Have I got grounds to return my Michelin Pro Race 3s ?

sherer
sherer Posts: 2,460
edited September 2013 in Workshop
Hi

I ordered two Pro Race 3 tyres late last year \ beginning of this year. Can't confirm the exact dates as my order isn't showing up on wiggle :-((

I went out for a ride on them at the weekend and on both tyres and sidewall is cracked and the rubber seems to be totally worn away. Not being the massive rider I think they've only done 500 - 1000 miles max and although they are not as durable as say Gatorskins I was expecting to get a lot more life out of them than this.

Wondering if this should warrant a return \ replacement and i'm not happy the tyres are gone after not many rides.

Anyone else had this with these tyres ?

Comments

  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    1 - where is the bike stored?
    2 - what pressure do you ride at and how much do you weigh
    3 - what sort of roads have you been riding on
    4 - are you sure nothing has been rubbing the sidewalls

    500-1000 miles is rubbish (haven't you ridden more than that?!) - but its not necessarily a manufacturing fault.

    They could break down in UV (so if stored in direct sunlight that could be part of the problem)
    You could've been riding them at too low a pressure
    You could've been riding them on rougher roads than intended
    If the brake pads have been in contact with the sidewalls that will wear them down far more quickly.

    Not saying it's your fault - just things to consider.

    I had a set of tyres (Specialized Armadillos) that lasted about 1000 miles ... very disappointed at the time, but I changed them for a different brand and they're up to 2500 miles with little issue.
  • owenlars
    owenlars Posts: 719
    You will definitely struggle to get free replacements after 9 months or so. Slowbike is dead right.
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    thanks for the advice.

    1) The bike is stored inside. Sometimes in sunlight sometimes not depending on if the curtain is open or not
    2) Usually ride at between 100 - 120 PSI
    3) Just been riding on UK roads, no dirt riding although the roads have been bad during the winter
    4) Nothing has been rubbing against the sidewall and my brakes hit the rim and not the tyre. Can't see where it has come from but front and back both have the same issue.

    I know occasionally you can just get a bad batch but with very little running on the tyre I wouldn't expect them to be this bad.

    Never heard of UV doing this as I ride during the day in sunlight
  • rubbernekker
    rubbernekker Posts: 112
    Here in NZ any rubber left in the shop windows will be bleached and cracked in 2 months, that's through the glass. Bit different back home in Blighty mind.
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    sounds like I just need to write these off. It's on the training \ winter bike so might look at gatorskins or something a bit longer lasting this time
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    sherer wrote:
    sounds like I just need to write these off. It's on the training \ winter bike so might look at gatorskins or something a bit longer lasting this time
    4seasons did me right through last winter and this summer ... pretty good grip in the wet ..
    only just started the p*ncturing after 3k miles.
  • IanMSpencer
    IanMSpencer Posts: 11
    Bearing in mind your comments about storing inside, the things that kill tyres are heat and light. If you are storing your bike in a conservatory or something with large south facing windows, then you might be damaging them through them getting cooked, e.g. under direct sunlight. In that case, you might need to consider how you are storing. Cool, dry and dark are the cycle's friend.

    It is what it sounds like. Cracking rubber peeling off sounds like aged rubber. Under-inflation you normally see soft rubber but with distinct cracks around the sidewall.

    The other bike killer is an indoor trainer, though you tend to see two problems - rusty headsets due to dripping sweat and over-worn drivetrain, damaged hubs due to overheating and damaged tyres due to running on the roller under pressure over a small area. Clearly, if it is both tyres then it's not that.
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    can't remember if I used this wheel or the old tyre on the turbo but sounds like I just need to chalk this up to experience.

    Thanks for the replies as i've learned something valuable about bike storage for the future, both bikes are stored in the same place so need to keep an eye on this for the future. Keep them inside due to security as the shed and garage aren't secure but may have to rethink that policy
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Cover them with a cloth? Or put them somewhere darker ... just not in direct sunlight.
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    I put some on a bike about 6 months ago and they cracked on the sides within days but they're still fine, apparently it's common place on pro3s and I've had the same on conti 4000s. The rubber falling off sounds a bit dodgy though.
  • junglist_matty
    junglist_matty Posts: 1,731
    No.... Just buy something better than michelin.
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    only thing I was thinking last night is my winter bike has been kept in the same place for over 10 years and I only had the change the original tyres last year and my events bike has been in the same room next to the winter one for over 5 years and no tyre issues apart from this one.

    Looking at getting some Conti Gatorskins to replace these now but as the only thing I changed was the tyres and not the place I stored it just seems strange these tyres have gone so bad so quickly. Until then I was happy with the michelin tyres

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