Does anyone (Monte?) know if a recalled 2CT can be exchanged for a different tire? What I mean is exchange the recalled tire for say a PRC front for example and only paying the difference in selling price. I have two 2CTs (one slightly used and another never used) that I wouldn't mind exchanging for something I could really use right now, ie race tires.
I have read several accounts of people getting them switched out for regular Pilot Powers just to get it out of the way and have something to ride on . I wouldn't see why a dealer would not let you pay the difference for a race tire , they will get a new 2CT regardless ....but then again this has been a pain and I have also read several accounts of shops just being dicks about the whole thing . After trying 3 different shops near here and all acted as if they knew nothing about the recall yet , I called the toll free Michelin # once again . They asked me for a couple shops name/ph number and said they would call them personally and get back to me Friday with a place that would switch out the tire . It's been a couple months already with the tire just sitting here waiting
Same here, thats the reason I asked about switching for a race tire. At least I'd get SOMETHING I can actually use. Cycle Gear keeps telling me they're not in the country yet. I love Michelin tires but the company sucks.
This was a 100% voluntary recall. Michelin did this because there might be affected tires. Other motorcycle tire manufactures have had wide-spread failures and did nothing about it. Michelin did not say to stop using the 2CT fronts covered by the recall. We (reatailers and distributors) were told to immediately stop selling them. They said to check you air pressure (avoid underinflation) and the tire condition regularly, especially if you are using the tire in very hot conditions at sustained (think summer at 150+ mph for periods of 30 minutes or greater as in Autobahn in Gemany). When a company issues a voluntary, non-urgent (precautionary) recall they can place whatever restrictions on it they wish and we must abide by them. Edit... Michelin NA has given retailers strict instructions on 2CT swaps. We know that many (most) riders will use thier current 2CT front until the end of its service life and then get a new one... FWIW, I know for a fact Cycle Gear has recieved replacement 2CT's from thier distributor. We should have them soon as well.
Well I'm confused... You say Cycle Gear has them in stock yet everytime I call they INSIST not only are they not in stock but they can't get them. When I call the Michelin "2CT hotline" they tell me they are available and I'm supposed to tell the retailer to call them and order the tire. When I asked the Michelin rep why I have to inform their dealers as to the proper protocol to obtain replacement tires, she said that's the way they do things (paraphrasing). After insisting they (Michelin) call CG themselves to inform them of the proper procedure, I was put on hold for 5 minutes then told they cannot make outgoing calls. I then called CG back and told the manager to call the 2CT number and after much resistance he said he called. Long story short, he could not get a replacement. According to the manager at CG his sources say Michelin is only trickling replacement tires at an EXTREMELY slow rate, no where near fast enough to meet demand. This the most fucked up situation I have ever dealt with, virtually everyone I talked to has a different story why 3 months after a recall is initiated there are no replacements available. The way it appears to me, Michelin recalled the tires because they felt it made the most business sense given the liability. It makes no difference if the recall is voluntary or mandatory, a recall is a recall, simple as that. By issuing a recall for a potentially defective tire but only bringing in replacements at a VERY slow rate, they cover their corporate asses and save money at the same time. The longer it takes to get a replacement, the more likely the tire will get used up making it ineligible for replacement. Of course that's just my opinion of whats going on. In any case, Michelin won because I no longer give a shit, I've said all I'm going on to say regarding this...
Holy Crap..... That hurts my eyes. Do you know what a paragraph is? I'll address your incorrect assumptions and conclusions below, and you made a bunch of them. Sorry but Michelin recalled the tire because even though they are a pulic company, 100% of the stock is family owned and the actually give a shit about what they produce and sell to consumers. They don't have to worry about next quarters earnings report and how the "street" will react. They worry about that fact that a single motorcycle tire failure could hurt (or worse) someone. Ya, I know, it's hard to believe because most corporations belive in the "do the math and if deaths/injuries and resultant lawsuits and settelments/awards are cheaper than a recall, keep your mouth shut" solution. Michelin does not subscribe to that philosophy and they have proved it more than once. Tell Cycle Gear to call Modern Tire, Parts Unlimited or Western Powersports and buy some 2CT fronts. (our PU rep says they have pallets of 2CT fronts in stock) Bottom line is Cycle Gear does not want to step up and offer the service they proclaim to the public. That's thier choice and therer is nothing you can do about that now is there? Just remember that when you make future purchasing decisions from Cycle Gear..... There is a chain of command. Michelin as a manufacturer doe not sell direct to retailers or end users. They go through a distribution chain. We as a distributor buy from Michelin and in turn sell to the retailers like Cycle Gear. Your logic is totally flawed regarding the dragging Michelins feet by bringing tires in very slowly... Michelin will warranty the affected 2CT's as long as you bring it in and it is within it's service life. As I mentioned above, most of us are running the tire until it's worn out and THEN trading it in. It's like 2 for 1 offer, or didn't you catch that in my post? By not placing a time limit on swap-outs, Michelin is actually INCREASING thier costs to administer the program. Additionally, Michelin is paying retailers $50 for mounting and balancing. So Cycle Gear would get $50 for dis-mounting your recalled 2CT and mounting up a new one. Seeing that this is a service that they normally charge IIRC $20 or $25 for, they are getting a full DOUBLE the labor rate they normally charge... Hmmm, sounds to me that they are not interested in servicing thier customers, only selling the original product. I'm not trying to brag, but we are the second largest Michelin Motorcycle Race/Perfomance tire distributor in North America and nipping on the tail of number one. Michelin makes damn sure I know more than you and the worker bees at Cycle Gear who are getting fed bad info from thier superiors. Now about your "all recalls are the same comment".... Negative Ghost Rider... your intel is bad on that one. I invite you to visit the US Government highway safety website and the DOT's and research the different types of recalls... I know that would take some effort and isn't nearly as self satisfying as coming here and spouting off BUT you might learn something.. or continue on in blissful ignorance if that is what you enjoy. There are silent recalls that go on all the time. Next up from a silent recall is a non-urgent or preventative recall, such as the one that the 2CT's are being recalled under. Did you notice that it didn't say "Immediately cease using the affected products"? Some people like to bitch and complain so if that's you then go ahead and have at it, however I'll correct you every time you are incorrect and you pretty much screwed the pooch regarding accuracy on your post here. Thanks for listening. Edit - Sportbike Track Gear now has a limited supply of 2CT fronts available for servicing the recall. Michelin has stated that affected 2CT's be brought into an actual physical dealership for exchnge. The STG shop is in Shelby Township Micheigan. We will need: Your complete Name and Address Year, Make, Model and CC of Motorcycle Complete VIN of the mortorcycle Current Odometer reading
If you run the tire underinflated and in the "zone of failure" as discribed, yes they are worried about that single failure. What is a tires service life... look at the little wear bars.. it's pretty simple. If a tire is past the wear bars, it is beyond its useful service life. Quote me all you want. I am a distributor and not Michelin corporate. We are also an LLC.... Hope that helps