Modern Vespa

I had a puncture on the face of the rear tire on my Vespa 250ie and replaced the tire. Had a local tire shop spin balance the tire/wheel. After less than 5,000 miles the thread was gone...I thought that strange and looked closely at the tire to make certain I didn't purchase another of that brand. While doing this I saw a great wear spot...down to the white 'string-like' stuff under the black rubber. This spot was directly opposite of the large number of lead stick-on weights the shop added to the wheel. I believe there were 10 of the lead weights.

I asked the shop why that happened, and they 'copped out' saying it was probably due to over inflation. I know that's not true.

I can only believe they did a horrible job of balancing the tire/wheel.

Anyway I have a new tire and removed all the weights (didn't ask them to balance anything this time) and found the scooter much smoother in a trial run up and down the highway.

Have you ever seen anything like this?

Hard telling after 5000 miles... I consider that good mileage on a rear tire.
What brand of tire did you have?
I am trying out Heidenau K61 right now and have only 1000 miles on them and showing very little signs of wear

More than four or five counter weights seem excessive and could well have caused the wear you are describing. Did you notice increasing vibrations with increasing speeds? That should tell you right from the first mile that something is off. But 5000 miles is not a bad mileage for a rear tire.

No balancing at all, with no apparent vibrations at high speeds, should be okay.

I got 1500 miles out of my original Sava rear tire. I had corded it and had to wait several weeks for my michelin pure powers to show up. Riding aggressively at speed, 5K miles seems like a stretch.

this is why I balance my own stuff. get a marc parnes balance tool and do your own.

new tires always feel good but will quickly wear wrong if left unbalanced and by then they could be cupping and then they are junk. Highly suggest balancing them.

5k on a rear tire is not too bad, you have to take in considerations of raod type and conditions, air pressures, shock settings, riders weight and extra lbs carried. the next rider might get more mileage or less mileage because their variables are different than yours.

Marc Parnes Wheel Balance Video Demonstration

5000 miles, as others say, is not bad.

I don't think I've ever gotten much more than 5-6K.