Tires General Altimax Opservation

[Navydad]

Beaudog

I have the Altimax on rear and Federal Formosa's on front. 95% of my riding is two up and our combined weight is near 350. When we travel you can add about 60 pounds to that 350. I run the Altimax at 19 PSI and the Federals at 16 PSI. I currently have 15,000 miles on this combination and will get a lot more before a change is needed. As far as handling is concerned, our bike handles just fine thank you and I tend to push hard in the southeastern Ohio and West Virginia hills. Nanny and I meet quite often on every ride. Not trying to tell you or anyone else what pressures or tires to run because frankly I couldn't care less. Life's too short. I'm just giving you my insight with the Altimax and what works for me. I hope these numbers will help you decide what is best for you. Like many things, play with it a bit and you will find a spot that you like:thumbup:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Car tires & psi

I have the Altimax on rear and Federal Formosa's on front. 95% of my riding is two up and our combined weight is near 350. When we travel you can add about 60 pounds to that 350. I run the Altimax at 19 PSI and the Federals at 16 PSI. I currently have 15,000 miles on this combination and will get a lot more before a change is needed. As far as handling is concerned, our bike handles just fine thank you and I tend to push hard in the southeastern Ohio and West Virginia hills. Nanny and I meet quite often on every ride. Not trying to tell you or anyone else what pressures or tires to run because frankly I couldn't care less. Life's too short. I'm just giving you my insight with the Altimax and what works for me. I hope these numbers will help you decide what is best for you. Like many things, play with it a bit and you will find a spot that you like:thumbup:

Thank you for the feedback, I personally feel the same way ..... You are proving that SCIENCE - beats " Butt Theory " All the time :thumbup: :yes::yes::yes::yes:....Mike

 

[Fatcycledaddy]

I have the General Ultimax on mine, I run 16 PSI when just me and the wife is on it, and when fully loaded for a trip and towing the camper, I up it to 18 - 20 PSI.
I watch the 4 pound rule and adjust the pressure to the lowest I can get and still stay in those tolerances.
Love the ride, handling, and traction on both wet and dry surfaces.

 

[robhowen]

Me too

I too work with Sierra Cycles and now run a General Altimax on the rear as well. You are correct as your ride is much better at 24 psi. I found I began to loose gas mileage below 20 psi so I am keeping mine in the 22-24 range and very happy. I'm also running Continentals on the front and really happy with them in the 13-14 psi range.

Rob

The rear tire on my ST limited had bare spots at 7000 miles. The local shop Sierra Cycles Sieraa Vista Az keeps the General Altimax in stock and will mount them so I went that way.

The first ride with the Altimax the bike felt squirrely and was reacting to small road variations. cracks, tar strips and crown. I checked the pressure and the shop had aired it to 28 psi. I dropped it down to 24 for the next ride and all was back to normal. So the tire definitely needs to be run at lower pressure than BRM recommends for the Kenda. I will probably try 22 for the next ride.

Once the pressure was down I realy could not tell any difference in ride than the Kenda but hopefully it will go more than 7000 miles.

The Altimax did take 1 mph error out o the speedometer. The Kenda always had the speed 2 mph fast compared to my gps. The General moved that to 1 mph difference.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

WELLLLLLL NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT

I run the General Altimax RT 43 on the rear of the spyder( 2014RTS-SE6) and I run @ 28psi. No problems.

I also run the Continentals Contiprocontact's on the front @ 19PSI.

Deanna

:yikes: .... You have previously stated ( many ,many times ) that you put 26psi in the rear ..... why have you added TWO more lbs. ??????? ........ Has there been a change in the Science ......Mike :thumbup:

 

[gerald37]

I run the General Altimax RT 43 on the rear of the spyder( 2014RTS-SE6) and I run @ 28psi. No problems.

I also run the Continentals Contiprocontact's on the front @ 19PSI.

Deanna

I also run the same tires and also the same pressure you are running. I thought about lower my General Altimax to 20 lbs just to see if I do get a little better ride. I ride a lone and weight about 155 lbs.

