VA State Inspection - Avon Tire

[First_N_Last]

I thought I'd share my latest frustration...

Before I get into the latest details, I must state that:

 

• if I get into a checkout lane at a store
  -the cash register will break...
  -a call for a price check...
  -cashiers will change out...
  -etc.
  
• if I buy something needing assembly, when I get it home
  -something will be missing
  -instructions will be terrible
  

Get the picture?

So here is the story.

 

 

In October of 2012 I had my 2008 RSV with my AM42 Avon tire on the front inspected at Honda House in Richmond, VA.

Like most Avon tires, it had sidewall cracking.

The tire & motorcycle passed inspection.

 

 

 

During my checkout & mod of my 2002 RSV Hannigan,

I moved my AM42 tire from the front of my 2008 RSV to the front of the Trike.

 

 

On Tuesday (2/5/2013), I took my Trike to Honda House to have it inspected.

The inspector informed me that the front tire would not pass VA State Inspection.

I then began to argue (with a FOOL - damn it!)

 

• explained that the same tire was on my 2008 & that he passed it in 10/2012)
  -he didn't care
  
• explained that the cracks are only surface cracks
  -he said tire was ready to blow out
  
• explained that sidewall of motorcycle tire is at least 1 & 1/4" thick & surface cracks were of no concern
  -he said VA stated it would not pass
  -I said VA statutes don't identify my tire as defective
  

At this point, my mind screamed ARGH! & I realized that I was also a fool to argue anymore.

I then said thank you (for the abuse & silliness) and left Honda House.

 

 

The next day, I swapped my tires again -

had the Trike inspected again at Commonwealth PowerSports

(took no chances with Honda House vengeance).

It passed -

I rode home & changed the tires back to have the AM42 tire back on the Trike.

 

 

All of this is normal for my life. BTW - I double checked the VA State statutes on Motorcycle Inspection -

I was right, the tire is not identified as defective by VA.

 

I really am a well practiced Front Tire changer at this point.

JohnnyB

Edited February 7, 2013 by First_N_Last

[CaptainJoe]

I thought I'd share my latest frustration...

Before I get into the latest details, I must state that:

 

• if I get into a checkout lane at a store
  -the cash register will break...
  -a call for a price check...
  -cashiers will change out...
  -etc.
  
• if I buy something needing assembly, when I get it home
  -something will be missing
  -instructions will be terrible
  

Get the picture?

So here is the story.

 

 

In October of 2012 I had my 2008 RSV with my AM42 Avon tire on the front inspected at Honda House in Richmond, VA.

Like most Avon tires, it had sidewall cracking.

The tire & motorcycle passed inspection.

 

 

 

During my checkout & mod of my 2002 RSV Hannigan,

I moved my AM42 tire from the front of my 2008 RSV to the front of the Trike.

 

 

On Tuesday (3/5/2013), I took my Trike to Honda House to have it inspected.

The inspector informed me that the front tire would not pass VA State Inspection.

I then began to argue (with a FOOL - damn it!)

 

• explained that the same tire was on my 2008 & that he passed it in 10/2012)
  -he didn't care
  
• explained that the cracks are only surface cracks
  -he said tire was ready to blow out
  
• explained that sidewall of motorcycle tire is at least 1 & 1/4" thick & surface cracks were of no concern
  -he said VA stated it would not pass
  -I said VA statutes don't identify my tire as defective
  

At this point, my mind screamed ARGH! & I realized that I was also a fool to argue anymore.

I then said thank you (for the abuse & silliness) and left Honda House.

 

 

The next day, I swapped my tires again -

had the Trike inspected again at Commonwealth PowerSports

(took no chances with Honda House vengeance).

It passed -

I rode home & changed the tires back to have the AM42 tire back on the Trike.

 

 

All of this is normal for my life. BTW - I double checked the VA State statutes on Motorcycle Inspection -

I was right, the tire is not identified as defective by VA.

 

I really am a well practiced Front Tire changer at this point.

JohnnyB

 

 

 

I've never seen a sidewall that thick?

 

maybe 1/4" certainly not over 3/8"....

 

the tread on the other hand is probably in the 5/8" to 3/4" range...

 

 

personally wouldn't ride on a cracked tire... call me a wuss, but a flat on either end of a bike is no fun. trike probably wouldn't steer to good either...

 

better to err on the safe side...

[dacheedah]

I had a friend who lost a tire last year and the end result was his wife passed away from the accident. The Indiana Highway Patrol investigated the accident and the tire blew out, she came off the bike and was hit by the bike killing her. I will never again argue about tires the cost is just not worth the pain he lives with so I for one will spend the cash to replace my tires before they even look bad. When in doubt I will change it out. . .

