just switched to new tires today, now at 34K miles. Any suggestions on the remedy for this? Don't mean to hijack your thread, but trying to learn as much as I can as well

View attachment 55215 View attachment 55217 View attachment 55216​

Mine was wearing the exact same way as the photos above. took it to the dealer and they said the alighnment was per the book when i bought ( March 2012) it and was still at that measurement. They indicated that the allignment has changed to s 2 to 3 mm toe in instead of 0 mm toe in or out. Had them set that and rotate tires. Cannot tell yet if it has made a difference.

Willy

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

YOUR ANSWER

Outside wear both sides = too much toe-in.
Inside wear both sides = inadequate toe-in or heavy rider/passenger.

That is for the Spyder only, and assumes the camber is correct. There have been a few where the fixed camber was out of whack. That could happen to a damaged Spyder. too

Scotty thanks, that info is a big help.............On a different note: My new 2011 RSS which has had no alignment adjustments done by the dealer and has 14,500 miles is wearing perfectly even across the front and I think may double the mileage before I need new tires.....Which is why I am sure some Spyders are aligned Perfectly at the factory but most I don't think are, after listening to the mileage woes here......Mike

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

SS 657

I'm not sure if this is worth a new thread or not... :dontknow:
Has anybody in here tried a set of Federal's SS657 tires on the front of their Spyder??View attachment 55248

Well Bob give us some more info on this ......You found it.....:yikes:

 

[Bob Denman]

That's the problem... I haven't been able to find much more. :gaah:
I was playing around; just shopping based on the front tire size. I kept seeing the Potenzas.... and then these showed up on the screen. :shocked: :dontknow:

 

[NancysToy]

Scotty thanks, that info is a big help.............On a different note: My new 2011 RSS which has had no alignment adjustments done by the dealer and has 14,500 miles is wearing perfectly even across the front and I think may double the mileage before I need new tires.....Which is why I am sure some Spyders are aligned Perfectly at the factory but most I don't think are, after listening to the mileage woes here......Mike

It's more than just the factory adjustment. I'll admit that all Spyders are not the same, so the factory settings are less than precise, but there's another wrinkle. The Spyder suspension geometry is such that the alignment changes as the suspension is loaded or raised. This is especially true on the RT. A heavier rider/passenger load is likely to make the Spyder toe out too much. Raising the suspension, as happens with Elkas, toes it in...sometimes too far. There are some Spyder/rider combinations that are just right, while others are not, resulting in uneven tire wear.