Topic: Bridgestone Battlax BT45 tire cracking with less than 100 miles?

[killersoundz]

My bridgestone battlax tire is cracking with less than 100 miles on it. This doesn't look good especially for a tire that cost that much. The company should send me a replacement, no?

[Grabcon]

As long as you have receipts I would go back and get a replacement tire. The real question is, is it a new tire or is this something that has been around for a while in the garage. If new go back to the dealer.

[killersoundz]

As long as you have receipts I would go back and get a replacement tire. The real question is, is it a new tire or is this something that has been around for a while in the garage. If new go back to the dealer.

I purchased it from http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com about a month and a half ago.

[Fritz]

Almost looks like somebody dragged a box knife through that tire.

My Bridgestones came with a "puncture insurance". During the first 12 months after purchase they'll change them for whatever damage they may take...

[killersoundz]

Almost looks like somebody dragged a box knife through that tire.

My Bridgestones came with a "puncture insurance". During the first 12 months after purchase they'll change them for whatever damage they may take...

These cracks just showed up I did not notice them before when I had the tire mounted or anything. I'm quite sure I would have. I've had the bike on a stand with them on and off for about a month working on it so I definitely would have seen

[lone*X]

Can't remember the codes, but the tire will have a coded manufacturing date.   Do some searches and find out the date format for your BT45's.  Bridgestones have served me well and I have never seen one do that.  I have my second set of Battle Axes on my VTX with close to 10K and they are still in good shape.  But some dealers have been known to sell old stock tires well past their usefulness.   Tires do not get better with age, they become a dealers loss if he can't unload them.  In tires NOS is not good.  Check the date. 

[bollingball]

The real question is it a crack or a cut? Looks like a cut. you will just have to see if a cut is covered. Who did you buy it from?
Ken

Edit I saw where you bought it. That was mail order? call and send picture first see what they say Talk nice not angry

[MCRider]

The real question is it a crack or a cut? Looks like a cut. you will just have to see if a cut is covered. Who did you buy it from?
Ken

Edit I saw where you bought it. That was mail order? call and send picture first see what they say Talk nice not angry

Search "DOT Tire Codes" to get the key for determining age. Everyone should know how as tires vcan sit half+ their life in a warehouse before being sold. I'd protest that if I were sold a tire oler than a year.

But as mentioned the real problem is more likely a box knife cut by the person who took the wrapping off.  Who installed the tire. That's likely where your recourse is.  IT didn't show up till the tire got some air in it and some squirm.

[killersoundz]

Date code says it was manufactured February of this year. 0712


I'm not sure what to think about it. I'm the one that took the wrapping off the tire but I didn't use any blade. Also it looks a little too straight and even to be a cut like that.

[MCRider]

Date code says it was manufactured February of this year. 0712


I'm not sure what to think about it. I'm the one that took the wrapping off the tire but I didn't use any blade. Also it looks a little too straight and even to be a cut like that.

You got me. Good luck. 

[Stev-o]

+1 looks like a cut, never have seen a crack like that.

Easy to check date of manufacture - look for DOT on sidewall, then there will be 4 numbers.  First 2 are week made and second 2 are year.

[Frostyboy]

I have BT45s also. I'm certain that they're dual compound. I wonder if that's actually a defect between the harder centre section & the softer outer?
Ask a Bridgestone dealer for their opinion I reckon. Good luck.

See how the three cracks are exactly the same shape at the rear end of each one?

[BLUE71TURBO]

 If you click on the picture and magnify it you will see that the cracks " cut's "  are actually separations in the tread.  Each separation starts at the exact place on the tread and ends in the same place with a little curl at the end.  This is definitely a major defect.  Don't ride it anymore and contact the seller for a refund !   

[Frostyboy]

Just been looking at the main pic again, I'm curious what size the tyre is. It's not too wide for the rim is it? It might be coming apart because the beads are being squeezed too tight on a rim that isn't wide enough?

