Rear Tire - What is the Best Option

[irvin48]

the altimax can be had in 3 different speed ratings. which one
does everyone run. the regular ?

[SpyderAnn01]

the altimax can be had in 3 different speed ratings. which one
does everyone run. the regular ?

I don't remember there being a choice. It was the Altimax RT-43

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I don't remember there being a choice. It was the Altimax RT-43

ALTIMAX - SPEED RATING CHOICE

Yes, there is a choice ........ However, the higher speed rating doesn't come in our size!!!!.......Mike

[Deanna777]

the altimax can be had in 3 different speed ratings. which one
does everyone run. the regular ?

The size I am running is 215/60 R 15, in the General Altimax RT 43.

Speed rating 94T ( speed rating 118 mph ( 190ph)

Deanna

[Chupaca]

You asked.... I would go for Round, preferable of a good rubber compound, maybe from Brazil, in the size that will best fit your rim and recommended by the manufacturer and the nanny. Artistic tread design with the accompanying rain blocks to prevent hydroplaning and sticky enough to keep you stuck to the road. Raised white lettering would be a plus with an air mixture that will not make you float away. Country of origin would be optional and price under what the msrp is. but then I don't recommend any tire, I have used Kendas and they have been great. I am currently trying the Arachnid from Vee Rubber out of Siam (now know as Thailand)... We... no, I will see if it is as good as the Kenda or as bad as others say...

[Mkosma]

I have had a 2010 RT and now a 2014 RT. I am now currently on my fourth back tire. My first OEM tire did not last 5800 miles, the second after adjusting my tire pressure to 24 psi it made it to 12,500 miles. My third tire did not last 7000 miles and wore on the outside not on the inside like most OEM tires. I now have an Altimax 215/60 R15. I ordered it from tire rack.com, it was delivered to my house. I took it to my dealer and had them install it on my RT. I now have over 6000 miles on this tire, and it shows no tire wear. So far it has been the best tire I ever put on my bike. Between my 2010 and this 2014 I have logged over 80,000 miles between the two. I will use Altimax tires from here on out.

Black Beard

20150512_171311.jpg

[rays hell]

I'm trying an S Drive this time on my 15 RTS so far I have 4k miles on it and I like it.

[PMK]

You certainly have a lot to say on this subject! I have gotten similar tread life as others have on Kumho and Kenda tires even while pulling my trailer. My point is that the S Drive, being a high performance summer tire, may not be the choice for people looking for longer tread life.

Agree the S.Drive may not be the tire of choice for all people. However, the other tires mentioned may not be the best for some others. Your amount and duration of riding, is certainly not typical for most Spyders, maybe some but not most.

In the past, some of us have messaged about tires, and it seems your mileage on various tires gets discussed. Nothing bad, just discussion about the why of you getting the mileage you get, and sometimes how it contradicts what others are seeing. No doubt there are factors that make the difference.

Some of the mileage expectations always had me wonder that for the average rider, how old in calendar time will the tire be when finally worn out. For some people this could be in the 10 to 15 year range for a tire. As the tire ages, the rubber dynamics will age also and the tires tend to become more slippery.

So for some people, is it better to run a similar priced better performing tire that has a lower mileage expectancy?

The primary point is offer is to do your homework and choose what is best for you.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I don't remember there being a choice. It was the Altimax RT-43

So Ann, of all the rear tires you have used on your RT's ..... what tire has given you the best mileage? ....Thanks .................. Mike

[GeorgiaBill]

Ann, I agree with your comment about the Kumho on wet roads.

I rode in thunderstorms with very heavy rain yesterday and got many VSS alerts. Some were in standing water - no surprise. I was pretty cautious as were the cars on the road. The speed limits were 55, 65, and 70, but no one was going that speed. My speed was generally 40 - 60 and I got alerts as low as 43, and it felt like the clutch had been disengaged. A shift from 2nd to 3rd on a slight incline resulted in an alert with a very gentle throttle. Hooray for VSS, I always stayed in my lane.

I have 8,100 miles on the tire with 5/32 remaining tread, 27 PSI, and had expected to get to 12,000 before replacing the tire. It may be replaced early, or I try to avoid wet conditions. I used Kumhos on a GL1800 simply to reduce motorcycle tire slippage and did not notice a single slippage.

I'll start reading reviews and pay more attention to traction. Don't see me getting a Yokohama tire based on my experience on cars. Put S Drives on a turbo Miata and kept for about 2 months. Then the YK580 on my turbo Forester was gone in 29 days. Both sets of tires wandered on the interstates. Probably no parallel to a single tire on a Spyder, but I think I'll look elsewhere.

-Bill

I ran a Yokohama S Drive and only got 8,700 miles on it. And I agree that the Kumho is less than stellar on wet roads.

[WVFoxtrotter]

I have a 2014RTS-SE6 and I am running the General Altimax RT 43 on the rear.

Tire size: 215/60 R 15 @ 26 PSI.

I have 7,588 miles on the General ( I had the original Kenda rear tire changed @ 5,824) the current mileage on my spyder is 13,412. I choose the General tire because of its Performance evaluation, it is listed below.

