Rear tire options - any suggestions?

[Peter Aawen]

My riding buddy has the Vredestien Quadtrac 5, 205/65R-15. So 205/60, 205/65, 215/60 all fit with no issues. Both General and Vredestien are good choices?

Yes.

 

[Tslepebull]

I replaced the stock rear Kenda tire on my Canyon with a Vredestien Quadtrac 5 at about 8,500 miles. I was hoping for greater hydroplaning resistance. It has worked great; we haven't had a drop of rain since. However, the new tire has performed very well on dry pavement. I have the pressure set at 18 lbs.

 

[mecsw500]

I replaced the stock Kenda tire on my Canyon with a Vredestien Quadtrac 5 at about 8,500 miles. I was hoping for greater hydroplaning resistance. It has worked great; we haven't had a drop of rain since. However, the new tire has performed very well on dry pavement. I have the pressure set at 18 lbs.

To test it out, start the barbecue. That should get the rain falling for you.

 

[iSilentP]

I know this subject has been driven into the ground but, I just spent the better part of the day trying to locate any 225/50/R15's. The Toyo Extensa HP II and the Kumho ECSTA AST'S are no longer available. I thought I found an east coast vendor "Gun Hill Tire" but the last 6 they had were bought up by 1 person. Any other suggestions? Or are we stuck with the Kenda Kanine. I ride my F3-T rather aggressively.

I have installed the General Altimax RT45 225/60 R15 (not the stock 225/50 R15) in the rear of the 2014 RT. What I like so much about this particular size is that it fixes the variance between the real (GPS-based) speed and the odometer which was always ~10% off (faster than actual) speed. Now my speedometer and GPS are totally in sync, giving me peace of mind.

 

[UtahPete]

This should work just fine and last a lot longer. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6JR9C75?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

The General Tire Altimax RT45 has been a solid performer and highly recommended for the rear tire ever since I had to replace my OEM in 2016. I'm having another new one put on soon.

 

[Cobranut]

The General Tire Altimax RT45 has been a solid performer and highly recommended for the rear tire ever since I had to replace my OEM in 2016. I'm having another new one put on soon.

Doesn't look like that tire is available in the correct size, 225/50R15.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Doesn't look like that tire is available in the correct size, 225/50R15.

There are very few After market tires available that still wear the same 'nominal size' label as the OEM Kendas/XPS labelled tires (possibly because of a purposeful decision by BRP in order to scare some un-aware owners away from using anything but their OEM Kendas/XPS labelled tires) but there are quite a few A/mkt tires in sizes often mentioned here on the Forum that are very close (but slightly larger) in actual physical size, despite having a different nominal size printed on their sidewall.

That said, because of the 'smaller than it really needs to be' size of those OEM Kendas/XPS labelled tires, staying with running the OEM size of tire WILL mean that your Speedo is going to read somewhat faster than your true speed, and that your odo/trip meters will likely tell you that you've travelled a little further than you really have, thereby skewing your speed, fuel economy, service intervals et al in order to make you think you've gone faster/travelled further than you really have; so by going for a slightly taller (or larger rolling dia) tire, you can help your Speedo/odo/trip meters to show a speed/distance travelled that's closer to an accurate reflection of what's true/correct.

Just Sayin'

 

[BajaRon]

It is a shame that BRP has not gone to a 16 or 17 inch rear wheel. It would open up a great number of excellent tire options. But then, as Peter alludes to above, they would have a difficult time selling their OEM tire option if they made this move.

It’s just another angle on ‘Planned Obsolescence’. Options have narrowed significantly since 2008 when the Spyder first came out. I am glad that they went to 15” front wheels from the original 14”. That has, at least, improved the front end options.

 

[Snoking1127]

Doesn't look like that tire is available in the correct size, 225/50R15.

I will repeat again, I have installed 2 General Altimax RT45 and 1 RT43 215/60R15's on three of my 2018's Spyder RTLs and one RT45 on an in-laws 2014 Spyder, with no issues other than the Spyder handles better that and the tire will last at least 3 times longer than the Kenda product.

