Modern Vespa

I saw this (with the gnarled Weatherman) and thought I'd share for anyone who has schwalbe tires, is considering buying them and hasn't seen the article in the latest issue of Scootering.

I've got both Racemen and Weathermen so I found it of great interest! Scootering is waiting a response, I wonder if I'll get one... I'm going to try and contact them.

saw that alright. I've gone through a couple of sets though with no bother.

I just spoke with a guy from Schwalbe North America, and he said he hadn't even heard about the article and has never heard of any scooter tires coming apart!.. at all! So there's that for what it's worth...
He did tell me that all their tires are made in Indonesia (which actually was't a surprise).. I'd heard China and I'd heard they are really made in Germany.. but apparently they're cooking 'em in Indo!

This started almost three years ago. Scootering is late to the table with this article. There is a bunch of stuff on Scooterotica about the failures of Schwalbe tires. Not that Scooterotica is the go-to site for statistics or engineering evailuations, but there are more people riding these tires on that forum than probably anywhere else in the world. As for the guy at Schwalbe saying they haven't heard anything, of course that is what he would say. "Hey, I've heard of some tire failures." Schwalbe guy: "Yeah, we've had some failures. What manufacturer hasn't? No one is perfect."

Last year in Portland I had a discussion with a fellow LCUSA member about the separations the Schwalbe tires have been experiencing. The bottom line is: I've never seen it first-hand, but I ain't taking chances.

January 2009
http://scooterotica.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=19276&hilit=schwalbe+tire

September 2012
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=258698303097&story_fbid=10151430732063098

Mark Broadhurst swears against them since these stories started popping up about a year and a half ago. He discontinued selling them and I think he is retailing Heidenau's now.

I hope their QC gets better because the Weathermens are an awesome tire.

no way, i never ever saw this tyre type here made here but not for sale here.. bummer

ride safe and cheer guys

Nothing to add on the Schwalbe tires, but I got a set of Heidenau K38s from Mark that he recommended for my Primavera. I like them a lot, but haven't yet really pushed them hard, wet or dry. I am thinking about a set of 3.50X10s now and there are a lot more to choose from.

I'm now considering either K47s - "Designed for excellent performance on both wet and dry roads, the K47 will always deliver." or the newer K58s - "The last word in all-weather tires for your scooter. Designed with an open tread block and resilient rubber formula, the results deliver a lasting tire with excellent grip even in the wet."

Which one...or something else. If you avoid Schwalbes until the dust settles, what? Opinions?

Get the K58's.. I have a pair and they're sticky as sticky can be.

sticky tyres dont stick when its pissin it down ........ ive got weathermans n so far 1000+ miles n alls ok .......... gonna keep an eye on em though

that specific photo looks like the person ran over something at high speed and tore a chunk out of the tire (like a sharp edge on a draw bridge)

never used these tires myself, personally I use the Heidenau K58