Defective tire?
08-22-12, 09:40 AM
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Defective tire?
I just put new wheels, rim tape, tires and tubes (all brand new, cheap ones from Niagaracycle) on an old bike, and within 4 miles of riding my front tire exploded. There's a rip on the sidewall of the tire so I'm thinking it was a defective tire? I've installed PLENTY of tires before, never had a problem like this. I didn't overfill it, I put it at about 70 and it said 90 max. Should I not be buying the cheap Kenda tires?
Last edited by pavement_nyc; 08-22-12 at 09:44 AM.
08-22-12, 09:52 AM
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Yeah, looks like a defect. Cheap tires will have more defects but not frequently enough to be a concern - you might have noticed this before install if you'd done a good inspection so that might be worthwhile next time. Make your buying decisions accordingly.
08-22-12, 09:57 AM
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08-22-12, 10:15 AM
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I cannot see a picture, but the scenario you describe makes me think there is either a brake pad touching the tire at some point in the wheel rotation, or you put too little pressure in the tire and you were pinching the tire between the rima nd the ground which cut the tire.
Although I have seen tires that were defective and the sidewall pulled away from the bead and caused a blowout. I have not seen such defects in cheap tires however - ironically, the only tires I have seen this with were prety pricey flat-resistant ones from a major manufacturer.
Although I have seen tires that were defective and the sidewall pulled away from the bead and caused a blowout. I have not seen such defects in cheap tires however - ironically, the only tires I have seen this with were prety pricey flat-resistant ones from a major manufacturer.
08-22-12, 11:46 AM
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I cannot see a picture, but the scenario you describe makes me think there is either a brake pad touching the tire at some point in the wheel rotation, or you put too little pressure in the tire and you were pinching the tire between the rima nd the ground which cut the tire.
Although I have seen tires that were defective and the sidewall pulled away from the bead and caused a blowout. I have not seen such defects in cheap tires however - ironically, the only tires I have seen this with were prety pricey flat-resistant ones from a major manufacturer.
Although I have seen tires that were defective and the sidewall pulled away from the bead and caused a blowout. I have not seen such defects in cheap tires however - ironically, the only tires I have seen this with were prety pricey flat-resistant ones from a major manufacturer.
08-22-12, 12:02 PM
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Oh wait -- what I think you're seeing is an extra layer of fabric bonded to the tire to protect the bead. It's normal for them to pull away at the edge.
Try a new tube, don't pinch it, and pump it up to 60-65 psi. Bet it'll work fine.
Try a new tube, don't pinch it, and pump it up to 60-65 psi. Bet it'll work fine.
08-22-12, 12:06 PM
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You gonna eat that?
There's a hole in the sidewall of the tire. It's shot. It's defective.
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08-22-12, 01:09 PM
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It was absolutely not either of those. If there was any pinching between rim and ground it was after the tire exploded as I was stopping/falling
08-22-12, 01:15 PM
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08-22-12, 05:28 PM
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Kenda tires are generally good tires, but no brand will have good tire for $12! It does look like from the pics that something sliced it, it was probably the rim. Check the other side of the tire, or the other tire, for same sort of cut, is it a cut or a seam? If it's a seam then it could have been a defect in the gluing process. Nigara usually has really good customer service, if you find it's a seam then e-mail them with your complaint and offer to send both back for a refund or exchange them for what they sell, and the best they sell for a lower cost is the Continental Ultra Sport for about $22.
You can get nice 27" tires (I'm assuming their 27" because their steel wheels) from Panaracer Pasela wire bead for less the $25 and is a far superior tire to the Kenda you had which was actually made by Shin who has the same tire for the same $12 and also sold under the Avenir name. The Panaracer is a better tire then the Conti Ultra Sport I mentioned.
You can get nice 27" tires (I'm assuming their 27" because their steel wheels) from Panaracer Pasela wire bead for less the $25 and is a far superior tire to the Kenda you had which was actually made by Shin who has the same tire for the same $12 and also sold under the Avenir name. The Panaracer is a better tire then the Conti Ultra Sport I mentioned.
08-23-12, 03:15 AM
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Post a picture of your brake pads. That's definitely a wear mark from the pads rubbing on the tyres.
08-23-12, 07:29 AM
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I cannot see a picture, but the scenario you describe makes me think there is either a brake pad touching the tire at some point in the wheel rotation, or you put too little pressure in the tire and you were pinching the tire between the rima nd the ground which cut the tire.
Although I have seen tires that were defective and the sidewall pulled away from the bead and caused a blowout. I have not seen such defects in cheap tires however - ironically, the only tires I have seen this with were prety pricey flat-resistant ones from a major manufacturer.
Although I have seen tires that were defective and the sidewall pulled away from the bead and caused a blowout. I have not seen such defects in cheap tires however - ironically, the only tires I have seen this with were prety pricey flat-resistant ones from a major manufacturer.
IMO the one thing it's least likely to be is a defective tire. Tires can have all kinds of defects, but a long grove just at the rim line isn't very likely. Not only that, you were sure to have noticed it if it were there when you mounted the tire. So look very thoroughly for a problem on your bike, so you don't have a repeater.
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08-23-12, 07:46 AM
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+1, ( I see the picture) This type of damage is exactly what brake shoe overhang causes, so I'd check that first. Sidewall cutting cutting by rim because of low pressure is also a possibility but that usually takes more than 4 miles.
IMO the one thing it's least likely to be is a defective tire. Tires can have all kinds of defects, but a long grove just at the rim line isn't very likely. Not only that, you were sure to have noticed it if it were there when you mounted the tire. So look very thoroughly for a problem on your bike, so you don't have a repeater.
IMO the one thing it's least likely to be is a defective tire. Tires can have all kinds of defects, but a long grove just at the rim line isn't very likely. Not only that, you were sure to have noticed it if it were there when you mounted the tire. So look very thoroughly for a problem on your bike, so you don't have a repeater.
I have also seen similar damage on a customer's bike who got a flat from road debris or something, then walked the bike on the flat tire for a couple miles to get home and that damaged the sidewall.
