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Message started by YonuhAdisi on 01/12/07 at 04:31:47

Title: Tire woes
Post by YonuhAdisi on 01/12/07 at 04:31:47

After riding my Savage to work and back for a couple of days I suddenly noticed something alarming.

Somehow my front tire is being chewed up exactly along the center all the way around. I have checked the clearance between tire and fender and that seems good, I even took the fender off to see if something had gotten jammed between it and the tire, but nothing.

Is it just a faulty tire or am I missing something?

My Lt. at work told me that there were about three brands of tires that had had a problem with the very center of the tire suddenly disintigrating and she beleaved that could be it. I told her I was running a Dunlop (unkown model never paid attention) and she said she believed that Dunlop was one of the brands, that certain models have done that.

Except for this explanation, I have no idea what is going on, I now have to get new tires again. What bugs me is that front tire don't even have 200 miles on it yet.

Suggestions and solutions very very very welcome.



Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by YonuhAdisi on 01/12/07 at 04:38:03

BTW I will post a pic of the damage I am talking about as soon as there is enough light. (I work grave shift and have just gotten home from work.)

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by sparkett on 01/12/07 at 04:44:26

Just a thought. there is a little arrow-looking mark on front tires, which way is it pointing? should show towards the way it should spin.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by YonuhAdisi on 01/12/07 at 04:47:29

It is mounted in the correct rotation, that was another thing I had checked, just forgot to mention that one. Thanks for the possible cause though.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by Rockin_John on 01/12/07 at 10:34:29

Was there a spin balance done with the installation? I don't think you are up to buy new tires, I believe that this should be solved with a complaint and replacemet to the dealer and/or manufacturer. Expecially if a dealer did the install and there are only a couple hundred miles on them. If a written complaint doesn't get their attention, there are other ways to "motivate" them.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by justin_o_guy on 01/12/07 at 11:10:45

Seems like just riding up to the shop where ya bought the tire & showing them what's happnin would get their attention just fine.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by vroom1776 on 01/12/07 at 11:12:24

I agree w/ RJ... they should be covered by warranty...


Dunlop's are usually pretty good... I've been running a 404 elite (maybe a 401?) on my front for quite a while w/ 1/2 tread life still left, no cracks...



Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by Ed_L. on 01/12/07 at 11:18:45

Did a quick search on the net and couldn't find any recalls on Dunlop motorcycle tires, drop by the shop that did the work and see what they say. Did you buy the tire local or from mail order, either way get ahold of them. Luck

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by Savage_Rob on 01/12/07 at 11:44:19

I've got about 5K miles on my Dunlop 491's and they still look and ride great.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by YonuhAdisi on 01/12/07 at 15:34:42

http://a885.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/17/l_d0b0d46fbfdeeef4a3a54472fbac013c.jpg


Here is a pic of the damage to my front tire.

Oh, I should mention that though the tire doesn't even have 200 miles on it, I bought it in March or April of '06. Then I had hocked the bike for over six months and hadn't ridden it untill a couple of weeks ago back and forth to work after which I noticed the damage.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by YonuhAdisi on 01/12/07 at 15:49:46


Ed_L. wrote:
Did a quick search on the net and couldn't find any recalls on Dunlop motorcycle tires, drop by the shop that did the work and see what they say. Did you buy the tire local or from mail order, either way get ahold of them. Luck



Bought and installed at the local Honda shop. Will definately be making a visit to them either tomorrow or monday if they are open due to Martin Luther King Jr. day.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by geo on 01/13/07 at 15:42:29

You've got a bad part. Take it back to the supplier.
I also am surprised it is a Dunlop, they supply good products normally.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by Reelthing on 01/13/07 at 19:35:23

the stuff between the treads is rubber bits come'n off the tire? dang - does it have a manufact date stamp - bet it does some place

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by justin_o_guy on 01/13/07 at 20:21:04

I've seen tires fail in the carcass, something inside let go & the tread start to wobble. Cheap Sams club tires did that on every set I bought, All both of em. After that,, No more so no more failures. BUT, I have never seen a tire on anything fail like this. Looks like it's just a black eraser, scrubbing to death on the road. Does it FEEL weird? Does it feel slimy in a turn? What about under hard braking? Does it slide easily? What an odd thing. Well, you oughta get a new one no question asked, no labor , no nothing. I would expect a freee cup O coffeee & a do nut while I waited,

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by YonuhAdisi on 01/14/07 at 00:08:37

The outside edges of the tire are fine, that is mud you see there. The very center is the damage.


Yes, it feels very wierd and it is very slimy in a turn. Under hard braking it slips and slides. As soon as I got it home after the last time I rode it to work I parked it in my garage, I ain't riding it with that kind of tire damage.

