Tires... again - any feedback on Kumho Rear, Kenda Kanine Fronts?

[jma57]

It's time to change the original Kenda tires on my 2017 F3. They only have 8k miles but they are 7 years old and the rear tire is pretty much done: worn in the middle...
I'm going to get the Kuhmo Ecsta KU25 for the rear and Kenda Kanines for the front.
It seems the Kanine for the rear continues to wear out the center too quickly, just like my current one, so no to that.
I expect the front Kanines to wear as well as my current ones and I'm ok with that, since they still look good with even wear. I'm replacing them due to age.
I would like to hear from anyone who may have gone with this setup, chime in please and let know how it worked out, or not.
For the install I'm taking the wheels to a local repair shop, they will do the tire change and balance for a very reasonable sum.

 

[trikermutha]

Kuhmo will wear in the center too.

 

[jma57]

Kuhmo will wear in the center too.

At 8k as well?

 

[trikermutha]

Maybe or 13 k. You won’t get much more out of them either. Heavier the bike the faster they wear. I seem numbers all over the board.

 

[trikermutha]

Fronts normally take longer to wear out and alignments will help with life of the tires.

 

[jma57]

Maybe or 13 k. You won’t get much more out of them either. Heavier the bike the faster they wear. I seem numbers all over the board.

That's disappointing, but that's how it goes. I plan to ride more frequently and was hoping for better numbers. I still think, and it's just my opinion, that the Kuhmo is probably a better tire overall.
I'll keep the tires at the proper pressure, bike aligned and see what happens.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

It's time to change the original Kenda tires on my 2017 F3. They only have 8k miles but they are 7 years old and the rear tire is pretty much done: worn in the middle...
I'm going to get the Kuhmo Ecsta KU25 for the rear and Kenda Kanines for the front.
It seems the Kanine for the rear continues to wear out the center too quickly, just like my current one, so no to that.
I expect the front Kanines to wear as well as my current ones and I'm ok with that, since they still look good with even wear. I'm replacing them due to age.
I would like to hear from anyone who may have gone with this setup, chime in please and let know how it worked out, or not.
For the install I'm taking the wheels to a local repair shop, they will do the tire change and balance for a very reasonable sum.

If you have someone other than a dealer that can/will mount AUTO tires ( which are a way better choice ) then get a Riken Raptor HR in 215/60-15 @ Tire rack .... also get Vredestein " Quatrac " in 165/60-15 for the front .... DECLINE to tell what VEH> you are putting them on .... because they are auto tires, if you tell they are going a an MTC or Spyder they can't legally sell them to you .... Mike :thumbup:

 

[trikermutha]

That's disappointing, but that's how it goes. I plan to ride more frequently and was hoping for better numbers. I still think, and it's just my opinion, that the Kuhmo is probably a better tire overall.
I'll keep the tires at the proper pressure, bike aligned and see what happens.

You may find out once they wear more they tend to slip more in turns. Believe others have mentioned this too

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

You may find out once they wear more they tend to slip more in turns. Believe others have mentioned this too

:agree: about those Kumho's .... quite a few members here who have used them, have reported this .....Mike :thumbup:

 

[Woodaddict]

For those that want Kanine's people are reporting they have been backordered for many months. I don't use OEM Kenda or Kanine. Have currently Federal Formosa on fronts. I'm going with Vredestein on front next

 

[jma57]

If you have someone other than a dealer that can/will mount AUTO tires ( which are a way better choice ) then get a Riken Raptor HR in 215/60-15 @ Tire rack .... also get Vredestein " Quatrac " in 165/60-15 for the front .... DECLINE to tell what VEH> you are putting them on .... because they are auto tires, if you tell they are going a an MTC or Spyder they can't legally sell them to you .... Mike :thumbup:

The shop will mount them, no questions asked, I'm not buying the tires from them. I hadn't considered different tire sizes...the rear would be about 5% bigger in diameter and 5% narrower, good thing, bad thing? Something to think about but I'm more likely to stick with stock sizes, thank you just the same for the suggestion.

 

[jma57]

For those that want Kanine's people are reporting they have been backordered for many months. I don't use OEM Kenda or Kanine. Have currently Federal Formosa on fronts. I'm going with Vredestein on front next

It appears I may get lucky:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDTTTMJ...HE7YW9UF&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[Snoking1127]

I just bought two 175/55R15 Vredestein Quatracs for the front of my Champagne 2018 RTL, it had a set of these until I moved the PPA wheels and Vredesteins to the Asphalt Grey one. Also ordered another set of the PPA ORB wheels to mount these new Verdesteins on. The Asphalt Grey one will lose the Kenda for a General Altimax this fall when I comes out of storage. The General is wearing very little on the rear of Hooker, it has been on it for three years and 11 or 12K miles.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

The shop will mount them, no questions asked, I'm not buying the tires from them. I hadn't considered different tire sizes...the rear would be about 5% bigger in diameter and 5% narrower, good thing, bad thing? Something to think about but I'm more likely to stick with stock sizes, thank you just the same for the suggestion.