 

[gerald37]

Re-read my post - I DIDN'T CLAIM YOU WERE WRONG ..... just mis-guided ..... So I tried to HELP you ....believe whatever you want........Mike :thumbup:

I don't claim to be real smart but try not to be obnoxious.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

OBNOXIOUS

I don't claim to be real smart but try not to be obnoxious.

Nothing I said was Obnoxious or even close to Obnoxious ......... I only tried to help you, but rest assured I WON"T make that mis-take again........................" EVER " :yikes: :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:...Mike :thumbup:

 

[AeroPilot]

OK OK I know I said that the wifes General had 23 psi in the rear

But I got to take the F3T for a spin to the gas station to gas it up for my sweetie. After 8 miles RT when I got back to the garage the rear psi was up to 24 psi at 86F and the fronts were now at 17 psi at 77 and 81F .... what should I do now??

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

TIRE PSI & HEAT

But I got to take the F3T for a spin to the gas station to gas it up for my sweetie. After 8 miles RT when I got back to the garage the rear psi was up to 24 psi at 86F and the fronts were now at 17 psi at 77 and 81F .... what should I do now??

The tire went from 23 to 24 psi ..... that's one lb. ..... That's nothing to worry about ..... when I recommend 17 psi , I ASSUME it will rise 3 lbs ... that's why I suggest 17 lbs...... I accidently drove on my Hydro-edge at 8 psi ....NOTHING BAD HAPPENED ..... seriously try 17 -18 psi, your Butt will thank you for it :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:.............Mike :bbq:

 

[canamjhb]

Temperature does make a difference. Wife and I started our 3 week tour last month. I aired all the tires to correct PSI. It was over 105 degrees when I did that. Then, I checked pressure in Washington State when the temperature was about 60. We lost about 1 1/2 lbs in each tire and 4 lbs in the trailer tires due to ambient temperature differences. I corrected pressures. After we got back to the desert, I reduced pressures to where they needed to be. The pressure checks were all done on "cold" tires using the same digital gage. Guess I'm getting anal about keeping pressure where I want it.....

 

[Navydad]

Good for you.

Temperature does make a difference. Wife and I started our 3 week tour last month. I aired all the tires to correct PSI. It was over 105 degrees when I did that. Then, I checked pressure in Washington State when the temperature was about 60. We lost about 1 1/2 lbs in each tire and 4 lbs in the trailer tires due to ambient temperature differences. I corrected pressures. After we got back to the desert, I reduced pressures to where they needed to be. The pressure checks were all done on "cold" tires using the same digital gage. Guess I'm getting anal about keeping pressure where I want it.....

Nothing wrong with that! I help my buddy around his shop when he is busy and some of what I do is tire changes. For every guy like you who is anal about tires I get ten guys who have fifteen pounds of air in a worn out rear tire on a big touring bike. "When did you last check your tire pressures?" They say "HUH" while looking at you like you are speaking a foreign language. I just take their money, wave, and thank God for watching over children and fools.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Tire temperature

Temperature does make a difference. Wife and I started our 3 week tour last month. I aired all the tires to correct PSI. It was over 105 degrees when I did that. Then, I checked pressure in Washington State when the temperature was about 60. We lost about 1 1/2 lbs in each tire and 4 lbs in the trailer tires due to ambient temperature differences. I corrected pressures. After we got back to the desert, I reduced pressures to where they needed to be. The pressure checks were all done on "cold" tires using the same digital gage. Guess I'm getting anal about keeping pressure where I want it.....

:agree: with the statement " Temperature does make a difference " ...... However there are NO tire manufacturers that tell the buyer - they need to check the tire temperature at any time they are using it .... Probably because the TIRES can handle any change you might encounter......so why even get into this area of " Temperature does make a difference " .... my comments were not meant to be a Slam, but maybe pointing folks to be more concerned about using car tires on a Spyder and having it over-inflated for the weight it's carrying ...... just a thought......Mike :thumbup:

 

[Peteoz]

But I got to take the F3T for a spin to the gas station to gas it up for my sweetie. After 8 miles RT when I got back to the garage the rear psi was up to 24 psi at 86F and the fronts were now at 17 psi at 77 and 81F .... what should I do now??