Here is the Performance evaluation information:

Wet:
Hydroplaning Resistance 8.6
Traction 8.7

Dry:
Cornering Stability 8.7
Dry Traction 9.0
Steering Response 8.6

Comfort:
Ride Quality 8.6
Noise 8.3
Tread wear 8.7

This is my 2nd season with the General, and the tire still looks new. My spyder handles great, and their are several other spyder owners on this site are running the same tire. ( Pampurrs, Highman2013, cyclekid, garb55,)

Deanna

Have a question, what is the maximum pressure listed on sidewall of the Altimax? Thanks

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

She might not be able to find it it's not a DESS question .......it's 44 psi -............. but remember, this tire is designed for a car weighing 4,500 lbs (?) .... I have always run my Spyder rear tires (Car type) at approx. 22 lbs cold .....4 ply sidewalls can EASILY support the weight..................jmho.....Mike

[IGETAROUND]

FWIW, I have been running a Kumo on the rear, Got 17,000 miles on the first one, just replaced all the tires; another directional Kumo on the back and Continentals on the front, all in OEM sizing. My Kenda fronts gave me 25,000 miles and could have gone further.

The Kumo has trouble hooking up on wet roads when starting from a stop before 4th gear; must have a real gentle right hand with wet roads to get going. Have not experienced a lot of hydroplaning nor loss of cornering traction in the wet. JMO

[DC1]

Got about 6000 out of factory Kenda, slick in middle, switched to Kuhmo Ecsta and had some tread left at 10,000 miles but it would hydroplane at 30 mph in certain conditions, just switched to General Altimax RT-43..... It is taller and I like the slight change in gearing and the smoother/quieter ride..... Time will tell about wear and hydroplane, but initial impression is that I like it the best of the 3 so far......

[Richardv]

Not many posts regrading the S.Drive Yokohama. Ironic since it is not a passenger car type tire, but sold as a performance tire. The size on the sidewall for the tire we tend to run is smaller than oem, however the design of the tire and tape measure prove it is equal to the oem but far exceeds oem performance.

I know the Kuhmo gets many praises here, however there are also discussions of the Kuhmo being less than stellar in the wet.

Sorry, but I don't agree. The Kumho is way superior to the Kenda on water. And the 3 of us agree on that. We, my son in law and I, have been riding in a downpour at 100+km/h (62mph) for over an hour, me with my Kumho, and him with his Proxie 4 without any slipping or sliding. That would not be true with the Kenda. We lived both situations, and we can testify that they are both better than a Kenda. Above 80-85 kmh, the Kenda is floating on water, and now that I changed my front tires for Kumho Solus HK 175/55R15, I can testify that the same is true for the front tires.

Richard

[Jazzi1]

I use the Kuhmo on the rear, the OEM tire (Kenda) are only two ply, the Kuhmo is 4 ply and rides great. I use the OEM tires on the front and usually get 23,000 +


Cruzr Joe

Hey Joe. I have the 2018 RT Limited. What size Kuhmo do you use on the rear tire?

[ThreeWheels]

Kumho Solus KH16 Front Tires 175/55/15

Cooper Mastercraft LSR Grand Touring rear 215/60/15

[Brainsprain]

I have gone through three Kuhmo EKSTAs. None got more than 9K miles. So I'm going to try the General Altimax. Costs more but if it lasts longer, it saves on install. I don't have the equipment for doing it myself.

Not sure why I don't get better mileage with the Kuhmo because I am not a wheel spinner. Most of my mileage is trips. I do pull a trailer, but the weight on the bike is not that much. I can easily lift the trailer tongue and move it to attach and detach.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I have gone through three Kuhmo EKSTAs. None got more than 9K miles. So I'm going to try the General Altimax. Costs more but if it lasts longer, it saves on install. I don't have the equipment for doing it myself.

Not sure why I don't get better mileage with the Kuhmo because I am not a wheel spinner. Most of my mileage is trips. I do pull a trailer, but the weight on the bike is not that much. I can easily lift the trailer tongue and move it to attach and detach.

You can save another 50.00 off that price if you get a RIKEN Raptor in 215/60-15 .... I discovered them last year and bought one 8000 mi. and love it ..... as far as performance the Raptor is almost as good as the Vredestein or General ...... They have them at Trie Rack which ships free .... DECLINE TO TELL THEM IT'S FOR A SPYDER - THEY WON'T SELL IT TO YOU ..... Mike

[Peter Aawen]

I have gone through three Kuhmo EKSTAs. None got more than 9K miles. So I'm going to try the General Altimax. Costs more but if it lasts longer, it saves on install. I don't have the equipment for doing it myself.

Not sure why I don't get better mileage with the Kuhmo because I am not a wheel spinner. Most of my mileage is trips. I do pull a trailer, but the weight on the bike is not that much. I can easily lift the trailer tongue and move it to attach and detach.

What sort of temperatures were you riding in? And what pressure were you running the Kumho's at; and did you reduce that pressure even further (by just a little!) as the tire wore??