Was going to go to the Honda shop where I had it installed. But I slept too late today and I doubt they will be open on monday because of Martin Luther King Jr. day.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by justin_o_guy on 01/14/07 at 05:09:11

There's only 1 shop in Longview open on Monday. The others close cuz they are open sat. & want their 2 day weekend.
It's that way in Tyler, too. I kinda figured it was pretty common.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by riptide_fl on 01/14/07 at 06:26:20

After looking at the picture of your tire , it certainly appears to me as though the tire is rotating the wrong way. According to the tread design ,the tire is on the rim backwards. I assume the picture was taken from the front of the bike.  

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by allan on 01/14/07 at 08:59:29

looks to me its on wrong way round,

allan.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by justin_o_guy on 01/14/07 at 11:47:25

Even if that's true, I wouldn't expect the rubber to self destruct. I don't know if the tire carcass is designed to handle the stress of rotation in one direction only, or if the tread is designed to more safely handle water in one direction only, but that the rubber itself will crater if the tire is rotated the wrong way is beyond my comprehension. IF that's true, those are some very complex rubber molecules that they can know which way they are rotating & be displeased so strongly as to disintegrate. It may be so, I just can't figure it. I've been that wrong & worse before!   ;)

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by TVR on 01/14/07 at 14:22:01

Think of it as wood and going against the grain. Or petting a porcupine from back to front rather than front to back (that oughta bring out a comment or two).

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by barry68v10 on 01/14/07 at 14:28:36

I agree with TVR.  AND IF the dealer was dumb enough to put the thing on backwards anyway, you got a free tire coming.   ;D

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by Rockin_John on 01/15/07 at 03:05:05

Looks bassackwards to me too.


justin_o_guy wrote:
Even if that's true, I wouldn't expect the rubber to self destruct.


As you see, it can and will.


Quote:
I don't know if the tire carcass is designed to handle the stress of rotation in one direction only,


They are.


Quote:
or if the tread is designed to more safely handle water in one direction only, but that the rubber itself will crater if the tire is rotated the wrong way is beyond my comprehension. IF that's true, those are some very complex rubber molecules that they can know which way they are rotating & be displeased so strongly as to disintegrate. It may be so, I just can't figure it. I've been that wrong & worse before!   ;)


It is all in the overall construction of the carcass.

Once again, if the shop put it on that way, I'd expect a free tire installed correctly.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by justin_o_guy on 01/15/07 at 13:20:42

Oh, I am with ya all the way on the free tire. Since it was mounted bakkwards, it's obviously not the owners fault. The thing that just blows my mind is that the rubber went to pieces so badly, so quickly. I understand the Porcupine thing, but whan I look at a porcupine or touch one I can see & feel the grain of the coa\t of the anima. I can't see or feel the grain on the rubber, the molecules rae attached to each other, unlike a dogs hair or quills, The differences are too great for the analogy, for me. IT IS happening,m I can see it, WHY, blows me away,., Good Luyck with the new tire,, They will surely take care of it without any hassle,

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by riptide_fl on 01/16/07 at 05:38:35

I have been doing some reading about motorcycle tire design and it seems that all of the tire's handling characteristics are determined by the way the belts are designed into the tire. Because of this ,the tire is designed for rotation in one direction only. If the tire is installed backwards, all of the symptoms that were mentioned ( mushy braking,poor cornering, ect. ) will occur because the belts are not flexing the way they were designed to do, causing rapid deterioration of the tire's tread...

                                                         Regards, John

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by justin_o_guy on 01/16/07 at 15:07:08

Thanks Rip,, You up around Pensacola?

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by georgekathe on 01/16/07 at 15:12:10

nice research.

think one should be able to tell if tire on right way - both my metzlers on other bike & the Dunlop 404 on my Savage have direction arrows to easily show right way. recall when I took wheel in (save about $30 doing it) to have tire put on the store asked me what side disc was on bike so they'd get it right.

previously to that got home one day after new tire was put on my (other) bike by other place in town & looked @ tread & thought that don't look right. turned out on looking @ brochure I happened to have it was for a heavyweight bike & not a sports tourer I own (a Metzler, just not the wrong type of one). even worse, looking @ rotation arrow it was on wrong way!!

of course phoned bike store & rode gingerly to them (didn't just take wheel in as had done originally as wanted them to see it was on wrong) & got sheepish mechanic (he had already got nuts from his boss & was v. apologetic so did not give him hard time - maybe I should have) to put correct tire on right way.  

will admit though that is why I now take wheels & tires to other store now ::)

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by riptide_fl on 01/16/07 at 17:51:38


justin_o_guy wrote:
Thanks Rip,, You up around Pensacola?

Your welcome and no justin_o_guy I'm in New Port Richey, just north of Clearwater-St. Pete area

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by YonuhAdisi on 01/17/07 at 15:19:41


georgekathe wrote:
nice research riptide.
don't tires have direction arrows so the guy with bum tire can easily see direction is wrong?


