Modern Vespa

Okay, please tell me if I'm being overly concerned:
My 2007 Vespa GT I bought brand new last year now has 1,450 miles on it. I was doing my daily cleaning and looked at the side walls of my rear tire and noticed cracks in the rubber. They don't look really deep, but they are noticeable. I then checked the front tire and noticed a few as well (though not as many).
Is this normal? Is this a potential problem? Should I bring this up with the dealer? Am I just being overly anal? I don't ever store my Vespa outside, she is quite pampered, and I don't drive on rough roads.
I'm just curious, so if anyone knows about, or has dealt with this similar issue, please let me know.

Thanks!
-David

I had the same problem. I bought mine used and it had only 400 miles on it. but the tires were cracked. I went ahead and replaced them for my own peace of mind.

When it comes to tire saftey I prefer to not take any chances. When I get a flat I replace the whole tire. I'm on my 4th set of tires in under 8000 miles.

Yours may be under warranty. I'm just guessing on that. I'm sure someone here will have better info on that.

Sounds like the tires are getting old, rather than wearing out

I'd definitely replace them before going on a multiday ride,
but short of that, I think it's a judgment call

I just replaced my front tire on my 2007 GT 200 w/ 2800 miles. Not from wear but it was also cracked all over. The rear tire also has a few cracks and it will be replaced soon. Do you have pirelli tires?

Thanks everyone for the background info so far! My scooter wasn't used, but it was a 200 GT and yes, they ARE Pirelli tires. It IS very hard to pretend that I don't know the tires are cracked when I ride, so perhaps I should get them replaced. My scooter is under warranty for another month, but something tells me they may be hesitant to be sympathetic. Do you guys recommend more Pirellis, or have you found a better brand out there?

I don't think the tires will be covered anyway but do replace them immediately. As you accelerate the cracks do open up or expand, if you wish. causing a weakening of the tire. Goldentrowel (my wifey) had a Michelin put on. The rear tire will be replaced very soon too. We are gonna contact pirelli this next week and see if they will warranty the tire or send us a new one for each. My wife or I will keep you updated.

Ok i just sent pirelli an email addressing the problems with all our pirellis and hope that they give a quick response. BTW, if you replace them KEEP the dry-rotted tire! We may need them for a swap or even a recall.

WIll do! Thanks for the recommendation on the Michellin. I'll save the old Pirellis too.

I recommend Michelins as well. Here is my glowing review of the Michelin Pilot City:

Who knew changing tires could make such a HUGE difference? (Post 641729)

I had Pirellis on my GT and they wore out really quickly - i replaced both front and rear after a valve failure and rapid deflation of the tyre at 70mph. I now run Heidenau K61s, which i love - although they are a high performance tyre and took a bit of getting used to you'll find plenty of glowing reviews of them in this forum.

WHo knew a tire could make so much of a difference on the ride! I've never heard of Heidenau K61s, but I will research these too. Thanks, Genie!
I have looked into the Michelin Pilots and astromags, your background story is quite compelling. The link is much appreciated.
Seems like Pirellis are pretty crappy. Is there anything stock that IS quality? LOL
Does any tire shop just put these on or are you guys actually replacing the tires yourselves? I would like to be that handy! I'm a pretty good artist, but when it comes to mechanical work, I'm all thumbs!

the Pirellis are actually really good in terms of grippiness, they just wear out very quickly. The Sava tyres that used to come with new GTs and GTSs are generally recognized to be crappy a lot of people take off their Savas before they're even worn out.

some people on this forum replace their own tyres but it requires specialist equipment and some skill. it sounds like you'd be best off having an expert do it for you

Experts. Yes, I like the sound of that: "Experts."
I agree, I will have "experts" do it.
After I posted my last reply, I contacted the Vespa dealer I purchased my 200GT from and he said that he had heard of the issues with Pirellis and that they don't even carry them anymore.
Odd that they have no problem selling them with them ON! LOL
He was saying they recommend Continentals, but I asked about the Michelins and Heidenau. Although he said they could get them, he kept pushing the Continentals. Hmmmm. Think someone is trying to get rid of some inventory?

