Tires

[dslim]

I asked for some help on here awhile back on my RTs which has a front end wobble. It is the stock front tires, they are cupping and pretty bad for 7000 miles. Some have suggested to switch over to car tires 175/55/15 front, my questions is. If I do this will I notice a difference in front grip? I like to corner aggressively and was wondering if I will be happy with the way the car tires work. I know I'm not enjoying changing front tires every 6000 miles. I had a 2010 RTs and had 18000 miles on it and never even rotated the tires. They still looked great. Now I've had a 13 and now my 14 go 6000 miles and the tires start chopping terribly. I'd like to hear from those who have tried. Thanks

 

[Bob Denman]

First; have you had it laser-aligned? :dontknow:
If the front end is pointed in the right direction; it won't make a bit of difference what tire you put on the bike.
nojoke

 

[dslim]

First; have you had it laser-aligned? :dontknow:
If the front end is pointed in the right direction; it won't make a bit of difference what tire you put on the bike.
nojoke

I'm changing all the tires first and then I'm getting it done, then it should be good for awhile.

 

[krazykat]

Front tires

First; have you had it laser-aligned? :dontknow:
If the front end is pointed in the right direction; it won't make a bit of difference what tire you put on the bike.
nojoke

You might have dealer check your front tires. Had similar problem (mine was pulling right) and dealer found my tires were defective and replaced them under warranty. Worth a try......

 

[Peter Aawen]

But once it's aligned & you've fitted better quality tyres, car or otherwise, YES, you'll be happy with the way it handles!! :thumbup:

Upgrade the sway bar & you'll be even more happy!! :yes::yes:

 

[garb55]

Since 2014 one of the major complaints about :spyder2: have been the OEM tires
cupping tires - out of round tires - tires with low mileage worn out
replaced OEM tires 2 or 3 times before they found a good set
BRP said they went back to the original compound in later 2014
But we are seeing complaints on the 2015
I believe BRP is not listening to their customers when they are complaining
It should be obvious by now that the bike owners are going to car tires because they can not trust the Kenda tires
Some are good - some are bad
I have Kumo on the back and General on the front and everything has been fine for the last 10,000 + miles
Correction:
I have Continental Conti Pro tires on the front from Walmart size 155/60R15

 

[Deanna777]

Since 2014 one of the major complaints about :spyder2: have been the OEM tires
cupping tires - out of round tires - tires with low mileage worn out
replaced OEM tires 2 or 3 times before they found a good set
BRP said they went back to the original compound in later 2014
But we are seeing complaints on the 2015
I believe BRP is not listening to their customers when they are complaining
It should be obvious by now that the bike owners are going to car tires because they can not trust the Kenda tires
Some are good - some are bad
I have Kumo on the back and General on the front and everything has been fine for the last 10,000 + miles

Hi, How does the spyder handle with the General on the front?

What size are you using on the front?


I have General Altimax RT 43 on the rear. I replace the ( original Kenda tire when the spyder had 5,284 miles) Deanna

 

[garb55]

Hi, How does the spyder handle with the General on the front?

What size are you using on the front?


I have General Altimax RT 43 on the rear. I replace the ( original Kenda tire when the spyder had 5,284 miles) Deanna

I made a mistake sorry
I have CONTIENTAL CONTI PRO tires on the front
They are 155/60r15

 

[Bob Denman]

Kumho's Solus also comes in a "155" sizing that'll replace the OEM perfectly... :2thumbs:

 

[KnightRider68]

I believe BRP is not listening to their customers when they are complaining
It should be obvious by now that the bike owners are going to car tires because they can not trust the Kenda tires.

BRP is definitely not a consumer friendly company. They advertise that they care about their customers but after the sale the real BRP shows its ugly head. They do not care about our safety or our costs they don't care about anything after the sale. I have 11K miles on 2014 RT-S and will have to replace the rear tire. Does BRP care that their decision to go CHEAP on tires affects the customer?? Hell no.

 

[Bob Denman]

Have you EVER given any thought to the possibility, that it may not be legal for them to put anything other than a motorcycle tire, on the motorcycle that we're buying from them? :dontknow:

...And that Kenda was the only manufacturer willing to step to the plate, and provide one in the size and configuration requested?

 

[garb55]

Have you EVER given any thought to the possibility, that it may not be legal for them to put anything other than a motorcycle tire, on the motorcycle that we're buying from them? :dontknow:

...And that Kumho was the only manufacturer willing to step to the plate, and provide one in the size and configuration requested?