 

[BajaRon]

Cobranut is correct that both the General Altimax and the Vredestein Quatrac are not offered in the OEM 225/50 R15 size. This is a legitimate concern with some riders. Especially those who feel the manufacturer’s recommendations are always best.

But consider how much rubber is in contact with the pavement. The OEM Kenda is putting 3”-3.5” of rubber on the road surface at Freeway speeds as evidenced by the typical wear pattern shown in the attached picture. My guess is that this ballooning process begins around 45 MPH and gets worse as speed increases, based upon customers who do most of their miles 2 up and in the 40-45 mph range. Their OEM tires still wear somewhat more in the middle, but not as badly as the normal OEM tires that we see.

With an Altimax 45, 215/60 R15 tire, you lose 3/8” of tread width and gain over 5% in height, making your speedometer and odometer more accurate, as pointed out by Snoking1127.

While 8-5/8” of tread on the Altimax is less than the 9” on the OEM Kenda, keeping all of the Altimax on the ground compares quite well to the 3”-3.5” you are getting with the OEM Kenda at speed. 100% of 8-5/8" being better than 35% of 9".

So, in reality, you are actually increasing traction and stability with a narrower tire.

Same goes for the Vredestein 205/60 R15, which is ¾” narrower than the OEM tire.

 

[jjc54]

Doesn't look like that tire is available in the correct size, 225/50R15.

My first new car I bought was an AMC Gremlin X. What made it an X was a manual floor shift and extra wide raised white letter tires. This car was an absolute nightmare hydroplaning machine. When I replaced the tires from the "correct size" back to a narrower size, it made a huge difference. Wide tires and wet roads do not mix! Same with the Spyder. I have experienced the OEM "correct size" and a better quality 205/60R15 directional tire in the wet and I am never going back!

 

[Danvirsse]

I've had a Vredestein Quadtrac 5, both front and rear, on my 2017 F3-T this whole summer. I'm closing in on 9000 miles with them, 99.9 percent twisty, paved backroads. They have performed flawlessly in all types of weather including 160 miles in pouring rain. When it becomes time for new tires, assuming they're still available, I'll be using them again.

PS: 205/60-R15 Rear and 165/60-R15 in Front

 

[BajaRon]

I've had both the Quatrac 5 and the newer design, directional Quatrac tires. According to independent testing, both tires are good, but the newer Quatrac is better. Slightly better in the dry, somewhat more so in the wet.

If I were putting them on a car, I think I'd stick with the older Quatrac 5 because they can be rotated. But on a Spyder, the better wet is a real plus, and not being able to rotate them is not an issue.

 

[Cobranut]

My speedo reads spot on with the original Kenda.
I have a new Kumho Ecsta in 225/50-15 to swap on sometime this winter.
It's actually a bit wider than the Kenda, and I used those same tires in the same size on my old Miata with great results. Unfortunately, they seem to have discontinued that size.
I really don't want any taller tire, as it will reduce my effective gear ratio, making the bike even slower. (Not like these are fast by any means).

 

[UtahPete]

I really don't want any taller tire, as it will reduce my effective gear ratio, making the bike even slower. (Not like these are fast by any means).

Compared to your Cobra, anything seems slow...

 

[Snoking1127]

My speedo reads spot on with the original Kenda.
I have a new Kumho Ecsta in 225/50-15 to swap on sometime this winter.
It's actually a bit wider than the Kenda, and I used those same tires in the same size on my old Miata with great results. Unfortunately, they seem to have discontinued that size.
I really don't want any taller tire, as it will reduce my effective gear ratio, making the bike even slower. (Not like these are fast by any means).

Loosing 1-2 % is not going to be noticed. I have a hard time understanding people that pay a Can Am dealer every 10K to put on a new Kenda rear tire. Even my main riding buddy does that. The first one I did myself paid for the wrenches, including a BIG torque wrench. I have done three on my trikes and one on an in-laws.

