[jzeiler]

This is what I found this morning as I was testing on a repair of a members EHCS unit on my bike. Later this morning I was going to pull the front wheel and install a new tire for the trip to CCR. I'll admit since installing my Smartire system I no longer stop before each ride (day) and check pressures and give the tires a once over. I think I am going to get back into the habit of the once over. I just got back from a two up trip to the Smokies. Could have been really bad in one of those over cooked corners if this had let go!!!

For the data hounds this was a ME880 made in Germany with a date code of 1609. It was installed in March 2010 and has about 12,000 miles on it.

I'll post the post mortem after I change it out.

 

[Razmataz]

Wow! That's the 1st Metz I've ever seen do that. As good as the tread still looked & the mileage, you might get some kind of warranty out of that one.

 

[wa1200lt]

The dreaded wear bulge indicator! So glad you found it before it let go.

Loren

This is what I found this morning as I was testing on a repair of a members EHCS unit on my bike. Later this morning I was going to pull the front wheel and install a new tire for the trip to CCR. I'll admit since installing my Smartire system I no longer stop before each ride (day) and check pressures and give the tires a once over. I think I am going to get back into the habit of the once over. I just got back from a two up trip to the Smokies. Could have been really bad in one of those over cooked corners if this had let go!!!

For the data hounds this was a ME880 made in Germany with a date code of 1609. It was installed in March 2010 and has about 12,000 miles on it.

I'll post the post mortem after I change it out.

 

[jzeiler]

Wow! That's the 1st Metz I've ever seen do that. As good as the tread still looked & the mileage, you might get some kind of warranty out of that one.

Maybe but I rarely go more than 14K on a front. Still tread left but there are usually heat cracks or other road damage by then so I prefer fresh rubber. This was my 5th front in 64K and I am on my 9th rear.

 

[wardenross]

I had my last two 880's on the rear do this.

The first one, I thought it was just a poor balance, just changed it out myself.

When the second one did the same thing, I reported it to Metezler and they gave me a free replacement and they wanted the bad tire.

Great customer service, but something is going on.

Both tires were less than 50% worn.

They are a great company, you need to contact them with the pix ASAP.

 

[jzeiler]

Thanks Warden. I guess it is important to let them know.

 

[Dick]

Glad that tire stayed with you until today, John. Geez - that's what nightmares are made of!!!

I've still got this tire in my shed as a reminder to do the pre-flight dance before every take off. Gotta admit tho, I don't do it 100% - butt I'm gonna follow your tact and instigate a promise resolution. Be interested in what you saw on the inside of the tire after you removed it. Mine ballooned both externally and internally. Scary stuff!! Pic one is normal profile of the tire; pic two and three show external bubble; and pic four shows internal bubble.

 

[roadcrave]

Glad you caught this, the 880's are failing all over the boards, Harlys and Bmw,
I pays to look at your tires, this could have save you life.

 

[jzeiler]

It acted just like a skin blister. I poked the thing and let the blister air out and she when down. I looked on the inside of the carcas and I see no flaws. I'll let Metzeler know and see what they say.

 

[Dick]

It acted just like a skin blister. I poked the thing and let the blister air out and she when down. I looked on the inside of the carcas and I see no flaws. I'll let Metzeler know and see what they say.

Sometime after I took pics of my tire, the inside bubble flattened back down to carcass level, and the outside bubble retreated to match the rest of the tread profile. I prolly should've contacted the someone in the supply chain back then, butt didn't. Memory bank now is void of mileage/dates/etc!!

 

[dfinazzo]

John,

Sorry to see you join the "my tire is coming apart crowd".

I run only Bridgestone tires and my last pair were radials and here is why (see picts) they probably do
not make them any more. This tire let loose in several places and was rubbing the swing arm - lucky
for me I was on my daily commute to work and returned home 12 miles with no issues. I called the
Bridgestone tire engineer who gave presentations at one of the CCR's - TJ Tennent looking for
advice, information and warranty. He blew me off since it was a radial and they no longer make them
and the date on tire was a little old.