Wait a minute... my Pirellis are NOT crappy tires!

I closely examined them
Both the one on the front (7500 miles, from 2006-7)
and the one on the back (<1000 miles, replaced 6 months ago)
showed only a tiny crackling (very fine snakeskin) pattern at the edge of the worn tread area
(Yeah, I like to lean the scooter)

Nothing on the sides

It looks like there's a surface cracking thing going on where the surface experiences significant tension
... Is it possible that you let the rear tire go low and road on it while it was under-inflated?
That would hurt the handling and perhaps produce the cracks you describe


(I could be wrong, but please don't yell at me guys

If you submit warranty claims, someone's bound to bring this up)

Sorry. Don't mean to dis anyone's experience with their tires. I guess everyone has a different story to tell. My story just happens to be bad with the Pirellis. As for inflation, I have maintained the recommended air pressure, so I don't think that's been a contributing factor.
I guess Pirellis, Michelins, Contitnentals, Heidenau,etc., all have their pluses and minuses. I certainly have been impressed by the testimonials thus far. My Vespa dealer is actually quite reputable and they have EXCELLENT service, so I'm sure by weeks end my tires AND mood will be safely inflated and I will be a happy, scootering fool!

Continental makes very good tires, a lot of people on the forum ride with Zippys, Navigators, or Twists. There was some discussion (though i don't know if the questions were ever properly answered) earlier on the forum about Zippys no longer being available - if that's the case, then your dealer may have some old inventory he's trying to get rid of. as long as they are not past their 'sell by' date then i'd go with them.

Thanks, genie! I'll find out tomorrow about the Continentals or the other options. We only have 5 moths of solid scootering weather here and I don't want to have to waste too much time on the sidelines, so the sooner they're replaced, the better!

YEAH! Don't you go dissing my tires!
(Please visualize a short, rotund, middle-aged woman trying to look tough )

You're right
It depends a lot on how you ride

Back when I lived in NJ, the Pirellis were great for winter commuting
But I suspect they won't last very long in the SC heat
and I'll need to switch brands soon

I've got 8000 miles on my front tire that came with my 2006 GT.
(rear was replaced due to puncture). Pirellis

Hello

Sorry to hear that you may have a had a issue with one of our products. Your concern may simply be a cosmetic anomaly that is typically caused by UV exposure, excessive sunlight, proximity to electric motors (that emit ozone) or simply from the ozone in the air. The other thing that can cause this cosmetic anomaly is chemicals used to clean or shine the tire. To be clear once you add a chemical to the sidewall you are changing the rubber composition as it is absorbed and this voids the warranty as stated in our policy.

To help you understand the process and illustrate the tire warranty procedure please look at this example:

>Customer drops off bike/scooter, and discusses their complaint with the service writer

>The service tech checks to make sure the correct tire is on the bike/scooter, the tire pressure is correct, then the tread depth and condition of the tire as within range of a warranty adjustment

>If the service tech deems the tire has a warrantable problem they remove the old tire, pull a new one off the shelf and mount and balance and install it on the bike. The service dept. then charges you the prorated amount of the tire based on tread depth and any other associated costs

>You ride out of the store with the problem corrected (hopefully within a few hours and or that same day) and you are done!

>The service dept sends the tire back to the distributor for credit

>The dealership regularly orders more tires for the shelf and in about a week or two their tire shipment costs less because the credit for your warranty tire was applied to the next distributor's invoice.

Please note there is no recall with any Pirelli tire and you should review the policy below and contact your dealer. You may want to show this e-mail to your dealer as we find that in many instances the dealer has never done a tire warranty and they simply do not know the procedure. If the dealer needs help please have them call us at the number below.

WARRANTY
Pirelli Motorcycle Tires are covered for the life of the tire. Tire life is defined by the tread area of the tire having a tread depth of 1 mm or more. This warranty policy is extended to the first retail purchaser of the tire in the U.S. and Canada with the original purchase invoice.