 

[JayBros]

As I previously mentioned, I've been following this website since I first began shopping for a Spyder in late spring 2014. At that time OEM rear tires were in the midst of a change in rear compound because of owner complaints and I believe 2814 was the manufacture date for the newer compound. The subject of tires caught my attention because of my experience with a 1990 Porsche 911 C4. Some Spyder owners wanted both superior grip AND long tread life from the same sneaker. At the time, one recognized that one couldn't get both characteristics from the same tire and if one found a sneaker that came close in both characteristics the cost to the wallet would be astronomical and they weren't made in a size that would fit a Spyder. In all that then current blather, and I offer this primarily for Cobranut, if I remember correctly the Kumho Ecsta had a poor reputation in wet riding. That's the primary reason I went to the General Altimax, first RT43 and now RT45, because I wanted a good touring sneaker and will continue to use that tire as long as I can get it.

 

[UtahPete]

@JayBros that's what I want, also, a good touring "sneaker" for my bike, which I bought for touring. I don't want to have to stop mid-tour for a tire change. So far, the General Altimax and the Vredenstein tires seem to be the best compromise between longevity, performance, availability and cost that I've found.

 

[JayBros]

@JayBros that's what I want, also, a good touring "sneaker" for my bike, which I bought for touring. I don't want to have to stop mid-tour for a tire change. So far, the General Altimax and the Vredenstein tires seem to be the best compromise between longevity, performance, availability and cost that I've found.

I've found The General Altimax, both RT43 and RT45 and the Vredestein Quatracs to be such a good combo that the challenge becomes getting the max mileage out of the rear tire. I knowingly replaced two RT43s early before tours because I didn't want to get stuck on the far side of West Armpit, have the Replace Tire alert come up and be out of luck trying to find a Spyder dealership that would install a car tire. Fortune smiled on me this year making the two week trip to the D3WR and arriving home right as the the alert came up all the way around the third RT43. The 80 miles to my regular dealership still left me with adequate tread to get there. The bride's age and RA have rather wiped out more than three-day weekend absences.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Loosing 1-2 % is not going to be noticed. I have a hard time understanding people that pay a Can Am dealer every 10K to put on a new Kenda rear tire. Even my main riding buddy does that. The first one I did myself paid for the wrenches, including a BIG torque wrench. I have done three on my trikes and one on an in-laws.

That's the bit that gets me too, only here in Oz, it's not too often that the OEM Kenda tires on the rear get to last for 10,000 kilometres, let alone that many miles!!

My first rear Kenda (back in 2013!) didn't even last 4000 km, and very few that I've seen since here in Oz have lasted as long as 10,000km/6200 odd miles - maybe our roads aren't as kind to Spyder rear tires, or the longer distances many of us ride are harder on them, but having to get a new tire fitted just to get home from a weekend ride to another State simply isn't viable; and just about any reasonable quality A/mkt tire will return at least 40,000 km, AND perform better in all respects than the OEM Kendas regardless of the label on its sidewall &/or any of their clones as well!

And by 'perform better', I mean that with reasonable quality A/mkt tires fitted and then run at an appropriate pressure for the lighter load of a Spyder, you can actually ride closer to the capability of the bike itself, rather than being restricted to riding within the (pretty poor) capabilities of the OEM tires, which completely negates any downside there may or may not be from the very slight gearing change caused by running taller A/mkt tires.

BTW, I'm pretty sure that most of the 'wet weather' issues some had with Kumho tires back around 2014 were at least partly caused by people running them at pressures that were too high. Back when most of those complaints were being aired, the majority of Spyder riders hadn't yet realised the validity of running 'real' car tires at the sort of lower pressures that are suitable/required for the (much) lighter loads of their Spyders, and Kumho's do need to run at a pressure that's low enough to let their tread compound reach it's optimum operating temp or they won't perform to their max capability, especially in the cold and wet. So if you manage your tire pressures appropriately in a Kumho, it'll perform just as well in the wet and on dry roads as (if not better than) most similar types of car tires on a Spyder, pretty much all of which perform better both under test and during actual real life usage than the OEM Kendas/clones.