[killersoundz]

If you click on the picture and magnify it you will see that the cracks " cut's "  are actually separations in the tread.  Each separation starts at the exact place on the tread and ends in the same place with a little curl at the end.  This is definitely a major defect.  Don't ride it anymore and contact the seller for a refund !   

I tend to agree!


They are 110/80/18's on the stock honda 750k4 rim. Most people go 120's but I went stock size. It's only been inflated to 28psi.

[Kevin D]

Manufacturers warranty:
http://www.motorcycle-karttires.com/addinfo/warranty.pdf

I think Bridgestone will be able to say what is going on and if it is a tire failure they will surely want to get on top of it.
http://www.motorcycle-karttires.com/contact.htm

I also have a new BT45 120/90-18 and will be checking it out today. I think I would have noticed something like that.

EDIT: No cuts, slices nothing bad on my "4510" (45th week of 2010) new tire.
BTW, my BT45 did not come wrapped, just the manufacturers sticker on the tread.
Guessing now: Maybe the vendor messed up wrapping it for UPS
Another guess: got any interference with the fender, swingarm, taillight, etc...?
And I am going with the higher tire pressure instead of 28psi.

[Lostboy Steve]

Maybe you ran over some glass or something? Is it definitely a crack and not a cut?

[killersoundz]

Motorcycle-superstore customer service sucks. This is clearly a defect in the tire and they expect me to dismount the tire and send it back at my inconvenience for a warranty replacement. I don't think so. I'd rather give them bad reviews. People don't know how to operate a business anymore. I have the internet, an enormous tool to flame your business. You treat me like your business depends on it or I'm going to flame you.

[Raul CB750K1]

Why don't you measure the cut depth? If it is shallow, in a few hundred miles the tire will wear an the cut will be history. As long as if it shallow, I would use it with no qualms. It has deeper cuts after all -people tend to call them "grooves"...

[killersoundz]

Why don't you measure the cut depth? If it is shallow, in a few hundred miles the tire will wear an the cut will be history. As long as if it shallow, I would use it with no qualms. It has deeper cuts after all -people tend to call them "grooves"...

Yeah I just measured it with a feeler gauge and the big ones are about 1/4" deep. I talked to bridgestone usa and the guy was quite nice. Said I'd still probably have to go through the retailer but we'll see. I'm sending him a e-mail with a picture just to check out

[bollingball]

Sorry killer but that is why for things like this I go to brick & motor. Just take the wheel back to the shop and let them deal with it. Yes you may pay a little more but you might want to consider it on your new one and just get your money back. If you can even do that?

Ken

[killersoundz]

Sorry killer but that is why for things like this I go to brick & motor. Just take the wheel back to the shop and let them deal with it. Yes you may pay a little more but you might want to consider it on your new one and just get your money back. If you can even do that?

Ken

I hear ya!!

[Duke McDukiedook]

If you click on the picture and magnify it you will see that the cracks " cut's "  are actually separations in the tread.  Each separation starts at the exact place on the tread and ends in the same place with a little curl at the end.  This is definitely a major defect.  Don't ride it anymore and contact the seller for a refund !   

I tend to agree!


They are 110/80/18's on the stock honda 750k4 rim. Most people go 120's but I went stock size. It's only been inflated to 28psi.

Looks like a defect but I would go with higher pressure than that, these are normally tubeless tires, right?

[killersoundz]

If you click on the picture and magnify it you will see that the cracks " cut's "  are actually separations in the tread.  Each separation starts at the exact place on the tread and ends in the same place with a little curl at the end.  This is definitely a major defect.  Don't ride it anymore and contact the seller for a refund !   

I tend to agree!


They are 110/80/18's on the stock honda 750k4 rim. Most people go 120's but I went stock size. It's only been inflated to 28psi.

Looks like a defect but I would go with higher pressure than that, these are normally tubeless tires, right?

