Pilot Road 3 cupping

[mrchips]

I'm getting signifacant cupping / Scalloping on the right side of my 5,000 km old PR3 front tyre. Refer attached. The tyre is otherwsie fine. No squaring off or cupping on the left side + the tyre pressure is fastidiously maintained at 36 psi.



I am concerned this cupping will lead to premature demise of an otherwsie, good tyre.

Is any one else having this issue with their PR3's or more importantly, what could be causing this ?

I eagerly await your words of wisdom

[YellowDog]

I have seen something similar on another board, but it was specifically related riding in very high tempertures.

What does the tyre shop say about it?

There must be some kind of warrantee against such a defect?

[Corse1]

Yeah I have seen that other info on PR3 where great chunks of the tyre were falling out in hot temps

Other than the right side will be the side to wear first on the front given the road camber I would do what yellowdog suggests and get the shop to look at it.

[White trash]

You've done 5000km on a tyre and it's got THAT much tread left? Jesus, I'd be nominating Michelin for a Nobel Peace Prize.

This is a piss take right?

[Kickaha]

There must be some kind of warrantee against such a defect?

That would only apply if it was a manufacturing defect which is unlikely

[Quasievil]

I'm getting signifacant cupping / Scalloping on the right side of my 5,000 km old PR3 front tyre. Refer attached. The tyre is otherwsie fine. No squaring off or cupping on the left side + the tyre pressure is fastidiously maintained at 36 psi.



I am concerned this cupping will lead to premature demise of an otherwsie, good tyre.

Is any one else having this issue with their PR3's or more importantly, what could be causing this ?

I eagerly await your words of wisdom

Is it only on those two spots, or all the way around the tyre ?

[mrchips]

You've done 5000km on a tyre and it's got THAT much tread left? Jesus, I'd be nominating Michelin for a Nobel Peace Prize.

This is a piss take right?

Nup, no piss taker here. You wanna see the PR2 rear ... 13,000 km & still looking shit hot.

It's my commuter bike & does some good milage so the rubber's gotta go the distance. I'm getting similar milage from my SV's PR2's & half of that is with a pillion.

Thanks for the replies, I'll run it into the bike shop & get their opinion.


Quassie, the cupping is for the entire right hand circumference.

[Quasievil]

If it was a poking out type issue it would be a belt or a delamination, but an internal dent in my knowledge could only mean that you have hit something, but in saying that an impact normally offers a delamination scenario.
If nothing like that has occured I would be taking the tyre back to the retailer so they can look at it, after 5000 kms I wouldnt expect a replacement at all, but I think you might get something if you politely offer the situation to the retailer and the importer. Tyre Importers etc need to know of issues like this, they may even be able to offer an explanation to you

[Kickaha]

but in saying that an impact normally offers a delamination scenario.

It also normally only affects the area the impact occurred in

[mrchips]

Yeah, thanks for that Quazie.

Apart from flying plywood the odd tarp & bits of shrapnel blown at me from wellington construction sites, the tyre hasn't hit anything.

Will run it into the shop, they'd welcome the feedback.

[YellowDog]

High Mileage PR3 after riding in 100 degrees of heat.

[Hitcher]

My first and only foray into Pilot Roads, PR2s, was on my FJR1300. The front had massive cupping on both sides, indeed the first time ever I have worn out a front before a rear. It ended up with a profile a bit like a wiper blade. The rear, however, acquitted itself superbly. And I am a fastidious tyre pressuriser.

[Geeen]

High Mileage PR3 after riding in 100 degrees of heat.

Wow, that second pic is one stoofed tyre Is that just the tyre over heating and coming apart or are there other reasons for that to happen?

[boman]

Right hand side of the tyre? I would say reasonably normal wear, due to the camber of our roads. I have seen very similar wear on PP2ct, on the front of my SVThou. Not as bad cupping, but noticable wear. The cupping, could be down to the tread pattern, causing the blocks to "heel and toe.

Just my opinion.

[AllanB]

Does not look too severe in the image. Plenty tread left, bit of cupping. I suspect it is the softer edge rubber getting ripped up a bit - the amount of tread on the PR3 may make it more prone to cupping than a more sport orientated tyre with a lot less tread.
Be interested in what the shop says.

The Michelin Hi Sports that were fitted new to my Hornet had the worst cupping I've ever seen on a front tyre - both were dead before 6,000.

My PR2's have 13,000 on them - rear is almost dead and the front is showing cupping and noticeably worn at the softer edges more than the centre.

I've a set of Pilot Powers in the shed waiting to replace them.

Regarding that Americans claim about his PR3 delamination in high temps - I've read all his thread and personally think he is full of shit.
a. he claims that tyre had 10,000 miles on it (it shows little wear!) unlikely.
b. if indeed your rear tyre did have chunks of rubber come off like he claims why the F would you continue to ride the bike with the same front tyre fitted? Anyone with half a brain would dump it in fear it behaved like the rear.

No sir - something fishy there.