THE FRONT TIRE ON MY MOTORCYCLE, A DUNLOP ROADSMART SIZE 120/70ZR-18, SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY. VISUAL EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THE BELT SEPARATED UNDER THE TREAD, THEN SPLIT THE TIRE CARCASS RESULTING IN ABOUT A 3 INCH GASH AND A RAPID LOSS OF PRESSURE. IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE THE RESULT OF HIT…
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THE FRONT TIRE ON MY MOTORCYCLE, A DUNLOP ROADSMART SIZE 120/70ZR-18, SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY. VISUAL EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THE BELT SEPARATED UNDER THE TREAD, THEN SPLIT THE TIRE CARCASS RESULTING IN ABOUT A 3 INCH GASH AND A RAPID LOSS OF PRESSURE. IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE THE RESULT OF HITTING A ROAD HAZARD. LUCKILY I MANAGED TO GET THE MOTORCYCLE OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. I HAVE DETAILED PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FAILURE AT HTTP://USMOTOGPFANS.COM/PIX/MAIN.PHP?G2_ITEMID=117. THE TIRE IS BEING HELD AT A MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIP WHO DID MY REPAIRS, BELLEVILLE HONDA IN BELLEVILLE IL. THE FAILURE LOOKS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THIS ONE EXPERIENCED BY ANOTHER RIDER USING THE SAME TIRE MODEL, BRAND AND SIZE: HTTP://WWW.ST-OWNERS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWPOST.PHP?P=1001288&POSTCOUNT=33 HERE'S AN EVEN MORE SPECTACULAR ONE: HTTP://WWW.ST1300.US.COM/SHOWPOST.PHP?P=5430 AND SEVERAL OTHERS: HTTP://WWW.ST-OWNERS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWPOST.PHP?P=999875 HTTP://WWW.ST-OWNERS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWPOST.PHP?P=1000715 HTTP://WWW.ST-OWNERS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWPOST.PHP?P=1096975 HTTP://WWW.ST1300.US.COM/SHOWPOST.PHP?P=5399 THIS EXACT TIRE MODEL AND SIZE APPEARS TO BE PRONE TO THESE CATASTROPHIC FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN MADE AWARE AND HAS THUS FAR TAKEN NO ACTION. I HOPE THE NHTSA CAN FORCE SOME RESPONSE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. BTW, YOUR WEB INTERFACE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE, SO I WAS NOT ABLE TO ENTER THE RIGHT FIGURE. IT WAS 120/70ZR-18. THE CLOSEST YOUR SITE ALLOWS ME TO ENTER IS 125/70ZR-18, WHICH DOESN'T EXIST IN THIS TIRE MODEL. I ENTERED IT ANYWAY, AS THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY TO GET PAST THE SCREEN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10353593
13,861 miles · Jun 23, 2010
Tires
I HAD THE FRONT DUNLOP ROADSMART TIRE OF MY MOTOR CYCLE DEVELOP A LARGE BLISTER AFTER A RIDE OF APPROX. 60 MILES.(TOTAL TIRE MILEAGE IS 13,800M) THE BLISTER SIZE IS 4 INCHES LONG, 2 INCHES WIDE AND 0.5INCHES HIGH. THIS CAUSED A DANGEROUS VIBRATION THROUGH THE MOTORCYCLE AND BADLY AFFECTED THE HANDLING OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE TIR…
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I HAD THE FRONT DUNLOP ROADSMART TIRE OF MY MOTOR CYCLE DEVELOP A LARGE BLISTER AFTER A RIDE OF APPROX. 60 MILES.(TOTAL TIRE MILEAGE IS 13,800M) THE BLISTER SIZE IS 4 INCHES LONG, 2 INCHES WIDE AND 0.5INCHES HIGH. THIS CAUSED A DANGEROUS VIBRATION THROUGH THE MOTORCYCLE AND BADLY AFFECTED THE HANDLING OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE TIRE SIZE IS 120/70/ZR18. THE PRESSURE WAS SET AT THE RECOMMENDED PRESSURE BY THE MANUFACTURER (42PSI) AND THERE WERE NO ROAD HAZARDS ENCOUNTERED AT THE TIME THE BLISTER OCCURRED. A COMPLAINT E-MAIL WAS SENT TO DUNLOP ON 6/22/2010 REQUESTING COMMENTS ON THIS BLISTER BUT TO DATE NO REPLY HAS BEEN RECEIVED. *TR
CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH COMBINED-BRAKE SYSTEMS HAVE A PROPORTIONING CONTROL VALVE (PCV) THAT MECHANICALLY PROPORTIONS BRAKE FORCE WHEN THE REAR BRAKE IS APPLIED. A SEAL IN SOME PCVS IS IMPROPERLY SHAPED, AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUES TO BE USED AFTER A LEAK OCCURS, THE REAR BRAKE WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE. A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE FORCE COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE FORLEAKAGE. IF LEAKAGE IS CONFIRMED, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PCV FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 866-784-1870.
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE MAIN WIRE HARNESS HAS A GROUND DISTRIBUTION CONNECTOR THAT IS INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED. SOME ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS MAY OVERHEAT AND SHORT, INCLUDING THE FUEL PUMP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE FUEL PUMP STOPS WORKING, THE ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE GROUND DISTRIBUTION CONNECTOR FOR OVERHEATING DAMAGE. IF ANY DAMAGE IS FOUND, THE WIRE HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED. IF NO DAMAGE IS FOUND, THE CONNECTORS WILL BE ASSEMBLED PROPERLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 866-784-1870.
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE ROUTING OF SOME WIRE HARNESSES MAY ALLOW A CONNECTOR TO CONTACT AND CHAFE AGAINST THE FUEL TANK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: EVENTUALLY THE CHAFING MAY CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT AND BLOW AN IGNITION SYSTEM FUSE. THE ENGINE WILL THEN STALL WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR POSITION AND CHECK FOR DAMAGE. IF ANY DAMAGE IS FOUND, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE NECESSARY PARTS. IF NO DAMAGE IS FOUND, DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE CONNECTOR, AND MAKE SURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE EXISTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-866-784-1870.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
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