HOW TO MAKE A WARRANTY CLAIM
OWNER: Take bike (or tire/wheel only) to local dealer for inspection/adjustment/replacement.
DEALER:
(A) If vibration related, check lateral and radial run-out, balance, and air pressure.
(B) If tire is clearly out of specified tolerances replace the tire free of charge (labor not included) if tread depth is more than 3 mm for all front street, and 4 mm for all rear tires. If the tire has less than 50% of the original depth, charge the customer a 50% prorated amount based on the tire's original tread depth.
(C) Contact your Pirelli distributor for product replacement. Replaced tire will need to be returned to distributor.

REPLACEMENT COSTS
If a Pirelli tire is found to be warrantable during the first 50% of tread wear, it will be replaced by a similar model and size tire at no charge. After the first 50% of tread wear the tire will be prorated at a value of 50% off the consumers current price up to the last 1mm of tread. (Dealers will obtain warranty from their distributor, based on current suggested dealer prices).

WHAT IS COVERED
Tires that have manufacturing or material anomalies are covered under the warranty. Out of round, lateral or radial run out of more than 1.3 mm from center line, and out of balance (more than 2.8 ounces (80 grams) on most tires, 3.5 ounces (100 grams) on larger-sized touring tires) are examples of justified warranty claims. Claims for non-uniformity or any ride related condition will be accepted within the first 0.5 mm of tread wear.

WHAT IS NOT COVERED
(A) Tires worn beyond the last 1 mm of tread depth.
(B) Tires that have been damaged by road hazards, including but not limited to impact breaks, punctures, and cuts.
(C) Misalignment/Improper installation or damage caused by improper tire clearance.
(D) Improper inflation pressure, overloading, running while flat.
(E) Improperly maintained balance.
(F) Suspension deficiencies.
(G) Tires mounted on incorrect size or type rims.
(H) Tires injected with liquid balancer or sealants.
(I) Labor to install replacement tire
(J) Tires which were retreaded, regrooved, or changed in pattern or profile.

OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITIES
The owner/rider is responsible for proper tire care and maintenance. Maintain the correct tire pressure recommended by the motorcycle manufacturer by frequently checking the tire pressure with an accurate pressure gauge.

CAUTION:
Please be aware that it is important to ensure that, before fitting the suggested tires, the fitting is allowed by the technical specifications of the motorcycle, the motorcycle manufacturer and the relevant homologations. Pirelli tire does not express any view as to the compatibility of the wheel/tire combination with the technical specifications for the chassis and motorcycle.

LIMITED WARRANTY CLAUSE
This warranty is expressly in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for use and of all other obligations or liabilities on Pirellis part, and Pirelli neither assumes, nor authorizes, any other person to assume for it any other liability in connection with the sale of Pirelli tires. This warranty shall not apply to Pirelli tires which have been subject to accident, negligence, alteration, abuse or misuse. The above warranty shall not apply to defects resulting from any use and maintenance of the product other than in strict accordance with the recommended use and maintenance instructions of Pirelli. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have others under law.

EXCLUSIVE REMEDY
Manufacturer's sole obligation and the purchaser's exclusive remedy shall be limited to the replacement of the product at the manufacturer's option. Manufacturer shall not be liable for proximate, incidental, or consequential damages except where limited or prohibited by law

US Pirelli Moto
www.us.pirellimoto.com
800 747-3554, prompt 2

This was pirelli's response. Ok I guess we are gonna have to visit our local Pirelli dealer . I also want to mention we DON"t use anything on our tires like armor-all or any chemicals. But the cracking is cause for concern. Cracking on the sidewall makes the tire lose its sturdiness, so just at least check them and carry themin if any problems arise!

Sorry to hear that you may have a had a issue with one of our products. Your concern may simply be a cosmetic anomaly that is typically caused by UV exposure, excessive sunlight, proximity to electric motors (that emit ozone) or simply from the ozone in the air. I hope no one is doing this with a motorcycle

To help you understand the process and illustrate the tire warranty procedure please look at this example:

>Customer drops off bike/scooter, and discusses their complaint with the service writer

>The service tech checks to make sure the correct tire is on the bike/scooter, the tire pressure is correct, then the tread depth and condition of the tire as within range of a warranty adjustment

>If the service tech deems the tire has a warrantable problem they remove the old tire, pull a new one off the shelf and mount and balance and install it on the bike. The service dept. then charges you the prorated amount of the tire based on tread depth and any other associated costs

>You ride out of the store with the problem corrected (hopefully within a few hours and or that same day) and you are done!

