Rear Tire Difference between Kenda Stock KR21 vs Replacement KR20 aka Kanine

[herrerao]

Does anyone have information or experience the difference between the KR21 stock tire, , and the newer Kenda replacement Kanine K20? I hear the rubber on the original, factory tire (KR21) is softer than the newer OEM replacement KR20 (indeed, Kenda says they offer more mileage and that has to be the compounding of the rubber, not additional tread depth). I need to replace the rear only (9,000 mi) and I'm inclined to run a new stock KR21, even if it lasts less than a Kanine would, for the sake of matching the rubber/design of the fronts, until the existing fronts wear, then I may go with the newer Kanines all around (may have no choice at that point).

Thank you kindly.

 

[Knizar]

Does anyone have information or experience the difference between the KR21 stock tire, , and the newer Kenda replacement Kanine K20? I hear the rubber on the original, factory tire (KR21) is softer than the newer OEM replacement KR20 (indeed, Kenda says they offer more mileage and that has to be the compounding of the rubber, not additional tread depth). I need to replace the rear only (9,000 mi) and I'm inclined to run a new stock KR21, even if it lasts less than a Kanine would, for the sake of matching the rubber/design of the fronts, until the existing fronts wear, then I may go with the newer Kanines all around (may have no choice at that point).

Thank you kindly.

I don't believe anyone on this forum would recommend any Kenda tire, The KR is the short version of KRAP! I got 10649 mile out of my original Kenda when it started letting air out the center face of the tire. I wouldn't put a Kenda on my wheelbarrow! Go with a car tire, you will not regret it!....:thumbup:...Bill

 

[ARtraveler]

I am using Kenda K9 on my 2019. I replaced the OEM Kenda at 15K. I have about 6K on the new K9. I don't notice any difference in performance, because I am not a high performance driver. I am hoping the mileage improves a bit. It would be nice to get the same mileage as the OEM Kenda front tires. I usually get 20K out of the fronts.

Some of us are "forced" to use Kenda, because we have encountered dealers that will not put anything else on for us. Others of us use them because we are not mechanical or physically able enough to change them out ourselves.

I have owned 7 Spyders. Almost 200K miles across the board. I have used them all but one time. The federals I put on were traded off with the Spyders a year later...so no mileage report on them.

I consistently get 20K up front, and 15K on the rear. I have never had an incident with them, other than the centers wearing prematurely due to "ballooning." I solved some of that by decreasing the suggested pressure to 26# in the rear.

I would not think to call them "Krapenda." In my mind, they are okay for MY purposes. :bowdown:

 

[CopperSpyder]

Does anyone have information or experience the difference between the KR21 stock tire, , and the newer Kenda replacement Kanine K20? I hear the rubber on the original, factory tire (KR21) is softer than the newer OEM replacement KR20 (indeed, Kenda says they offer more mileage and that has to be the compounding of the rubber, not additional tread depth). I need to replace the rear only (9,000 mi) and I'm inclined to run a new stock KR21, even if it lasts less than a Kanine would, for the sake of matching the rubber/design of the fronts, until the existing fronts wear, then I may go with the newer Kanines all around (may have no choice at that point).

Thank you kindly.

If you are having a dealer doing the work, you are limited to the tire they will mount for you, and most will not mount car tires. If your choice is only between OEM Kenda and the Kanine K20, the Kanine is a much better tire.

 

[herrerao]

If by better you mean longer lasting, I agree...just wondered if anyone knows or noticed that the Kanines weren't perhaps as grippy on the road as the OEM's. Have you replaced your OEM fronts with Kanines as well? If so, did they feel any different? Going with Kenda's, just trying to figure out KR21 (OEM's...there are still some around) or the KR20 Kanines.

 

[herrerao]

As for comments on car tires, I respect that and understand they last longer, and may go that direction some day, but for now, I assume CanAm did put some thought/testing on the tires with respect on how they handle with the weight and specific design of the machine, so unless they test and approve a different model/brand replacement tire, then I'll stay or unless another tire manufacturer makes/tests it for the CanAm, then I'll stay with Kenda for now. I never go with OEM replacements on my cars/trucks/RV's, but perhaps motorcycles are a bit different with regards to traction and safety...that's foremost on my mind. Maybe I'm overthinking it...I've been told this many times!

