Will any year Spyder Centramatic Wheel Balancers fit my 2025? Anyone know where I can still get a set?

[vienna7475]

I just bought a new 2025 RT Limited and called Centramatic as I couldn't find their wheel balancers anywhere. I was informed they don't make them for the Can Am Spyders anymore. I have 2 questions:

1. Has the front wheel bolt pattern stayed the same for the RT from 2015 to present? I had a set of centramatic wheel balancers on my 2015 RT and loved them.
2. If the bolt pattern and fit have stayed the same, does anyone still have a set in inventory or is anyone getting rid of an RT where they would be willing to sell their old ones?

Thanks.

 

[vienna7475]

If none of you have ever used Google AI mode to look for an answer it does a very good job of finding information. I thought I would provide the information I got back from my search. I thought it was some very good detail. Here is the question I asked:

Can you find out why the centramatic wheel balancer company stopped making centramatic wheel balancers for the can am spyders.

Answer:

While Centramatic has not issued a formal, singular press release detailing their exit from the Can-Am Spyder market, the discontinuation of their Can-Am Spyder line stems from a combination of clearance/engineering constraints, vehicle sensor interference, and a limited market size.

The primary factors that led to the product being quietly phased out include:

1. Complex Wheel Geometry & Clearance Issues

During initial product development—which was done in partnership with aftermarket specialists like Lamonster Garage—engineering the balancers was a major challenge. Because Can-Am Spyder wheels are relatively small (15-inch rims) compared to the semi-trucks and large touring motorcycles Centramatic usually designs for, there was very little physical real estate to work with.

The Problem: The back of the Spyder wheels have a tight taper, and the brake calipers sit incredibly close to the rim.

The Result: Even slight variations between model years or aftermarket wheel designs caused the balancer ring to rub against the brake calipers or the wheel itself.

2. Vehicle Stability System (VSS) Interference

The Can-Am Spyder relies heavily on a sensitive electronic suite, including its Vehicle Stability System (VSS) and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).

The Problem: Centramatic plates are installed between the wheel hub and the brake rotor assembly. On the rear wheel, adding the thickness of the balancer plate (even at just 0.034" thick) pushed the toothed speed sensor wheel slightly outboard.

The Result: This minutely changed the gap between the speed sensor and the sensor pickup. If riders did not meticulously measure and correct this gap using custom shims, it would trigger VSS faults, dashboard warning lights, and throw the Spyder into restrictive "limp mode".

3. Limited Balancing Capacity on Small Wheels

Centramatic balancers work using centrifugal force to throw internal weights/shot to the light side of a spinning wheel. Because the Spyder balancers had a small overall diameter, the balancing rings could only hold a tiny amount of weight.

The Problem: Can-Am Spyder factory tires (particularly the stock Kenda tires) are notorious in the community for requiring an immense amount of weight (often 3 to 4 ounces) to balance properly.

The Result: The compact Centramatic rings simply lacked the physics and volume to overcome severely out-of-balance tires on their own. Owners still had to perfectly static-balance their tires first with lead weights, rendering the "automatic balancer" less effective as a standalone solution.

4. High Production Costs vs. Low Volume

Centramatic's core business relies on high-volume markets like heavy-duty commercial trucks, fleet vehicles, and massive motorcycle segments like the Honda Goldwing or Harley-Davidson lines. The Can-Am Spyder is a highly niche, low-volume product by comparison. Given the constant revisions needed to fit the changing geometry of newer Spyder models, the return on investment for manufacturing, updating, and supporting a three-wheel-specific kit did not make financial sense for the company.

 

[Snoking1127]

I have a set I used on the front of the first 2018 that put Federal tires on. Since moving to Vredestein front tires that I do not balance them, I can not tell the difference with or without the balancers. The best bet is to get away from Kenda tires.

Here is a picture of the weights on the OEM Kenda rear tire on my most recent 2018. The fronts had a lot of weights also. The General is going to go on soon without balancing just like the other Generals I have installed.

 

[Jackhartjr]

Please don't shoot the messenger!
I brought my Freightliner truck, it had Centromatics on it.
First time in my absolutely awesome mechanics garage, he took them off and threw them away! He had seen more problems with them than without them!
I always listened to his great advice!

 

[Peter Aawen]

@vienna7475, the answer to Question 1 in your first post is that since the very beginnings of Spyders, the bolt pattern and lug spacing on the front wheels have remained the same, even tho the wheel size changed from 14" to 15" in 2013 to cater for the new Brembo brakes, so if your Spyder has been manufactured, assembled properly, and hasn't had a bingle since, you should be right to fit any Centramatics that've come off any Spyder front hubs onto your 2025.

That said, there've been more'n just a few Spyders that hit the streets with odd manufacturing/assembly issues, there have been some fender changes up front over the years, and also, some have noticed that the hub to wheel fitting up front isn't always quite as good &/or straight as it should be, especially on the 2020+ Spyders, so you might want to carefully check that any Centramatics DO fit properly before committing! There have been a few owners here in Oz who've had to replace components &/or machine hubs or wheels et al before they could make everything up front run true, and then there's all the Kenda/XPS/Kenda clone issues that, while they're much better than before, still seems to be the luck of the draw!

As for Question 2, I can't help you there, but further to @Jackhartjr's post above, maybe instead of searching (or even placing a WTB Ad in the For Sale by Owners section here or anywhere else) for a band-aid type solution (even if it does work for some?! )you'd be better off finding a good set of true, round, and balanced rims (and checking them to be sure - heck, you might even be lucky enough to already have a good set! ); then getting a competent tire tech to fit and properly balance a good set of quality tires, instead of trying to band-aid something that shouldn't ever really be a problem - especially not if all the hub components and the wheels are manufactured properly and checked to be in spec and the tires fitted are truly 'round' with no/minimal run-out so that they can be balanced with few (if any!) weights and aligned properly! Despite the issues many have, knowingly or unknowingly, with the front hubs &/or OEM tires, this can be done.

Just Sayin'