tire failure

[bill e goat]

These deformities and rubber splits are not peculiar to the Gripsters or other Avons. I just took a Michelin Macadam 90X off my R1100RS...it had some nasty looking splits in the center of the tread, and was deformed quite a bit as well. Unfortunately I had already purchased a new set of the same tires before I discovered the split, but I will be inspecting them much more carefully from now on. I think back about how many times I have pushed those Michelins very hard, on heavily traveled mountain roads like the notorious CA 29 over Mt. St. Helena, and it makes me thank my lucky stars that those splits didn't decide to just open up or draw up some sharp object into them. Bill E Backroad going back to Z4s or BT54s next chance I get.

[Steve McCord]

In reference to the tire failure issue, I'm thinking out loud mind you, but I recall attending a Dunlop Tyre seminar at the BMW-MOA rally in 1989 in York, PA.. Of the many things the "rep" said, one thing that stood out in my mind was the subject of types of fluids that some riders app;y to the tyres, ie: armoral, "tire shine" type stuff that was not good for the tyres. Now I know that Dual Sport riders aren't prone to shinning tyres, but could certain types of chain oils weaken the rubber, isolating the mentioned tyre problem to the drive side. I know tyre rubber is oil based but I am not sure what kind of stuff goes into chain lube now days. If you are like me, when I lube the chain, I lube the chain ! Is it possible that lube that has "slung off" the chain onto the tyre has deteriorated the rubber compound on the drive side.....?