Has anybody else been in this situation ?

[scenicroute]

Hi everyone !

TYRE LOSING AIR BETWEEN THE TYRE BEAD AND WHEEL RIM ONLY - AROUND 50% OF THE AREA

METZELER ME22 – 3.00 - 18 M/C 52P REINFTL - Bought brand new and installed by the trader 15.5 months ago / Road use only - 50 km or 30 miles per hour max - Distance covered 3500 - 4000 km (2000 - 2500 miles) / barely any thread wear / correct size / correct tyre pressure maintained / no temperature drops / no punctures / rim designed for tubeless tyres

Motorbike itself was bought brand new - has only covered 10000 km or 6000 odd miles

Is there any way I can prove that :

either the tyre was defective when I bought it

or that the tyre bead or rim was damaged whilst mounting (Is this a possibility in this case ? Signs to look out for which are not so obvious after the tyre is removed if it is please )

or that I maintained the correct tyre pressure at all times (?!)

or perhaps something else I haven't thought of yet

so I can get the free replacement tyre I am due from the trader ?

Tyre is still under warranty by law - trader's responsibility but the above must still be proven apparently. NO WARRANTY FROM METZELER.

WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP !

*** Should have mentioned this initially sorry - Traders are generally known to exploit the customer where I am at the moment particularly when the customer can't prove that the defect was present at the time of purchase and the product is a tyre. Tyre has been taken to a separate mechanic already - mechanics generally offer this service for free out of goodwill in this case due to the above - informed that I am definitely not responsible for this if the pressure of the tyre was maintained and that the tyre should be replaced for free hence why I am currently asking for your advice ! THANK YOU ! ***

ALSO DOES METZELER ONLY OFFER WARRANTY IN THE US AND CANADA ?!?!? DOESN'T METZELER EVEN OFFER WARRANTY IN THE UK ?!

[doggone]

It's more likely you damaged the rim than the tyre was faulty or got damaged by clumsy fitting e.g. stretching too much.
You can't say the rim wasn't damaged by tyre irons without taking it off again

[scenicroute]

Thank you ever so much for your input - interesting indeed - I hope he didn't damage my rim - will definitely be keeping an eye out for that thank you ! The trader also installed the tyre in my case and the reason I am looking into this before I contact the trader is because I am expecting him to blame it on me.

[yen_powell]

I've had this and it was just cack on the rim, a clean up with some very gentle abrasive paper and refitting the tyre cured the slow leak.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[Skudd]

[Riejufixing]

[stinkwheel]

I think you're looking for problems where none are likely to exist.

I'd expect them to pop it back down off the rim, wipe round it with a rag, apply more soap then pop it back on again. Which is exaxctly what I'd do if I didn't get one on right first time.

When this happened with my wifes car after the second attempt at an airtight fitting by our local tyre fitters, they landed up putting a sealing compound on the rim (which was pretty beaten up by this point in the cars career anyway). They didn't charge for it.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Bhud]

You don't know whether the tyre is damaged - there's no reason to blame Metzeler at this time.

Rim leaks are commonplace, and can be caused by foreign objects being caught between the rim and the tyre, or a damaged rim (as mentioned), or by a manufacturer's sticker (or some glue residue) not having been removed prior to fitting. It's possible the tyre may have been damaged during fitting, but this is more likely to happen if someone fitted it clumsily with tyre levers which slipped, rather than with the specialist tools used by a garage. Tyre rim sealant is good stuff. If you go back to the garage, tell them it's a rim leak and instruct them to put some rim sealant on the inside edge of the rim.

What I would do is: remove the wheel with the tyre still on it, deflate completely, break the bead, use a large G-clamp and pinch the tyre away from the rim, then clean it all up, thoroughly, on both sides of the tyre bead and the inside rim. Then shove rim sealant in the gap all the way around on both sides. If there is any damage to the tyre itself you'll be able to feel it by running your fingers along there. I bet there will be no damage. Once done, reinflate and it'll be fine.

[davebike]

Rim leaks are common
Ask the fitter to sort
Iffy rim can be sorted with a rubber solution called Rim Sealer !
I /We have this issue sevral times a year mostly older scooter rims for some reason !
____________________
Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[scenicroute]

THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WITH ME - THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVICE TOO.

*** I have edited my initial post to address any questions and to paint a better picture of the situation - I'm sorry I didn't do this before ***

doggone - I have been thinking about what you said - is this possible in this case ?

yen_powell - How much distance did you cover before your tyre started leaking ? Do you think this a possibility in my case ?

Skudd - How much distance did you cover before your tyre started leaking ? Do you think this a possibility in my case ?

Riejufixing - Bought brand new and installed by the trader 15.5 months ago / Road use only - 50 km or 30 miles per hour max - Distance covered 3500 - 4000 km (2000 - 2500 miles)

stinkwheel - Yes customers are always advised to think of the worst possible scenario and to be very well prepared before approaching the traders. I have edited my original post to paint a better picture of the situation for everybody - sorry I didn't do this before.

Yes and that is how customers should be treated.

I read that the sealing compound is a nightmare to remove and hence it costs a fortune to remove these tyres. Somebody even mentioned the sealant damaged the rim. Have you changed the tyre yet ? And do you know how long does this sealant lasts ?

Bhud - I agree that Metzeler shouldn't be blamed at this stage. I still heard that Metzeler doesn't offer warranty in the UK or anywhere else though but the US and Canada .. perhaps Germany ?! - if this is indeed the case and this is based on the company's principles and not on any legal reasons then the company is choosing not to treat its customers equally so I shall definitely be looking into this myself.


Oh interesting indeed - so far all I have read is that the sealant is a nightmare to remove and it costs a fortune to remove these tyres. Somebody even mentioned the sealant damaging his rim ! Do you know how long this sealant lasts ? I shall definitely look into this again.

Thank you ever so much once again for sharing your knowledge and experience with me.

davebike - Is this still common on bikes which have just been ridden for 6000 odd miles ?!

I shall be looking into sealants again because so far all I have read is that the sealant is a nightmare to remove and it costs a fortune to remove these tyres. Somebody even mentioned the sealant damaging his rim ! Do you know how long sealants lasts ?

[davebike]

Yes low milage bike suffer more from tyre seal issues the higher usage bikes at 15mounths since fitting I would remive and refit checking rim and using sealer if nessesary but would charge !
I regard faults reported in good time warentee but not atm overa year!
____________________
Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[yen_powell]

[Easy-X]

[Wull]

As has been said remove tyre and clean up the rim, double check the rim and if it’s fine and the tyre is ok then chances are it’s as above.
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"Scooters are for men who want to ride motorcycles but prefer to feel the wind on their vaginas"

[blurredman]

Had it on cars too..

As above i've removed the tyre in question and cleaned up contact areas and re-applied. I do have paste.
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

[doggone]