Metzler FAILURE - Front Tire

Unreal, I have had ANOTHER Metzler Tire Failure:

Went to prep the bike today to do a twisty mountain run... You know, fluids, lights, tire pressure.... Went to check the front tire pressure and noticed what looked like a dry-rot crack that goes all around the sidewall.

Yup. I trace it around, and where it goes through the lettering, you can pull the tire apart.

It is cracked.

Contacted Metzler NA today... They said to call another number.

Called then number, they said take it to where you bought it and have them call.

I took it to where I bought it, and he says.... "Uh.... I will have to find my receipt."

Now I have to wait and see when/if the guy will find the receipt, IF he will order me another tire, then my tire has to go back to the distributer who then sends it to Metzler to be "inspected" so they can TRY to find a way to blame the failure on me.

Meanwhile...I cant drive the bike.

Now, I have to wait and see how long I will be down for....and IF they will replace it. The tire was purchased last September 10, 2009, (It is a 2009 tire, see pics) and has a little less than 5,000 miles on it, tread looks GREAT.

I'm LIVID.

And no one gives a crap. Even IF they replace it with a new one, (The guy from metzler said they will have to decide HOW MUCH of the failure they will cover.) I think this will be y last Metzler tire.

They handle great, but the rear tire went bald in under 4,000 miles, and the front one cracked in the sidewall on BOTH sides.

I can't win. Sorry for the Rant.

Holy crap. Good on you for catching it. Man, that would be a fast and catastrophic failure at speed. Good luck with the company.

Eric

That sucks. I would be after them to replace it 100%. No way it should crack like that after a year.

Jerry

And to think that's the tire I was gonna buy for the front. No way, Hosay. That's some pretty crappy customer service too.

I lust put one on mine, made in Brazil if it cracks it will be the last one. I have heard of this problem before, but went ahead and did it. If the word gets out they will be the losers.

Thanks for the heads up. I've got Metzlers front and rear. The rear is worn flat in the center with only 4000 miles on it, which is what convinced me to go Darkside. I DON'T drive hard. Waiting for my tire and Dynobead delivery sometime next week. My indy absolutely hates metzler - he mounts Dunlop by deflault, and specifically likes the E3. My front still looks OK, but when it does go there won't be any more Metzlers going on my bike.

My indy mounts a bunch of tires, and absolutely hates Metzler. He'll order and mount them if people insist - and some do - but he swears by Dunlop and says the E3 is the best tire ever made. Just ordered front and rear and will be on Tuesday I hope. Still have a Metzler with plenty of tread on the front but wanted to match up front and rear so ordered both. Unfortunately no E3 for the Deuce (17") - the old 'fits everything except Deuce' syndrome, so went with the HD branded OEM Dunlop. After what you've gone thru, I wouldn't mount another one if the hand delivered to me free.

I have been using Conti Motion for the last 2 tire changes on the street bike . Great prices on the net and they are pretty good in the twisties.

I never had a Metz front tire come apart but I did have 2 sets of rear Metz tires lose chunks of rubber. Metz said I must have abused the tire. While the Metz handles nice they are nothing but crap as far as im concerned and their customer service sux too. C/T should be delivered today. No more worries!!

Aha. Finally I can read ToMang's posts with the wife in the room! I had trouble concentrating with that viddie on there anyway...

I had the Night Dragon on the back and took it off at 3000 to put on the CT - it was half gone anyway. Good on cornering, skidded on braking like all bike tires on Hogs do. Yours sounds like either it's not fully beaded, has too much dynabead in it, or a front end problem. I doubt it's the dynabeads, so spin the tire with bike jacked up and see if it's running true.