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Why would you want an asymmetrical rear tire?

I have the standard Kendra tyre on the back and I can say what a crap tyre it is in the wet.... anything more than light throttle in low gears will get it spinning up!!! Not cool when you have a child on the back! Cannot wait for it to wear out to replace it with a car tyre!
 
... The tire he purchased was labeled for placing one side of the tires tread pattern to the outside. .... Any specific thoughts beyond your post regarding this.
I can't recall a tyre marked 'outside' that didn't also have some form of asymmetric tread pattern but I don't doubt it existed. My guess would be it had an asymmetric construction which imparted a particular characteristic so the tyre would be marked to ensure correct fitment.

A very long while back, several of us here discussed these concerns. It was agreed by some of us, myself included, to utilize a tire that could be rotationally directional, but having tread symmetry that was mirrored on each side of the tires rotational centerline.
Yep, that's my thought too. The problem as I see it using an asymmetric rear tyre is that, unless one can find the design brief and final specification, it's an unknown quantity. I prefer to keep my odds stacked for me rather than agin me.

The traction ratings, based on wet grip, are less important if you never ride in the rain.
I think that's a very important point when we discuss some topics on the forum, where a person lives and rides will have a major bearing on their choices. For that reason I won't recommend a particular tyre. Here in Scotland we frequently have three seasons in one day weather wise so I guess my preferred tyre characteristics will be very different from someone who, for instance, lives in Texas or Arizona.

This afternoon I've been riding under black clouds and torrential downpours in full wet gear, now it's 8 in the evening and this is how it is at the moment...
 

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I think that's a very important point when we discuss some topics on the forum, where a person lives and rides will have a major bearing on their choices. For that reason I won't recommend a particular tyre. Here in Scotland we frequently have three seasons in one day weather wise so I guess my preferred tyre characteristics will be very different from someone who, for instance, lives in Texas or Arizona.

This afternoon I've been riding under black clouds and torrential downpours in full wet gear, now it's 8 in the evening and this is how it is at the moment...

I ride mostly in the dry west, but can encounter heavy rain, even snow in the mountains particularly. I want a tire that does well in the wet, even though wet riding is probably only 5% of the time. I can put on a rain suit if I have to, but I can't swap tires out for conditions.
 
I ride mostly in the dry west, but can encounter heavy rain, even snow in the mountains particularly. I want a tire that does well in the wet, even though wet riding is probably only 5% of the time. I can put on a rain suit if I have to, but I can't swap tires out for conditions.
Well that's pretty much how I feel too, though our rain/sun at the mo is more like 50/50. When in the mountains of Europe this time of year and onwards snow is also possible, erm...likely.
 
Hi hogrider!
When you mounted the Vredestein Quatrac 5 on your 2018 RTL rear, which side did you mount the Inner Side to?
I see the original question was asked and appears it was mounted on the right side. It probably won't matter but I am curious. Thanks
 
Hi hogrider!
When you mounted the Vredestein Quatrac 5 on your 2018 RTL rear, which side did you mount the Inner Side to?
I see the original question was asked and appears it was mounted on the right side. It probably won't matter but I am curious. Thanks

I mounted the inner marked side against the belt for no particular reason. Looking at the tire, I kinda wished I would have mounted it the other way, as the rain groove is smaller on the outer side, and may be less liable to pick up rocks. So far I like the tire fine, does everything I need it to do. Still waiting to do two tests, wet skidpad (to see what happens when it actually comes loose) and hydroplane response.
 
Paul, the tire you mounted for your friend was an asymmetrical tire if it had an Inside and Outside label. Also, the General Altimax RT43 is readily available, the Yokohama S Drive is not.

The owner of the tire decided what tire he wanted and the orientation it was mounted in. This was a while back and s.Drives were still readily available. His choice in all parameters.
 
