Concerns with TKC's

[gibbsb]

My wife and I just returned from a trip to CO on the GS. I put a set of TKC's on the bike before the trip. About 2000 2-up highway miles and 100 miles offroad. When we got back, I put the Anakee's back on the bike. What I saw when I dismounted the TKC's should be alarming. The inside liner of the tire has a pattern design to it. About 1-1 1/2" of this pattern has come off all the way around the inside of the tire and has formed into a lot of little balls of rubber. This is an indication that the tire has overheated and is about to fail. I ran max pressure in the tires on the road (34) and never exceeded 75mph. The speed, pressure and weight of the bike 2-up should have been just fine with the TKC, but a few more miles and the rear tire would have failed. My wife only weighs 100# and the bags were not overloaded.

I have a German car repair shop and we have seen these little rubber balls a number of times in tires that were run underinflated and had either failed or were about to fail. The TKC was never run underinflated and I am reluctant to inflate a tire above the maximum pressure stated on the tire.

Be careful out there!

Barry

[marc]

34 is not max pressure, at least not for the rear. Conti recommends 2.5 bar for the rear (a touch more than 36 PSI) and many folks run it higher (especially when 2 up with gear).

I'm currently running a TKC-80 on my front with about 5K (99+% road) miles on it at pretty much the recommended 32 PSI for a front tire. The knobs are around 60% worn. I'll take a close look when I take it off the bike.

// marc

[Fudmucker]

Riding Solo (125kg=270lb), I run my Tourance front/rear tyres at 2.5/2.8bar, deflating to 2.0/2.0 on dirt roads, 1.5 on soft sand. Loaded with luggage, I run 2.7/3.0bar and deflate to 2.2 on dirt roads.

I think your problem was underinflation...?

[gibbsb]

I finally got a response from my e-mail to Conti and they want me to send the tire back to the dealer I bought it from. So I guess that is the next step. I'll keep you posted when I get an answer from them.

Barry

[gibbsb]

Here is a picture of the delamination on the inside of the TKC. This is the only place where the cord is actually showing.

Barry

[gibbsb]

Continental is going to replace the tire.

Barry

[xjon]

I have little balls, but I thought they where normal!

Good to hear youre getting a freebie.

[gibbsb]

Little balls are not normal. It is a sign of overheating. In 40 years of changing tires on BMW's this was the first time I had seen them. We see them all the time in car tires that have been run underinflated. I will run 42PSI in the new rear TKC when on the road 2-up and see if it cures the problem.

Barry