First I think you mean Kenda not Kumho
You may be right about the legal part with motorcycle tires
However
BRP can specify the specs. foe the tire (rubber compound etc.)
They are the consumer and Kenda is the seller
It may cost more for BRP to do this but They would not have as many complaints and they would add the cost to the bike
I know the original Kenda tires I had on my 2008 were much better than the ones we are getting now
Seems BRP is not following up on their suppliers quality control
Still love my Spyder but getting tires that are a better quality is a PITA

 

[Bob Denman]

You are correct: Kenda; not Kumho! Sorry...
(I get my "Ks" confused at times! )

Edited, and corrected! :thumbup:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Have you EVER given any thought to the possibility, that it may not be legal for them to put anything other than a motorcycle tire, on the motorcycle that we're buying from them? :dontknow:

...And that Kenda was the only manufacturer willing to step to the plate, and provide one in the size and configuration requested?

That is essentially correct. The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 49 CFR 571 has several sections relating to tires. Section 119 applies to non-passenger vehicle tires, including motorcycles. If you want to bore yourself you can link to all the various standards from here. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/CF...1-title49-vol6-sec571-119/content-detail.html. Here the link to a pdf of Section 119. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2011-title49-vol6/pdf/CFR-2011-title49-vol6-sec571-119.pdf

In a nutshell the FMVSS requires that rims and tires be identified for the use they are designed for. Passenger car tires and rims are not designed for motorcycles, hence cannot be marked for m/c use. The only reasonable way to meet the standards is to design tires specifically for m/c use and then identify them as such. There is one major difference between the requirement for m/c tires and car tires. Car tires must have wear bars at 2/32" tread depth. Motorcycle tires must have wear bars at 1/32" depth. IOW, m/c tires are allowed by law to wear down 1/32" more than are car tires.

I do not find anything in the code that prohibits using a tire for a purpose for which it was not originally designed and manufactured. As far as I can tell no tire dealer, or m/c dealer, is prohibited from mounting a car tire on a m/c. There is a requirement that every new tire be registered but I don't find any specific requirement that the vehicle the tire is installed on be reported.

What is really needed is a code update to recognize the tire requirements of non-leaning three wheelers like the Spyder.

 

[John Easydoesit]

Conti tires

Since 2014 one of the major complaints about :spyder2: have been the OEM tires
cupping tires - out of round tires - tires with low mileage worn out
replaced OEM tires 2 or 3 times before they found a good set
BRP said they went back to the original compound in later 2014
But we are seeing complaints on the 2015
I believe BRP is not listening to their customers when they are complaining
It should be obvious by now that the bike owners are going to car tires because they can not trust the Kenda tires
Some are good - some are bad
I have Kumo on the back and General on the front and everything has been fine for the last 10,000 + miles
Correction:
I have Continental Conti Pro tires on the front from Walmart size 155/60R15

How long have you had them? Miles? How is dry & wet grip? Any fender rub?

 

[John Easydoesit]

Belt tensioner

That is essentially correct. The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 49 CFR 571 has several sections relating to tires. Section 119 applies to non-passenger vehicle tires, including motorcycles. If you want to bore yourself you can link to all the various standards from here. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/CF...1-title49-vol6-sec571-119/content-detail.html. Here the link to a pdf of Section 119. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2011-title49-vol6/pdf/CFR-2011-title49-vol6-sec571-119.pdf

In a nutshell the FMVSS requires that rims and tires be identified for the use they are designed for. Passenger car tires and rims are not designed for motorcycles, hence cannot be marked for m/c use. The only reasonable way to meet the standards is to design tires specifically for m/c use and then identify them as such. There is one major difference between the requirement for m/c tires and car tires. Car tires must have wear bars at 2/32" tread depth. Motorcycle tires must have wear bars at 1/32" depth. IOW, m/c tires are allowed by law to wear down 1/32" more than are car tires.

I do not find anything in the code that prohibits using a tire for a purpose for which it was not originally designed and manufactured. As far as I can tell no tire dealer, or m/c dealer, is prohibited from mounting a car tire on a m/c. There is a requirement that every new tire be registered but I don't find any specific requirement that the vehicle the tire is installed on be reported.

What is really needed is a code update to recognize the tire requirements of non-leaning three wheelers like the Spyder.

BTW what do you think of your smooth spyder belt tensioner? I am thinking of adding one