>The service dept sends the tire back to the distributor for credit

>The dealership regularly orders more tires for the shelf and in about a week or two their tire shipment costs less because the credit for your warranty tire was applied to the next distributor's invoice.

Please note there is no recall with any Pirelli tire and you should review the policy below and contact your dealer. You may want to show this e-mail to your dealer as we find that in many instances the dealer has never done a tire warranty and they simply do not know the procedure. If the dealer needs help please have them call us at the number below.

WARRANTY
Pirelli Motorcycle Tires are covered for the life of the tire. Tire life is defined by the tread area of the tire having a tread depth of 1 mm or more. This warranty policy is extended to the first retail purchaser of the tire in the U.S. and Canada with the original purchase invoice.

HOW TO MAKE A WARRANTY CLAIM
OWNER: Take bike (or tire/wheel only) to local dealer for inspection/adjustment/replacement.
DEALER:
(A) If vibration related, check lateral and radial run-out, balance, and air pressure.
(B) If tire is clearly out of specified tolerances replace the tire free of charge (labor not included) if tread depth is more than 3 mm for all front street, and 4 mm for all rear tires. If the tire has less than 50% of the original depth, charge the customer a 50% prorated amount based on the tire's original tread depth.
(C) Contact your Pirelli distributor for product replacement. Replaced tire will need to be returned to distributor.

REPLACEMENT COSTS
If a Pirelli tire is found to be warrantable during the first 50% of tread wear, it will be replaced by a similar model and size tire at no charge. After the first 50% of tread wear the tire will be prorated at a value of 50% off the consumers current price up to the last 1mm of tread. (Dealers will obtain warranty from their distributor, based on current suggested dealer prices).

WHAT IS COVERED
Tires that have manufacturing or material anomalies are covered under the warranty. Out of round, lateral or radial run out of more than 1.3 mm from center line, and out of balance (more than 2.8 ounces (80 grams) on most tires, 3.5 ounces (100 grams) on larger-sized touring tires) are examples of justified warranty claims. Claims for non-uniformity or any ride related condition will be accepted within the first 0.5 mm of tread wear. Most tire fail from one of the above following (D) is your best bet This sum's it up to me

CAUTION:
Please be aware that it is important to ensure that, before fitting the suggested tires, the fitting is allowed by the technical specifications of the motorcycle, the motorcycle manufacturer and the relevant homologations. Pirelli tire does not express any view as to the compatibility of the wheel/tire combination with the technical specifications for the chassis and motorcycle.

LIMITED WARRANTY CLAUSE
This warranty is expressly in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for use and of all other obligations or liabilities on Pirellis part, and Pirelli neither assumes, nor authorizes, any other person to assume for it any other liability in connection with the sale of Pirelli tires. This warranty shall not apply to Pirelli tires which have been subject to accident, negligence, alteration, abuse or misuse. The above warranty shall not apply to defects resulting from any use and maintenance of the product other than in strict accordance with the recommended use and maintenance instructions of Pirelli. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have others under law.

EXCLUSIVE REMEDY
Manufacturer's sole obligation and the purchaser's exclusive remedy shall be limited to the replacement of the product at the manufacturer's option. Manufacturer shall not be liable for proximate, incidental, or consequential damages except where limited or prohibited by law

US Pirelli Moto
www.us.pirellimoto.com
800 747-3554, prompt 2

This was pirelli's response. Ok I guess we are gonna have to visit our local Pirelli dealer . I also want to mention we DON"t use anything on our tires like armor-all or any chemicals. But the cracking is cause for concern. Cracking on the sidewall makes the tire lose its sturdiness, so just at least check them and carry themin if any problems arise![/quote]

The pirelli's on my GTS have 3700 miles on them and still look good.