I know each manufacturer is different as to how they measure the tires, but the specs give a little insight as to the tires. In example, Vredestein's UTGQ is 400, but that may be equivalent to some other brand rating their tires at 300, or 500. Diameter measurements are probably more exacting as published, but there are still slight differences.

Published numbers:
Vredestein- Hard to find specs on these tires. (Discounttirezone) 205/60R15- Diameter is 25.1" Circumference is 78.85", Math is 1 mile @ 63360 Inches / 78.85 (single roll out of tire) = 803 revs per mile. ± 4.6% larger than OEM.

Yokohama (Tirerack) 205/55R15- Diameter is 23.8". Circumference is 74.77". Same math yields 847 revs per mile. Minutely smaller than OEM.

Been a while since I decided on and installed our rear tire. Pretty certain I accomplished a true measured roll out of the Kenda oem tire. It was very close in inflated measured diameter and roll out. 840 as you posted vs 847 revs/mile is negligible difference. Not even a 1% change.

Others have used the rear tire size to correct speedometer errors. For us, I know the small error and have no concern for it. If traveling, I merely use the GPS data and set CC based off that.



Kenda has no published data that I have found.
Generic 225/55R15 Size from Tacomaworld Tire Size calculator. Diameter 23.86" Circumference is 74.95" 845 revs per mile
Tape I pulled on OEM Kenda 225/55R15. Diamaeter is 24.00" Circumference is 75.39" 840 revs per mile

So I was interested in correcting the built in speedometer error while also minimizing sizing differences between front and rear (new tires vs OEM), and couldn't get there with the same size or smaller tire. My opinion only mind you, I'm sure others will think I'm an idiot.


Been a while since I decided on and installed our rear tire. Pretty certain I accomplished a true measured roll out of the Kenda oem tire. It was very close in inflated measured diameter and roll out. 840 as you posted vs 847 revs/mile is negligible difference. Not even a 1% change.

As for tire spec data, I have always referenced the tire manufacturers website data. While researching what tire I wanted to use, I did find some discrepancies in the web based tire sales sites vs the tire manufacturers website info.

Ironic to see the Tacomaworld referenced here again, been a Tacoma owner long before a Spyder owner and know the group well. Downside of any tire comparator is that two identically sized tires, often have totally different dimensions when actually measured.

Others have used the rear tire size to correct speedometer errors. For us, I know the small error and have no concern for it. If traveling, I merely use the GPS data and set CC based off that.
 
Been a while since I decided on and installed our rear tire. Pretty certain I accomplished a true measured roll out of the Kenda oem tire. It was very close in inflated measured diameter and roll out. 840 as you posted vs 847 revs/mile is negligible difference. Not even a 1% change.

As for tire spec data, I have always referenced the tire manufacturers website data. While researching what tire I wanted to use, I did find some discrepancies in the web based tire sales sites vs the tire manufacturers website info.

Ironic to see the Tacomaworld referenced here again, been a Tacoma owner long before a Spyder owner and know the group well. Downside of any tire comparator is that two identically sized tires, often have totally different dimensions when actually measured.

Others have used the rear tire size to correct speedometer errors. For us, I know the small error and have no concern for it. If traveling, I merely use the GPS data and set CC based off that.

I reckon I'm OCD about speedometers. I've measured everything I've ever drive against a good GPS, and all of the American based cars were exactly zero percent wrong on the speedometers. I know there's a law about motorcycle speedometers, but it just bothers me for some reason. The "Speedo Healer" was made for folks like me.
 
I guess I'll be a test dummy. I recently installed Vredestein Quatrac 5 on front and rear with the Inside marking on the brake side. Friday looks like i will be riding in the rain for quite a bit if the weather don't change will give an update after.
 
An ultra high performance tire like that is great for folks who live in areas where it doesn't get cold in the winter but for those of us who live in areas with four distinct seasons (a nice way of saying cold), it is problematic.

The Vredsteins have the nice little mountain with snowflake symbol, so they'll probably perform well long after I decide it's too cold.
 