Hahahaha.....too subtle, Aero .

Pete

 

[Deanna777]

I also run the same tires and also the same pressure you are running. I thought about lower my General Altimax to 20 lbs just to see if I do get a little better ride. I ride a lone and weight about 155 lbs.

I also ride solo, and I have 18,060 miles on the General Altimax ( the OEM was changed @ 5,824 miles). The current mileage on the my :spyder2: is 23,884 miles.

I am happy with the Continentals Contiprocontact's on the front. and I'm 5ft. 6 inches tall, and weight about 140lbs.

Deanna

 

[Fat Baxter]

This is a serendipitous thread. I currently have the General Altimax RT 43 on my Spyder. It has 24,000 miles on it, and the wear indicator is saying "replace me." I've been running it at 22-24 psi.

So I called the dealer today and asked if they would install another General for me; I even said I'd sign a waiver. Nope, they won't install any tire that hasn't been purchased through the dealership. So I'm off to check a third-party shop about installation.

The good news is that WalMart sells this tire. No hassle about whether it fits your current vehicle.

 

[Beaudog]

OK rode 70 miles today at 20 psi. I have to ride 1 mile of dirt before I get to the pavement. The ride over the studder bumps was softer, then I have about 7 or 8 cattle guard to cross to get to town. The ride over the guards was softer and I did not get as much rear tire kick up as before so this is all good. I did perceive that the rear of the machine was not responding to steering input as fast as before. There seemed to be a few millisecond delay before the rear reacted to steering input. This bothered me at first but then I realized it might be a good thing as small input to the front tires were being ignored and there were no twitchies in the ride. It tracked straight down the road. So people who seem to have trouble with the spyder being twitchie might want to try lowering tire pressure.

I will try 18 psi next ride to see how that goes. But I think I can say anyone running the altimax over 24 psi is probably running too much pressure.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

DELAY IN RESPONSE

OK rode 70 miles today at 20 psi. I have to ride 1 mile of dirt before I get to the pavement. The ride over the studder bumps was softer, then I have about 7 or 8 cattle guard to cross to get to town. The ride over the guards was softer and I did not get as much rear tire kick up as before so this is all good. I did perceive that the rear of the machine was not responding to steering input as fast as before. There seemed to be a few millisecond delay before the rear reacted to steering input. This bothered me at first but then I realized it might be a good thing as small input to the front tires were being ignored and there were no twitchies in the ride. It tracked straight down the road. So people who seem to have trouble with the spyder being twitchie might want to try lowering tire pressure.

I will try 18 psi next ride to see how that goes. But I think I can say anyone running the altimax over 24 psi is probably running too much pressure.

What you perceived is known as Traction ..... At the lower PSI that you are experimenting with you are actually feeling better Traction. Traction is never a Bad thing, It's the reason manufacture's keep making improvements in the rubber compounds they are using and the subtle tread design changes they do ...... It's a Science ..............PS I think you are headed in the right direction by lowering the psi .................Mike :thumbup:

 

[Finn]

AGREE WITH BLUEKNIGHT911

When I stroll through the forest ....I never argue with TREE's ....... So I won't bother doing it here and now :dontknow: ...I have better things to do .........Mike :thumbup:

For what its worth, I agree with you Blueknight911. The tyre size we have on a Spyder rear, is rather large, and can take a lot of load, and if it has, it must have higher pressures than we use on a Spyder.
I have been running down to 18psi on the OME tyre, dropping gradually from 22psi. its now up for replacement after only 15,5000km. I'm now fitting a car tyre, hence on this page. I have been in the auto trade since 1960, so I have an idea of tyre pressures. Finn, from Down Under.

 

[Easy Rider]

What you perceived is known as Traction ..... At the lower PSI that you are experimenting with you are actually feeling better Traction.

That is a preposterous assertion.

Under the conditions he stated, "traction" has nothing to do with it.

He is describing a tiny difference in TRACKING and under normal circumstances that is quite different than traction.