Right. If I recall correctly the cb750 tire pressure calls for like 28 rear and 30 front. That's what I've been going with. My bike is considerably lighter than a stock cb750 too since it's stripped to bare bones

[MCRider]

If you click on the picture and magnify it you will see that the cracks " cut's "  are actually separations in the tread.  Each separation starts at the exact place on the tread and ends in the same place with a little curl at the end.  This is definitely a major defect.  Don't ride it anymore and contact the seller for a refund !   

I tend to agree!


They are 110/80/18's on the stock honda 750k4 rim. Most people go 120's but I went stock size. It's only been inflated to 28psi.

Looks like a defect but I would go with higher pressure than that, these are normally tubeless tires, right?

Right. If I recall correctly the cb750 tire pressure calls for like 28 rear and 30 front. That's what I've been going with. My bike is considerably lighter than a stock cb750 too since it's stripped to bare bones

I may get scorched for this, but seems to me we should use the pressure on the tire, less 10%. Not the OEM pressure for OEM type tires.  (If I'm wrong, don't just say so, tell me why).

If so, the BattleAx pressure is likely much higher, (42psi), which would make those slits open up even more.

[RAFster122s]

Flaming a business for asking you to send it to them is really expecting a lot I think and isn't fair too them. Your expectations are out of line I think and are emotional. Ask Bridgestone for the cost of remounting and dismounting a defective tire if they judge it to be one. The place you bought it from is just doing business and they are dealing with the product they sold you, a bare tire. Sure it would be nice if they covered shipping but their policy is probably on their site.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking MC, if the tire is a tubeless usually you have to run higher pressures than a tube tire.
Looks like a defect to me in nobody took a razor to your tire, MC is right, the cut will probably get a little bigger with an increase in pressure.

I run closer to 40 psi on my Spitfires.

[camelman]

Try taking the tire to a local dealer. Bridgestone/Firestone, maybe Honda or Suzuki...  The chains' service departments are usually willing to work with you if they carry the brand.

[killersoundz]

Flaming a business for asking you to send it to them is really expecting a lot I think and isn't fair too them. Your expectations are out of line I think and are emotional. Ask Bridgestone for the cost of remounting and dismounting a defective tire if they judge it to be one. The place you bought it from is just doing business and they are dealing with the product they sold you, a bare tire. Sure it would be nice if they covered shipping but their policy is probably on their site.

I disagree. I have ran an internet business and if you have a customer complaining about a defective product and they have a photo to back it up you need to go above and beyond to take care of it. The level of service they need to provide is to send me a new tire and I'll send the old one back. Simple as that. You don't get away with anything less these days with the internet.

I'm not even considering the cost of mounting and balancing either. I paid $35 to mount this defective tire, it's going to be another $35 to mount the new one. I should be even getting compensated for that.

[Raul CB750K1]

$35 for mounting a tire?

Maybe it's time to give up telecom engineering and start a motorcycle shop....

[Grabcon]

I will always buy local if I can and maybe pay a few dollars more, but it is worth it when this kind of stuff happens.

If the seller and/or manufacturer agree that it is a defect yes they should pay for dismounting and remounting the tire. I would expect shipping as well. My guess there return policy most likely will tell you what to do.

[Stev-o]

+1 - call/go to your local Bridgestone deal and see what they can do to help. I run BT's and they are a great tire. I bet Bridgestone will stand behind it if you handle it correctly.

[Duke McDukiedook]

$35 for mounting a tire?

Maybe it's time to give up telecom engineering and start a motorcycle shop....

People say that all the time until they actually do it and find out what costs are involved and some dude comes in and wants you to mount a tire he didn't even purchase from you. That's why it costs $35 to mount a tire.

[dave500]

i have a similar sideways one on a sport demon front,i thought it was a glass cut?im carefull what i ride over and it would have to be some amount of obvious glass or a sheet of iron to do that?

i think ill replace this tyre,its three years old now,its seen two rears and just fitted a third,your 100 miles seems a bit lame though!