The Vredestein Quatrac 5 is not an ultra high performance tire, it is classed as a grand touring all season tire on Tire Rack. I have them on the front of my Spyder and love them.
 
I don't know the origin of the article but it was in a motoring magazine. It talked about the benefits and intentions of Asymetric tyres.

One area was pumping water out of the contact patch as it described it. The action can be more aggressive with an Asymetric tread pattern as you still have a larger chunk/portion of the tread that is around the circumference of one side of the tread pattern.
E.g The Left tyre has an almost solid rib of tread around the inner edge, acts like a labyrinth seal, and a pattern on the right hand side that promotes pumping water out from the contact patch.

This works well on vehicles where you have two tyres counteracting one another.

I imagine this doesn't work well where you have one wheel like the Spyder rear. In the wet the tyre will be performing its pumping action and wanting to push the rear end away from the "jet of water". Using the example above, if you fit an Assym tyre meant for the Left Hand Side, it will want to push water to the left, but there is no opposing force to counteract - end result a desire for the tyre to slide away form the water being evacuated from the contact patch.

AssymT.JPG

From my posts you've seen aquaplaning is already a big issue with the RTL, and asym tyre pushing water to one side will see you doing more sideways slides than you desire (mind you if that floats your boat don't let it stop you)
 
Please keep it polite people, & leave out the personal attacks. And while I'm at it, can I remind everyone that if there's any 'slapping' to be done about whatever's been posted, it's the Mod/Admin Team's job to do that, no-one else's. :lecturef_smilie:
 
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I don't know the origin of the article but it was in a motoring magazine. It talked about the benefits and intentions of Asymetric tyres.

One area was pumping water out of the contact patch as it described it. The action can be more aggressive with an Asymetric tread pattern as you still have a larger chunk/portion of the tread that is around the circumference of one side of the tread pattern.
E.g The Left tyre has an almost solid rib of tread around the inner edge, acts like a labyrinth seal, and a pattern on the right hand side that promotes pumping water out from the contact patch.

This works well on vehicles where you have two tyres counteracting one another.

I imagine this doesn't work well where you have one wheel like the Spyder rear. In the wet the tyre will be performing its pumping action and wanting to push the rear end away from the "jet of water". Using the example above, if you fit an Assym tyre meant for the Left Hand Side, it will want to push water to the left, but there is no opposing force to counteract - end result a desire for the tyre to slide away form the water being evacuated from the contact patch.

View attachment 175104

From my posts you've seen aquaplaning is already a big issue with the RTL, and asym tyre pushing water to one side will see you doing more sideways slides than you desire (mind you if that floats your boat don't let it stop you)

Is there any evidence the amount of sideways force generated by the water evacuation is sufficient to affect stability? Or is this conjecture?
 
HI UtahPete

Para's 1, 2, and 3 where summarizing the article from memory.

Para 4 is High School Physics. You have forces working in multiple directions (causing the vehicle to move forward, resistance from wheels/tyres/bearings at the front, then another from tyre grip, then another from tyre deformation, then another when tyre loses its contact patch with the road surface, and the last when the tyre is performing its pumping action).

Note I didn't say "always". There would no doubt be times where the tyre will run along happily in the wet, its those other times where you have fluids laying on the road surface from rain, spillage, Irrigation overspray... the point is there is the potential for an Asym tyre to generate a force that is not desirable at a time where you'd possibly prefer to have all things working in your favor (e.g. cornering where you'll have the sideways forces already and an Asym tyre behavior ).

I'm also not suggesting anyone not buy them, my preference is to not use them on my RTL, something the tyre dealership supported. We have a very limited range of tyre options here in Aus compared to the US, so I do what I normally do and called manufacturers/importers looking for 225/50 R15 tyres. Pirelli had a tyre but was Asym, and the guy quoted basically the same reasons not to fit it to the RT. Ditto for Yokohama, who suggested Nankang. On a side note both had a chuckle when I said our Spyders come with Kenda's...
 
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