S4R Michelin Tyres
 

I recently contacted Ducati with an enquiry over the condition of Michelin Pilot Power tyres fitted to my new S4R

I noticed some concerning circumferential marks on the tyres about 1000 miles ago. I initialy thought I'd riden over something, but these marks are still there now!

I will try to attach photos:

Has anyone seen anything like this before? Neither I nor anyone Ive spoken to has?

Meanwhile Ducati have told me not to exceed 60mph till they get to look at them!!:mad::(:o
I still await a reply from Michelin UK

And here is the rear!

Looks interesting not noticed them on mine but I'll take a closer look tommorow;)

none on mine but ive only done just over 500 so far:o

I have just noticed these on mne at 600 miles,

YoungDucS4R did u get anything about it from the dealer?

I have been in touch with both Ducati and Michelin.

Michelin told me to go back to dealer and persue a claim. Ducati told me to take bike in and not exceed 60mph on the bike! Impossible!!

I have removed the tyres and fitted another set. These are being dispatched to Ducati tomorrow.

I eagerly await their response!!

Mine look identical , to yours hhmmmm might mention it at my service on Friday, might take it slowly to:D:D

I have just had a conversation with a guy from Michelin and he has told me the mark is a antistatic strip see email:
In summary no need to worry
"Thank you for your e-mail.

From what you describe they sound like the anti-static strips that are in the
tyre tread.

You can continue to run the bike at normal speeds and these strips will
'disappear' within a few hundred miles .They have no detrimental effects on the
performance of the tyres.

All Pilot Power/Sport/Road tyres have this strip but only a few riders notice
it!"

I have attached a 'simple' diagram as explanation.

Pilot Power



A circumferential groove approx. 2 to 3mm wide and 3 to 4mm deep


Two Wheel Department,
Michelin Tyre Public Limited Company

Mmmmm..................interesting!!

I have copied and pasted a similar response as follows.......

".....they sound like the anti-static strips that are in the tyre tread.

You can continue to run the bike at normal speeds and these strips will
'disappear' within a few hundred miles .They have no detrimental effects for the performance of the tyres.

All Pilot Power tyres have this strip but on a few riders notice it!

Two Wheel Department,
Michelin Tyre Public Limited Company"

.........seems we are seeing a standard response to what seems a re-occurring complaint.

I do not for one moment think that "only a few riders notice it" if something so obvious is staring us in the face each time we wheel our pride and joy out of the garage!

I had done 2250 miles on my new S4R when I removed the tyres, and these marks had been evident for over 1500 miles. Far in excess of the "few hundred" quoted above.

Can I ask that all who may have had similar experiences or occurrances with Michelin Pilot Power tyres to contact:

Barry Robinson
Technical Manager
Two Wheel Department,
Michelin Tyre Public Limited Company
email: 2wheelinfo@uk.michelin.com

maybe this will make them aware of a problem which has so far gone unnoticed or for which they have been unaware.

These tyres are good, but are we seeing an inherent fault which is so far unrecognised??????

Very interesting, I will take pics of mine and send them to Barry to.

Mines not a grove as such either just looks a different colour really.

Just to conclude this i have been forwarde an email from Michelin uk that had been received from their French techinical department.I'm personally happy with their reponse and will no longer worry about this line.

"I have had a reply from our technical people in France.

They have confirmed my original suspicions in that the signs you describe are
caused by a carbon black rubber strip which is moulded into the tyre before
curing - carbon being a good conductor of static electricity.

This line which has appeared in your tyre will disappear after 1000 + miles and
has no detrimental effect on the performance and or handling of the bike."

Two Wheel Department,
Michelin Tyre Public Limited Company

I got the exact same reply from Michelin today.

Exactly word for word!

Im also fairly happy with their response, but they are ignoring the fact that after over 2200 fairly hard riding miles, these markings are still very evident.

Maybe Im just a bit paranoid. Guess we just have to hope for the best!!:burn::burn:

I have just received an official response from Michelin regarding the "groove" in Pilot Power tyres, which I attach.

They state that it is a carbon black anti-static insert.

Guess there's no need for further worry. My mind is at rest!!:burn::burn:

Their Tech Manager requested that I post their report on the DSC website for the benefit of all concerned riders.

G

Good stuff, I asked around and everyone said it was fine, good to have official confirmation:D:D

bounced for guest1

Big up for you guys!
Set me mind at rest.
:sing:

Well, I was happy last night, but not so convinced on the actual "theory" of the antistatic strip.
Do I smell BS? Can anyone else smell it?

Not being an expert in tyres, but having worked in the electrical engineering industry for, ohhhh, about 28 years - including specification and testing of anti-static flooring to pharma installations, I reckon there may be a bit of spin involved (no pun intended) with this tyres story.

For anti static protection to work, it must be in contact with a good earth and also in contact with that which is charged.
As far as I can ascertain, the antistatic is indeed in contact with the floor, but michelin say it will only be there for 500 to 1000 miles.
I personally am now on 2000+ miles and it's still there.
But where does the anti-static strip make contact with the bike?

Why would michelin have the strip only usable for the 500 to 1000 if as they say "It is necessary to ensure that this [static] is dispersed during usage"
Considering the life of a tyre (say about 3000miles?), does this mean that I am at risk of static shocks or that the bike is at risk when the carbon strip is not in contact with earth?

I can understand why they would assume that the bike gains a static charge (just like aircraft gain a charge as they pass through air, or like air ducting gains a charge as air passes through it), I can also understand why they may want to disperse this charge safely to earth (could this be the reason the CAN technology had a few bugs on earlier bikes?), but using the tyres to discharge the static charge???

:puzzled:

I shall also be sending this query to Michelin and await a reply.

Just thought I'd bring this thread up to date......

Following the previous discussions with Mitchelin and others over the "anti-static strips" evident on the Pilot Power tyres, I have attached a photo of the tyre in question after completing 5,000 miles since fitted.

Contrary to Michelins advice to owners, these strips obviously did not disappear after 1000 miles. Not only are they still evident after 5000, but are now accompanied by what seem small tears in the rubber around whole circumference of tyre.

I will be contacting Michelin again for their further comment.

Has anyone else noticed these marks after such mileage? I wonder if there should still be cause for concern? How deep do they actually go, and will these tears develope further?...

G.

Makes you wonder why they bother. If static is a problem then surely it will always be a problem after the carbon strip has worn away.

Mines got the strips and tons of cuts after about 2800 miles, I put cuts down to commuting thru traffic etc going round cars where all the crap is. Then again i never seen so many cuts on other bikes owned.

Also these are the probably the softest tires i everr had to so may be that and the fact hardly any tread on em??

I will try and get pic to so we can compare:D:D:D

Looks like normal wear and tear to me.My 999S has the same tyres fitted and has a 'static strip' visable,...I have'nt got a problem with it,...the Powers are great tyres.I'm pretty sure there is nowt wrong with them.
Just looked at the dates of the threads.Still on the same pair of tyres after nearly a year and 5k miles?:puzzled:

Yeah im sure they are fine best tyres i ever had, feel good in wet to considering not much tread, I love the tread design makes tyre look real fat to:D:D

And the new 2ct powers have dual compound to so be even better:D