[Raul CB750K1]

$35 for mounting a tire?

Maybe it's time to give up telecom engineering and start a motorcycle shop....

People say that all the time until they actually do it and find out what costs are involved and some dude comes in and wants you to mount a tire he didn't even purchase from you. That's why it costs $35 to mount a tire.

I actually mount and balance my own tires, and as long as you have the tire removed from the bike, $35 seems a bit to high to my eye. It would be more than reasonable if that price involved wheel removing, tire changing, balancing, and wheel installing -plus chain tension adjustment-

I understand that shops make a living out of man hours but they have a markup also on parts. I understand that charging high on tire changing when the tire comes from outside intends to discourage customers to buy outside and simply order tire and labour in the shop. But if you have a shop and your customers are buying outside you have a problem: your dealer is not competitive. You either get a better deal, because charging high for your labour will only make customers find another shop, and you will end up without the tire sale NOR the labor sale.

I work for a big telecom company. It used to design and manufacture electronic equipment. Some time ago, it was clear we couldn't compete with asian manufacturing prices. We could have decided to charge high anytime the customer wanted us to configure a network from a different supplier. But instead, my company decided to get rid of the manufacturing business, and the company turned into a service provider. What we do now is mounting the tires that somebody else sells -and we couldn't sell for less price-, but we try to mount them better and cheaper than the rest. Anyway, we also sell our own "tires" -manufactured in Asia with our brand name- for those customers that just want a one-stop shopping.

Enough thread hijacking.... :-)  Regarding the original post, my opinion is that Bridgestone is selling defective tires, they should cover the costs incurred by the customer, such as shipping, mounting etc. It is not like "sorry I ordered the wrong tire, would you exchange it for me?" but "you sold me a tire that is defective". That's where the middle-man comes in handy. Big companies can't care less for a single customer, but if it is your middle-man the one who speaks for you, they will listen to him. They know that he values his customers -people like you- and he will not buy from somebody who make him lose customers.

[BLUE71TURBO]

$35 for mounting a tire?

Maybe it's time to give up telecom engineering and start a motorcycle shop....

People say that all the time until they actually do it and find out what costs are involved and some dude comes in and wants you to mount a tire he didn't even purchase from you. That's why it costs $35 to mount a tire.

                  100 %  Correct !   It's not the sellers fault that the tire is crap.  Just dismount it yourself and send it back to get a new one.  Life isn't always fair in our eyes so you just have to roll with the punches.  Buy some motorcycle tire irons and learn how to mount your own tire. It will be a great lesson to learn and to save $$$ in the future.   

[dave500]

i mount my own on steel rims,i leave the alloy ones to the shop and the rim friendly machine,if you buy the tyres theres no real charge for the mounting here,ive used the same place for a couple of years now,i take the wheel to him of course.

[Old Scrambler]

Regarding tire pressure......I'm with MC......tube-type modern treads on my original steel rims; 24-28 in front....32-36 in rear at 60-70 temps........remember, they warm up.  I used to add 2 lbs. for my wife but she seldom rides along anymore.

Regarding the bad tire.....I'm with "play the hand you started with, or fold"  You bought on the internet so deal with it.  I personally buy from the local shop with free mounting if I remove the wheel. 

Regarding your tire damage......it looks like a defect that Bridgstone should be made aware of.....maybe an entire batch was bad and other's lives are dependent on your action to start a recall.  I would bet your local motorcycle shop that sells Bridgestone could replace the tire and be reimbursed by Bridgestone for all of their labor.  Do you remember the Bridgestone / Firestone fiasco from a few years ago? Bridgestone should be willing to take care of this to keep it out of the press.

Regarding the split on the front tire........same replacement story and you may get some amount of discount. Do it now......that is not a safe tire.