I ONLY recommend sizes and makes of tires that work on Spyders ..... AND are at the Top of performance, wear etc. .....Mike :thumbup:

 

[ARtraveler]

RE: rear tires wearing out in the center.

Try 26# psi in the rear tire only. This is 2# less than the recommended maximum. I did this for years over seven different spyders. My rear mileage was a consistent 15K miles. One exception, 2014, BRP used a softer rubber compound in the Kenda's. Most wore out in about 5K miles. I got 8K out of mine.

The logic: As you ride, the temps on the tires heat up causing them to expand. The centers will expand the most.

 

[RapidSpyder]

:agree: about those Kumho's .... quite a few members here who have used them, have reported this .....Mike :thumbup:

Yup, that was me too. The Vredestein on the rear seems to be doing much better.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Kumhos will work well on a Spyder in any wheel position, and should even return similar or better milage to most other good quality a/mkt tires without abnormal wear or loss of traction if you set their pressures appropriately (lower ) for the lighter load of a Spyder vs that of most cars when they're new; but they will tend to 'harden up' & apparently 'lose traction' as they age/rack up the miles, developing that typical 'over-inflated' strip of wear down the centre of the tread, especially if you stick with that same pressure you worked out when new and stay with that from there on!! :sour:

This is because as their tread compound ages and hardens (their tread compound starts out a bit softer, then progressively gets a little harder as they wear/age, a bit more so than many other a/mkt tires) they will gradually need you to run a slightly lower pressure in order to get the tread compound up to its optimum operating temp as you ride and to avoid developing that centre wear strip and losing traction, especially in the wet!! However, the up-side of this 'hardening up' as they age thing can mean that for some users/in some applications, they get somewhat better milage/life than most! :thumbup:

All of which means that, if you're prepared to monitor your Kumho tires, their pressures, and their rate of wear a little more than you might with some other a/mkt tires, they should work/provide traction at least as well as most, and might even return similar or better milage to that of most other good quality a/mkt tires without any abnormal wear or loss of traction - but only if you are prepared to monitor and adjust their pressures appropriately as they age/harden up! :lecturef_smilie:

Just Sayin' hyea:

 

[Leaping1]

Kumhos will work well on a Spyder in any wheel position, and should even return similar or better milage to most other good quality a/mkt tires without abnormal wear or loss of traction if you set their pressures appropriately (lower ) for the lighter load of a Spyder vs that of most cars when they're new; but they will tend to 'harden up' & apparently 'lose traction' as they age/rack up the miles, developing that typical 'over-inflated' strip of wear down the centre of the tread, especially if you stick with that same pressure you worked out when new and stay with that from there on!! :sour:

This is because as their tread compound ages and hardens (their tread compound starts out a bit softer, then progressively gets a little harder as they wear/age, a bit more so than many other a/mkt tires) they will gradually need you to run a slightly lower pressure in order to get the tread compound up to its optimum operating temp as you ride and to avoid developing that centre wear strip and losing traction, especially in the wet!! However, the up-side of this 'hardening up' as they age thing can mean that for some users/in some applications, they get somewhat better milage/life than most! :thumbup:

All of which means that, if you're prepared to monitor your Kumho tires, their pressures, and their rate of wear a little more than you might with some other a/mkt tires, they should work/provide traction at least as well as most, and might even return similar or better milage to that of most other good quality a/mkt tires without any abnormal wear or loss of traction - but only if you are prepared to monitor and adjust their pressures appropriately as they age/harden up! :lecturef_smilie:

Just Sayin' hyea:

OK, I just put Kumhos on the rear and I need some good news after all of the comments I have seen. What pressure do you recommend? I am currently running 20 lbs.
Leon

 

[BajaRon]

The Kumho is a decent tire. But not a great tire. The one thing it has going for it, it's about the only tire other than the OEM Kenda that meets the original tire size. But for traction, especially in rain, and as it begins to wear (especially in colder weather), there are better options. A taller tire will get your speedo more accurate and other tires will provide better overall traction performance.

Yes, you give up a bit of width with the other options. But this is more a cosmetic effect than any reduction in performance on our Spyders.

 

[ulflyer]

It appears I may get lucky:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDTTTMJ...HE7YW9UF&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Put a set of these on my '22 RT about 4K mi ago and am well pleased with them. They balanced with only one weight per wheel. Running 15lb front, 18rear Altimax45.