Tire search - what is everyone going to these days?

[Jackhartjr]

My OEM Kenda rear tire has worn completely smooth in the center third, and very evenly across the tread surface.
I'm at a little over 11,000 miles.
All three OEM tires have a lot of balance weights added, but they do run very smooth, even at speeds over 100mph.

I have a Kumho Ecsta AST for the rear, but I'll probably go with the updated Kendas for the front, mainly for the weight savings.

Updated kendas, is that the same as old coke, new coke?
I'm trying to understand why anyone would trust a kenda anything! No disrespect intended sir!

 

[BajaRon]

The Kenda Kanine's are a better tire than the OEM Kenda which comes on the Spyder. Kenda built the OEM tires to BRP specs and price point. They built the Kaninies to their own specs. How much better is the question. We've found them to be round (novel concept for a tire) and requiring less weight to balance.

I've got one on the back of my 2008 GS and I like it. The jury is still out on wear as I've not been able to put enough miles on to know.

 

[Mikey]

Hello all! Its finally time for a new tire on the rear, ~15K mi on my 2018 RT (and it really was overdue)! Rhetorically, I find it interesting that the wear is so uneven across the tread. Hmmm!
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After a thorough look at the options available I'm going with the latest General AltiMAX RT45.

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The OEM fronts are not down to the wear indicators so I'm staying with those for now.
Not wanting to start another conversation here, but the only spec I have not seen comments on is the speed rating. The AltiMAX is T-rated and the Kenda (and some other "appropriate" car tires) are H-rated. The way I look at it, it doesn't really matter... who's going over 118MPH (T), let alone 130MPH (H) on their RT; this is a cruiser, not a race car! I'll post some more technical results (later) on the other "What Tires are on YOUR Spyder" thread. I also included below a tire size comparison (which has been discussed) that I found helpful in visualizing the difference between the OEM Kenda and my size choice.

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Thanks to all for the many thoughts on tires that helped me come to this decision!

You will LOVE it!!

 

[doncanfix2]

Belt is running true and, she tracks dead straight, just a spent tire! Looking at the tire slowly rotating on my static balancer, yeah, significantly non-uniform all around!
And Cobranut reminds me of another aspect on tire changes, weights, and hence balancing. Weights-wise, my rear wheel had 25 gm (5x5gm) but is now (as measured) a minor amount out of balance; didn't notice at all in the ride. Also want to mention, my RT45 AltiMAX does not have the usual red and yellow index marks on the sidewall; these marks indicate alignment relative to the valve stem. In any event, I'll be stripping all weights and re-balancing.

 

[Peter Aawen]

... < snip> ... Also want to mention, my RT45 AltiMAX does not have the usual red and yellow index marks on the sidewall; these marks indicate alignment relative to the valve stem. ... < snip> ...

Those marks aren't mandatory, and on better quality tires like the AltiMax, while it's not all that common, it does happen that every now and then, the tire gods intervene/all the markers align and a really well made tire comes thru the manufacturing process without any significant high/low spots, light/heavy spots, or radial runout in the finished tire; so it's not completely unusual for there to be no marks. It basically just means that you've got a good tire, one that doesn't need any special orientation on the rim to minimise the impact of any of those shortfalls in its construction, cos whatever is there is too small/minor to have any impact &/or be varied whichever way it's oriented on the rim!

The tire guys for race teams go looking for these, or they take tires with the index marks and then treat/shave them to produce tires that are just as good.

 

[doncanfix2]

Those marks aren't mandatory, and on better quality tires like the AltiMax, while it's not all that common, it does happen that every now and then, the tire gods intervene/all the markers align and a really well made tire comes thru the manufacturing process without any significant high/low spots, light/heavy spots, or radial runout in the finished tire; so it's not completely unusual for there to be no marks. It basically just means that you've got a good tire, one that doesn't need any special orientation on the rim to minimise the impact of any of those shortfalls in its construction, cos whatever is there is too small/minor to have any impact &/or be varied whichever way it's oriented on the rim!

The tire guys for race teams go looking for these, or they take tires with the index marks and then treat/shave them to produce tires that are just as good.

Yes indeed! When inspecting my newest set of truck tires, Yokohama's (which has index marks), I took note of the interior construction before mounting. The belting overlapped at one point and that surely would contribute to a non-uniform weight (unbalance) of the tire; again, unlike better built tires that have no marks. Somewhat of a factor when I choose General over Yokohama for the RT! The RT45 looks well constructed inside and out! May your tires run true!

 

[Snoking1127]

Those marks aren't mandatory, and on better quality tires like the AltiMax, while it's not all that common, it does happen that every now and then, the tire gods intervene/all the markers align and a really well made tire comes thru the manufacturing process without any significant high/low spots, light/heavy spots, or radial runout in the finished tire; so it's not completely unusual for there to be no marks. It basically just means that you've got a good tire, one that doesn't need any special orientation on the rim to minimise the impact of any of those shortfalls in its construction, cos whatever is there is too small/minor to have any impact &/or be varied whichever way it's oriented on the rim!

The tire guys for race teams go looking for these, or they take tires with the index marks and then treat/shave them to produce tires that are just as good.

I have AltiMax rear tires on both 2018 Spyder RTs. Neither is balanced and they run nice and smooth, RT43 on Hooker and RT45 on Hookie. Both have Vredestein Quatrac on the front and they run smooth without balancing. I would not to put a Kenda bicycle/wheelbarrow/golf cart tire on anything I own.