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.