NHTSA Complaint #10243063 — 2001 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRI

HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES ON METZELER 140/90 B16 MC 77H (75R005601) MOTORCYCLE TIRES. THE TREAD CRACKS AND SEPARATES FROM THE CORE OF THE TIRE WITH LESS THAN 3,000 MILES AND NO IMPACT DAMAGE TO TIRES. DOT XE48 A415 1306 (MGF 13TH WEEK OF 2006). MOUNTED NEW BY DEALER 10/12/2006. METZELER CLAIMS THE TIRES ARE FAILING IF UNDER INFLATED BY 5 LBS OR LESS. I KEPT A MAINT LOG OF WEEKLY AIR PRESSURES, THE TIRE SLOWLY STARTS LOOSING AIR EACH WEEK UNTIL THE TREAD SEPARATES ON THE FINAL WEEK BEFORE FAILURE (LOST 10 LBS OF AIR SUNDAY TO SUNDAY THE WEEK BEFORE IT FAILED. THESE TIRES WILL FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO CRASH WHEN THE TREAD CRACKS AND FLIES OFF. *TR