If there is one thing you do not want to do while cruising on your bike, it is worry. Most bikers choose to ride as a way to let loose and enjoy the freeing feeling of the wind in their hair. Of course, safety should always be your number one concern. As relaxing as it may be to get out on the road, you can only truly ride without any worried if you have perfect confidence that your bike is completely safe. And a big part of making sure your bike is as safe as possible is replacing your tires occasionally. When you notice significant wear on the tires, it’s time to pop them off and slap on some new ones. You can find motorcycle tires online that will keep you in control every second you’re on the road.
The Dunlop Motorcycle Tire Recall
Back in 2017, Sumitomo Rubber USA, LLC issued a recall notice for a huge number of Dunlop Sportmax Q3+ tires. Over 500 tires had their integrity compromised and were not safe to drive on. Specifically, the tires did not receive enough heat when curing, which resulted in air pockets in the rubber. This was a long time ago, of course, which means you do not have to worry about this particular batch of faulty motorcycle tires. Luckily, every single tire with manufacturing mistakes was accounted for and removed from circulation. In fact, 90 never even left the factory. Another 28 were thrown away before anyone could use them. But this left 396 out there in the wind. Anyone could have installed these faulty tires on their motorcycle and been put in danger. It was fortunate that this did not happen before they were all found and removed. And, yes, anyone who purchased these tires were reimbursed.
Never Take Your Tire Integrity for Granted
This story just goes to show you that you cannot take the integrity of your motorcycle tires for granted. Just because a tire is professionally manufactured does not mean mistakes cannot happen. When you purchase new tires, you should always check them to make sure they are safe and reliable. It is also a good idea to keep an ear out for any product recall notices in the days and weeks following a purchase, so you can get those unsafe tires off your bike in the event the one in a million chances shine unfavorably on you. When buying tires, you should always keep these factors in mind:
- Are there any cracks in the tire?
- Does the tire resist applied pressure well?
- Does the tire fit your motorcycle properly?
- Is the tire made by a trusted manufacturer?
- Are there any signs of wear on the tire?
- Is the tread completely intact and even?
If you do happen to find a tire that isn’t exactly up to your standard, you probably can get a refund, assuming you haven’t driven on it for more than a few miles. If you can’t, you might want to consider looking into motorcycle tire repair kits. No matter what, always make sure the tires you are buying will keep you safe while flying down the highway.