 

[Bartender]

I put KR20's, all the way around, on my 2019 RTL a little more than a year ago and I am satisfied with their performance. I replaced all three tires because I wanted to go to the Kanines and even though the fronts weren't ready to throw away, went ahead to replace all three. I do think they are a better tire than the OEM tires which I replaced with the KR20's. They now have approximately 10,000 miles on them. I am unsure how many more miles are left in the rear tire. I'm not saying that it's ready to be replaced, just that I don't know how much longer it will be safely usable. I do ride aggressively and am going to wear out rear tires more quickly than other more conservative riders might. I rode two wheelers for many years, I'm not disappointed with 10,000 miles on the rear, since I regularly replaced tires on my motorcycles around 8000 miles if I was lucky. I will say that when I do replace these tires, I have decided to go to automobile tires as recommended by many, largely because I want to experience for myself the difference in performance suggested by the car tire advocates on the forum. I certainly would not go so far as to agree to a carte blanche condemnation of any Kenda tire, but would say that the KR20's seem to be a markedly better tire than the OEM.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

As for comments on car tires, I respect that and understand they last longer, and may go that direction some day, but for now, I assume CanAm did put some thought/testing on the tires with respect on how they handle with the weight and specific design of the machine, so unless they test and approve a different model/brand replacement tire, then I'll stay or unless another tire manufacturer makes/tests it for the CanAm, then I'll stay with Kenda for now. I never go with OEM replacements on my cars/trucks/RV's, but perhaps motorcycles are a bit different with regards to traction and safety...that's foremost on my mind. Maybe I'm overthinking it...I've been told this many times!

My view on the OEM Kenda tires are a bit different .... here's why .... Today in the corporate world, there are many criteria's .... #1.- Legal liability ( ie how much can we be sued for in $$$$$$$ ) .... #2.- production costs ... Based on #1 & #2 BRP chose KENDA .... I seriously doubt BRP actually has Tire Design experts in the company, they will give the Spyder info to an actual manufacturer and let them design a tire and give a price for producing it. Kenda has IMHO a sweetheart deal, they have the only Approved ( by BRP ) tire available.... and until the Kanine came out ONLY BRP dealers could buy them., and sell them. As far as Quality goes - they are weakly made, and have a very high rate of producing " defective " tires..... This knowledge has been gleaned from over a Decade on this site ..... good luck .... Mike :thumbup:

 

[TerryTheSpyderRyder]

What's the best car tire for the rear and what size?

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

What's the best car tire for the rear and what size?

Either the Vredestein - Quatrac in 205/60, or 205/65-15 ...... or the Michelin - Cross Climat+ .... or General Altimax RT43 ...... your welcome ..... Mike .......PS if you can't get the rear tire off , make sure your dealer will FIRST .....

 

[JayBros]

My view on the OEM Kenda tires are a bit different .... here's why .... Today in the corporate world, there are many criteria's .... #1.- Legal liability ( ie how much can we be sued for in $$$$$$$ ) .... #2.- production costs ...

I agree with everything Mike says, and was myself the victim of a Kenda tire, albeit a front one, that became defective and had to be replaced, at which time I went with car tires. One of the things many Spyder owners don’t recognize is the fact that in the motor vehicle and tire worlds, BRP barely qualifies as a niche market. Therefore, subcontractors BRP uses have miniscule economies of scale, be it for bolts and nuts to filters, tires, you name it. That’s why major tire manufacturers won’t produce tires in the size the engineers who design Spyders require; ergo, those of us who want the best quality, performance and reliability hunt for sizes that are close enough to OEM spec to do the job much better than Kenda.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I agree with everything Mike says, and was myself the victim of a Kenda tire, albeit a front one, that became defective and had to be replaced, at which time I went with car tires. One of the things many Spyder owners don’t recognize is the fact that in the motor vehicle and tire worlds, BRP barely qualifies as a niche market. Therefore, subcontractors BRP uses have miniscule economies of scale, be it for bolts and nuts to filters, tires, you name it. That’s why major tire manufacturers won’t produce tires in the size the engineers who design Spyders require; ergo, those of us who want the best quality, performance and reliability hunt for sizes that are close enough to OEM spec to do the job much better than Kenda.

:agree: and let me add for the "umpteenth " time .... Harley Davidson has been using AUTO tires on their Trikes for DECADES and no one at D.O.T. has said a word about that _- - - WHY ?????? ...... JMHO ..... Mike :thumbup: