Tires General Altimax Opservation

[Beaudog]

I can not argue traction because i have no way to measure it. My physics instructor always said I could have a coefficient of friction greater than 1 and that always baffled me.

I think it is more related to under steer vs over steer. The general rule being that as you lower pressure the tire tends to move toward under steer and as you add pressure it tends to move towards over steer. The problem is where is neutral. I think at 20 the tire is just starting to have some under steer or less over steer to the point that i can perceive it. Now if increasing under steer increases traction I do not know.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

TIRE PSI ..... KENDA vs. CAR TIRE

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.

You don't say whether it's the front or the rear tire ???? ..... the Kenda's probably need 18 psi minimum for the front ..... the rear Kenda really MUST have ....28 psi .... to function at it's best ............ Car tires are totally different 15psi front - 17 to 18 psi REAR .............. Mike :thumbup:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

UNDERSTEER vs. OVERSTEER

I can not argue traction because i have no way to measure it. My physics instructor always said I could have a coefficient of friction greater than 1 and that always baffled me.

I think it is more related to under steer vs over steer. The general rule being that as you lower pressure the tire tends to move toward under steer and as you add pressure it tends to move towards over steer. The problem is where is neutral. I think at 20 the tire is just starting to have some under steer or less over steer to the point that i can perceive it. Now if increasing under steer increases traction I do not know.

In your post about this subject you were referring to what you felt in the REAR tire. So my reply was about the REAR tire.... Unless the veh. you are talking about is ... REAR STEER ... Understeer & Oversteer are 99.9% related to the front tires and steering geometry............... And the Quote you used from me was directed towards ANOTHER members silly assertions ....He probably didn't understand it either :roflblack::roflblack:.............Mike :thumbup:

 

[BoilerAnimal]

As I said in an earlier post, I have a Yokohama Avid Touring S tire and am running at 18-19 PSI. I was riding home from work the night before last and rode through a short, heavy downpour. This was the first real heavy rain that I've ridden in since putting this tire on and was curious how it would do from a hard acceleration from a dead stop.

I came to a complete stop at a T intersection. I made a hard left turn and as I was about halfway through the turn I went to full throttle up to 55 MPH. There was no breaking away of the tire on wet asphalt. When I first put it on, I was able to sometimes break traction on hard acceleration, even on dry pavement. I was very concerned that I had made a couple hundred dollar mistake in putting this tire on.

After reading Mike's (Blueknight 911) and Peter Aawen's posts regarding lower tire pressure, I decided to try it. I started at 28 PSI, then 22 and now 18-19 PSI. It has made a world of difference, ALL for the better! I am now VERY pleased with my Yokohama tire and would get another in a heartbeat. I will also add that my wife and I ride two-up about 98% of the time with a combined weight of about 285 pounds.

Thanks Mike and Peter! Continue your crusade to enlighten the masses!

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

TO ANOTHER LOWER PSI CONVERT

As I said in an earlier post, I have a Yokohama Avid Touring S tire and am running at 18-19 PSI. I was riding home from work the night before last and rode through a short, heavy downpour. This was the first real heavy rain that I've ridden in since putting this tire on and was curious how it would do from a hard acceleration from a dead stop.

I came to a complete stop at a T intersection. I made a hard left turn and as I was about halfway through the turn I went to full throttle up to 55 MPH. There was no breaking away of the tire on wet asphalt. When I first put it on, I was able to sometimes break traction on hard acceleration, even on dry pavement. I was very concerned that I had made a couple hundred dollar mistake in putting this tire on.

After reading Mike's (Blueknight 911) and Peter Aawen's posts regarding lower tire pressure, I decided to try it. I started at 28 PSI, then 22 and now 18-19 PSI. It has made a world of difference, ALL for the better! I am now VERY pleased with my Yokohama tire and would get another in a heartbeat. I will also add that my wife and I ride two-up about 98% of the time with a combined weight of about 285 pounds.

Thanks Mike and Peter! Continue your crusade to enlighten the masses!

:clap: :yes: :clap: :yes:...............Mike :thumbup:

 

[UtahPete]

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 of the speedometer. The Kenda always had the speed 2 mph fast compared to my gps. The General moved that to 1 mph difference.

:agree:

 

[Fat Baxter]

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.

Aaaannnnddd..... that third-party shop I was relying on no longer offers this service. We chatted and he admitted he didn't know of anyone else in this area who could do this for me.

I hope that doesn't mean I'm stuck with going to the dealer and getting another crappy Kenda.

Update: I just checked with the dealer, and they want $189 for a new rear Kenda (that doesn't include installation), as opposed to WalMart's price of $80 for a General Altimax. That's highway robbery.

This may just drive me off the Spyder. I'm that pissed.

 

[gerald37]

Aaaannnnddd..... that third-party shop I was relying on no longer offers this service. We chatted and he admitted he didn't know of anyone else in this area who could do this for me.

I hope that doesn't mean I'm stuck with going to the dealer and getting another crappy Kenda.

Update: I just checked with the dealer, and they want $189 for a new rear Kenda, as opposed to WalMart's price of $80 for a General Altimax. That's highway robbery.

This may just drive me off the Spyder. I'm that pissed.

There is nothing to taking the rear wheel off the Spyder and then taking the wheel and tire to any tire shop.

 

[Docster]

" Tire science proof " - Peter Aawen and I have posted thousands of words on this subject. I'm sorry but I don't have a couple of days to RE-TYPE all that info.....It's all been said at least a couple of times ...... The info is still here, try search or go to Peter's Threads / posts and read the ones that apply ...... I can only use TWO fingers and I still make lots of typo's, so it takes me a long time to post a lot of verbiage ........ Mike :thumbup:

^^THIS......and it's been said and explained MANY times. Reading through posts that are repeated time and time again, one can usually determine who is a subject expert using data and science, and who isn't. That's why it pays to SEARCH and read many threads. One will find many opinions but only a few based on data and hard evidence. :2thumbs:

 

[Fat Baxter]

There is nothing to taking the rear wheel off the Spyder and then taking the wheel and tire to any tire shop.

I don't have the necessary jack and tools. I'm trying to avoid making that investment for a task I may perform only every three years.

 

[Easy Rider]

There is nothing to taking the rear wheel off the Spyder .............

I just love how some people think that their perspective is the only valid one and it applies to everybody in the world......

I quite assure you that removing and re-mounting the rear tire on a Spyder CORRECTLY AND SAFELY is a lot more than "nothing" for most riders.

 

[gerald37]

I just love how some people think that their perspective is the only valid one and it applies to everybody in the world......

I quite assure you that removing and re-mounting the rear tire on a Spyder CORRECTLY AND SAFELY is a lot more than "nothing" for most riders.

It took me less than two hours and that was mounting the new tire. Mounting the new tire is much harder than removing the wheel. I do have a tire changer but you can always take it to a tire shop to have it mounted. There are several videos on YouTube showing the removable of the rear wheel.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Perspective

I just love how some people think that their perspective is the only valid one and it applies to everybody in the world......

I quite assure you that removing and re-mounting the rear tire on a Spyder CORRECTLY AND SAFELY is a lot more than "nothing" for most riders.

And I just love how " YOU " think that " YOUR " perspective is the valid one and it applies to everybody and everything in the world ....:gaah::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: .................. Mike :thumbup:

 

[fjray]

And I just love how " YOU " think that " YOUR " perspective is the valid one and it applies to everybody and everything in the world ....:gaah::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: .................. Mike :thumbup:

Mr. Pot meet Mr. kettle. Opinions are like belly buttons and we all have one. It doesn't make any one more right than the rest.

 

[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 run General Altimax RT 43 on the rear of the spyder, and I run it at 26 psi, sorry for the misprint. Also I am 5ft. 6 inches tall. No problems.

Sent a pm.
Deanna

 

[Peteoz]

I quite assure you that removing and re-mounting the rear tire on a Spyder CORRECTLY AND SAFELY is a lot more than "nothing" for most riders.

Yeah, if it wasn’t for the fact that putting a Kenda on is my only other course of action, I certainly wouldn’t be doing it myself, Easy Rider I would much rather have the dealer’s wrench do it. Sure, I pay for it, and sure, he/she could screw it up just like I could, but that is far less likely, and if he/she does screw it up, it then becomes the dealer’s problem. Money well spent, in my opinion. :thumbup: (apart from the fact that the least time I spend on the garage floor these days, the better)

Pete

 

[gerald37]

Yeah, if it wasn’t for the fact that putting a Kenda on is my only other course of action, I certainly wouldn’t be doing it myself, Easy Rider I would much rather have the dealer’s wrench do it. Sure, I pay for it, and sure, he/she could screw it up just like I could, but that is far less likely, and if he/she does screw it up, it then becomes the dealer’s problem. Money well spent, in my opinion. :thumbup: (apart from the fact that the least time I spend on the garage floor these days, the better)

Pete

I have been riding motorcycles for over 63 years. Have owned over 35 motorcycles and have never had one back to a dealer. I have always did all my own service and repair work. I take it back I had a 2005 BMW K1200LT that had a rear end go when in warranty. The dealer replaced it. If it had been out of warranty I would have did it myself.

 

[Peteoz]

I have been riding motorcycles for over 63 years. Have owned over 35 motorcycles and have never had one back to a dealer. I have always did all my own service and repair work. I take it back I had a 2005 BMW K1200LT that had a rear end go when in warranty. The dealer replaced it. If it had been out of warranty I would have did it myself.

Good for you, Gerald:thumbup:.....not quite sure what that has to do with the comments that some riders don’t feel comfortable removing and replacing the rear wheel themselves though:hun:

Pete

 

[Fat Baxter]

FYI: I continue this discussion in the Alabama state thread. My concerns are posted there; I prefer not to goober up this thread any more.

 

[Easy Rider]

It took me less than two hours and that was mounting the new tire.

Not everybody has the skill and experience and equipment and patience to do that......correctly.
Do you really NOT understand that ??
There are some critical things involved when putting it back together too.