As I mentioned before after sparket mentioned the possibility of the tire being on backwards.


Quote:
Posted by: YonuhAdisi      Posted on: Jan 12th, 2007, 5:47am
It is mounted in the correct rotation, that was another thing I had checked, just forgot to mention that one.


Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by georgekathe on 01/17/07 at 23:09:09

yeah - that is what I though/knew you said - was curious why others were saying it looked to be on wrong after you said it was mounted in the correct direction.

whatever - agree with rest - sounds defective & something person who sold you tire should rectify foc.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by Rockin_John on 01/18/07 at 09:54:20


georgekathe wrote:
yeah - that is what I though/knew you said - was curious why others were saying it looked to be on wrong after you said it was mounted in the correct direction.


To have him check again, because it DOES look wrong. It never hurts to check twice. Of course if you have to check everything many times, then you're just showing OCD. ;D


Quote:
whatever - agree with rest - sounds defective & something person who sold you tire should rectify foc.


Ayup!


Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by YonuhAdisi on 01/18/07 at 16:11:04


Rockin_John wrote:


To have him check again, because it DOES look wrong. It never hurts to check twice. Of course if you have to check everything many times, then you're just showing OCD. ;D


Ayup!


I actually have checked a total of three times now. According to the arrow embossed on the sidewall, the tire is mounted in the correct rotation.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by steelwolf on 01/18/07 at 18:48:11

It could be a defective tire. It also could be that that tire had been setting in the shop a while as well. Probably a pretty good guess to say that the Honda shop has little use for that size tire. The Suzuki dealer on the other hand has a use for it but doesn't stock it. At least not at my local shop. Just because it's "new", doesn't mean it was recently manufactured. I have seen tires for cars sit in my buddy's tire shop (to remain nameless) for over a year before someone will come in needing that particular size. Age will affect a tire whether it is mounted or not. Just a thought. :-/

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by justin_o_guy on 01/19/07 at 22:42:25

Well, I imagine the little "Arrow" on the tire WAS pointing forward. Question is, Was it on the top O th tire or the bottom?

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by Phelonius on 01/20/07 at 11:13:30

If it's on frontwards, check the balance.

Phelonius

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by riptide_fl on 01/27/07 at 07:23:14

Yonuh, Let us know  the outcome of your problem when you get it resolved..Inquiring minds want to know !!  ;D

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by YonuhAdisi on 01/27/07 at 08:49:30

Every time I think I'll be able to take it to the Honda shop where I had the bought the tire and had it installed, something happens that keeps from going. Like Icy roads and snowfall.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by sparkett on 01/27/07 at 14:47:24

Please post a pic of the side of the tire. we all want to see the arrow and the cats getting nervous ;D

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by Trippah on 01/27/07 at 15:25:20

How did they store it for the 6 mo's in hock, maybee the front tire got into something which, along with wrong direction of rotation, led to its speedy demise.  I also vote free tire (but I live in Massachusetts so I know my vote seldom means anything). :D

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by YonuhAdisi on 01/27/07 at 17:49:23

http://a724.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/41/l_133938ea8e61ecd4443cf4cf7dff2fcb.jpg

Okay, now you can see that the tire is on in the correct rotation.


Trippah, they stored the bike indoors on concrete. It was not moved untill I picked it up.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by YonuhAdisi on 01/29/07 at 19:17:22

Went to the Honda stealership today to complain about tire but they were closed, will try again tomorrow and post results.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by justin_o_guy on 01/29/07 at 20:16:10

Well, if ya need any backup, just give the scv manager this website & have him come in here for a while. We will explain that you tried to get it to them in a timely fashion.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by YonuhAdisi on 01/30/07 at 10:43:32

Just returned from the Honda stealership where I bought the tire and they were pretty cool. They said they had never seen a tire do that before. They think it may be low tire pressure caused it. (they checked the pressure and it didn't have but 3 psi in it. But it was perfect at the time the damage accured.

They have to order the tire and talk to Dunlop to see what can actually be done on whether I get free tire or not.

On a side note, while they were trying to make up their minds on what to do I took a look at a 07 Rebel, I can't believe how small that bike is compared to my Savage. I did like the handle bars though, wonder if they would fit on a Savage.

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by justin_o_guy on 01/30/07 at 20:39:14

I don't know all that much about the Rebel & what will/will not interchange, but I am certain there is one thing on my Zuki that won't fit that little Honda. That's my BUTT!

Title: Re: Tire woes
Post by PerrydaSavage on 01/31/07 at 00:47:45

Rebels handle bars are 7/8" dia. whereas the Savages are 1" dia. ... so I'm guessing they're not interchangeable?

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