Oh and by the way I could really feel this and smell this once I was in my garage!!

 

[jzeiler]

Well I heard back from Metzeler but they keep telling me to take it to my tire dealer for an inspection. I told them I mail order and do my own installs and they came back and said they did not want the photos. But if I wanted to have my dealer send it in for an inspection I should have my dealer contact them. Also their provided warranty statement said they do not warrant tires on a vehicle that has pulled a trailer. I guess I am done here.

 

[wardenross]

Well I heard back from Metzeler but they keep telling me to take it to my tire dealer for an inspection. I told them I mail order and do my own installs and they came back and said they did not want the photos. But if I wanted to have my dealer send it in for an inspection I should have my dealer contact them. Also their provided warranty statement said they do not warrant tires on a vehicle that has pulled a trailer. I guess I am done here.

I took mine to my dealer, the dealer mounted me a new tire and I had to pay for it.

The dealer sent the lemon tire to Metz.

Then Metz reimbursed the dealer for my cost. The dealer reimbursed my credit card. All this was very quick.

Perhaps you could contact the vendor where you purchased the tire.

 

[hschisler]

... Also their provided warranty statement said they do not warrant tires on a vehicle that has pulled a trailer. I guess I am done here.

Trailer? What trailer? Does anyone have a signed, notarized affidavit and photos proving THAT tire was used to pull a trailer?

That hitch hasn't been used in some time...

 

[Razmataz]

John,

Sorry to see you join the "my tire is coming apart crowd".

I run only Bridgestone tires and my last pair were radials and here is why (see picts) they probably do
not make them any more. This tire let loose in several places and was rubbing the swing arm - lucky
for me I was on my daily commute to work and returned home 12 miles with no issues. I called the
Bridgestone tire engineer who gave presentations at one of the CCR's - TJ Tennent looking for
advice, information and warranty. He blew me off since it was a radial and they no longer make them
and the date on tire was a little old.

Oh and by the way I could really feel this and smell this once I was in my garage!!

I had one do this too, but it wasn't a radial. That's why I went to Metz. Now I dunno...

 

[WildBil]

Sounds like the Metzler rep. was looking for an out and found it with the hitch in the pic. I am trying to figure out why I have a front end wobble from 38 to 42 Miles and hour. There is no cupping and I run pretty close to 42#. But I guess its time to wet them down and scour them for bulges and other defects. Thanks for sharing the pictures. Glad you found this on the rack instead of the road.

Bill

 

[deanwoolsey]

The wear indicates it has been that way for a few miles as you can see where the tread no longer has any depth at the bulge. Always hard to tell what causes those problems. Impact damage, factory defect, or who knows? We obsess over tire balance and then can't usually feel a big knot on the tread. Good incentive to always check those tires.

Please repost and let us know if the bulge goes away when the tire is deflated and if there's anything unusual looking on the inside. I'm always looking to learn more on tire issues.

 

[jzeiler]

Sounds like the Metzler rep. was looking for an out and found it with the hitch in the pic. I am trying to figure out why I have a front end wobble from 38 to 42 Miles and hour. There is no cupping and I run pretty close to 42#. But I guess its time to wet them down and scour them for bulges and other defects. Thanks for sharing the pictures. Glad you found this on the rack instead of the road.

Bill

No pics have been sent - they just like working with dealers. Try a re-balance of your front wheel and check it for an out of round tire.

 

[jzeiler]

Please repost and let us know if the bulge goes away when the tire is deflated and if there's anything unusual looking on the inside. I'm always looking to learn more on tire issues.

Actually I poked the "blister" before I even pulled the wheel and it went right down like a fluid blister on your hand. No additional air came out and it did not re-appear in the hour or so it took to remove the wheel and then the tire. This inside of the carcass was pristene. Hard to say what caused it.