 

Ride on

[Miles]

I thought I'd share my latest frustration...

Before I get into the latest details, I must state that:

 

 

 

On Tuesday (3/5/2013), I took my Trike to Honda House to have it inspected.

 

JohnnyB

 

 

JohnnyB, since things have a way of going against you, I would not worry about it too much, as, per your post, this incident happens next month...in the future, so plan accordingly, avoid going to the Honda House with the trike, and just go straight to the other shop.

 

It is always nice when we can see into the future. Maybe you were having a vision of things to come. I have to believe that this was not because you simply typed in the wrong month, because...things do seem to go your way, eh? (for our canadian friends)

 

Yeah, I know...picky, picky, picky. Leave the guy alone, right?

 

[bongobobny]

Well, I basically think that the dealer wanted to make some money on a new tire. That being said, even with 3 wheels I don't take ANY chances with tires, so cracks on the sidewall, or anything older than 6 or 7 years old gets replaced...

[PBJ]

I feel your pain. I once bought a set of Continental Tires from Dennis Kirk at a great price , good tires. Put them on in September rode the bike two months then put it away. In the march took it for inspection and the wouldn't pass. I argued too, but they said tires had dry rot. Long story short the tires were 8 years old. ( normal shelf life should only be 4.) Dennis Kirk wouldn't help me but Continental replaced them free of charge.

 

PS. The softer rubber compound of bike tires seem prone to this sort of quicker drying out either by cold or who knows what. maybe we need to address this as riders as a whole.

[dacheedah]

Reminds you to check those date codes

[Barrycuda]

Are there any methods to help prolong the shelf life of the sidewall of a tire?

[First_N_Last]

JohnnyB, since things have a way of going against you, I would not worry about it too much, as, per your post, this incident happens next month...in the future, so plan accordingly, avoid going to the Honda House with the trike, and just go straight to the other shop.

 

It is always nice when we can see into the future. Maybe you were having a vision of things to come. I have to believe that this was not because you simply typed in the wrong month, because...things do seem to go your way, eh? (for our canadian friends)

 

Yeah, I know...picky, picky, picky. Leave the guy alone, right?

 

 

Oops - at least I got the year right, which is surprising at this point.

[kevin-vic-b.c.]

Are there any methods to help prolong the shelf life of the sidewall of a tire?

short answer..... NO

 

I bought a set of Dunlop E3 tires for my Venture and when delivered they were 3 yrs old. I checked with Dunlop and finally got the q-card answer that they recommend every m/c tire be removed from service after 7 years from date code.

 

How the bike is stored... indoor outdoor sun freezing etc may shorten that but no quick cure no.

[Barrycuda]

short answer..... NO

 

I bought a set of Dunlop E3 tires for my Venture and when delivered they were 3 yrs old. I checked with Dunlop and finally got the q-card answer that they recommend every m/c tire be removed from service after 7 years from date code.

 

How the bike is stored... indoor outdoor sun freezing etc may shorten that but no quick cure no.

 

 

Thanks for the answer Kevin. Appreciate it

[Miles]

Barry, yes there are things to do that can prolong the life of a tire.

 

First, let's step back a couple posts and address the DOT date codes. PB&J says that after the inspection he found that the tires he had put on the previous year were in fact 8 years old. This is important !!!!! Whether you buy your tires at the local dealership, or you order them online, before you have those tires mounted, you should inspect the DOT date code on the sidewall of the tire, to tell you how old that tire is.

 

Example, I recently ordered a tire online, got it in, and the very first thing I did was to make certain that it was in fact the tire that I wanted...the manufacturer, the make, the model, and the correct size. The second thing I did was to check the DOT date code, and I found that the tire was about 6 months old. Okay, I can live with that. Given that I go through tires the way that BigTom goes through ice cream cones, having a 6 month old tire is okay for me. If the tire was more than 1 year old, I would NOT have accepted it, and I would have contacted the supplier, and asked for another...newer tire.

 

I can only guess as to WHY riders are not checking the DOT date codes on their tires, most probably because they were never taught to, or learned how important it is. I would like to believe that PB&J will now be checking that date code more closely in the future.

 

If a motorcycle tire is MORE than 1 year old, I would suggest sending it back or buying a newer one. Given that most of you folks do not change your tires every year, or 5 to 10 times a year like I do, then having an already old tire mounted on your bike, and then leaving it sit over the winter in your cold garage, only adds to the stress on the sidewalls of the tires.

 

Back to Barry, now...

 

Here are two tips for storing your bike during the off riding months, especially if it is during the Winter.

 

Tip # 1...put the motorcycle on it's centerstand, to take most of the weight off the tires. If you do not have a centerstand, then jack the bike up on one of the available bike lifts, under the frame, and secure the bike lift so that it does not bleed down during the storage time. Many of these hydraulic lifts can/will bleed down over time. Once you get the bike balanced, jacked up, and in place, then place a 2x4 or a 2x2, or even a 1x1 under the scissor part of the lift, so that "if" the hydraulic jack bleeds down over 3 to 6 months of storage, it will bleed down only to the point of engaging that wooden block you put in palce, and the lift will not lower any more than that. When it is time to take the bike off the lift, simply jack the bike back up, remove the wooden block, and then lower the lift.

 

Having the bike on the centerstand, or on a bike lift, also helps keep all the bikes fluids, i.e., engine oil, coolant, etc, centered in the engine, rather than having a lot of oil leaning onto the valve stems on one side of the engine...and then when you go to start the bike up, you blow gray or blue smoke out of one side of the exhaust. How many old BMW boxers have we seen that leave their bikes on the sidestand, and then when they go to start the bike, with more oil in that left head than there should be, the engine smokes.

I have seen the same thing on Goldwings, by owners too lazy to use the centerstand.

 

So...use either the centerstand, or a bike lift, to relieve weight from the tires.

 

Tip # 2...store the bike in a heated garage. Since heat rises, place a small electrical heater on the floor, pointed in the direction of the bike(s), and allow the garage to we (warmed) up, so that it is not freezing. I would rather pay a little extra each month on my electric bill, than to have my bikes frozen for a few months. There is more than the tires at stake. There are many rubber items on the bike, fluids that can freeze, oils that can sludge up, etc, etc, etc. By adding a little warmth to your garage, you avoid having the rubber tires on your bike contract as much as they would with no heat, and thus avoiding as much sidewall cracking, or tire aging, as they would.

 

Storing the bike INDOORS...in a slightly heated garage...on the centerstand or lift, will prolong the life of your tires. Check that DOT date code, ask for newer tires, and...if you really want to go to the extremes...

 

Tip #3...(extreme ideas)...when you store the bike...in a slightly heated garage...on the centerstand or lift...let about 10 psi out of each tire, so that it is not fully inflated during storage months. By relieving a small amount of pressure from the tire, (only during storage months), you relieve pressure from the sidewalls, and further avoid cracks from forming.

 

Just remember...as you should already know...that when that bikes comes out of storage, you need to go over the entire bike, stem to stern, and put everything back to road ready conditions, including tire pressures.

 

Okay, somebody now owes me a slice of Pi. 1x 3.14159 = 3.14159 pies

Edited February 7, 2013 by Miles

[Miles]

short answer..... NO

 

I bought a set of Dunlop E3 tires for my Venture and when delivered they were 3 yrs old. I checked with Dunlop and finally got the q-card answer that they recommend every m/c tire be removed from service after 7 years from date code.

 

How the bike is stored... indoor outdoor sun freezing etc may shorten that but no quick cure no.

 

 

YO...Kevin, please read my LONG answer to Barrys' question. Sometimes looking for a short answer is not the best solution. Case in point...my response to Barry.

[Barrycuda]

Barry, yes there are things to do that can prolong the life of a tire.

 

First, let's step back a couple posts and address the DOT date codes. PB&J says that after the inspection he found that the tires he had put on the previous year were in fact 8 years old. This is important !!!!! Whether you buy your tires at the local dealership, or you order them online, before you have those tires mounted, you should inspect the DOT date code on the sidewall of the tire, to tell you how old that tire is.

 

Example, I recently ordered a tire online, got it in, and the very first thing I did was to make certain that it was in fact the tire that I wanted...the manufacturer, the make, the model, and the correct size. The second thing I did was to check the DOT date code, and I found that the tire was about 6 months old. Okay, I can live with that. Given that I go through tires the way that BigTom goes through ice cream cones, having a 6 month old tire is okay for me. If the tire was more than 1 year old, I would NOT have accepted it, and I would have contacted the supplier, and asked for another...newer tire.

 

I can only guess as to WHY riders are not checking the DOT date codes on their tires, most probably because they were never taught to, or learned how important it is. I would like to believe that PB&J will now be checking that date code more closely in the future.

 

If a motorcycle tire is MORE than 1 year old, I would suggest sending it back or buying a newer one. Given that most of you folks do not change your tires every year, or 5 to 10 times a year like I do, then having an already old tire mounted on your bike, and then leaving it sit over the winter in your cold garage, only adds to the stress on the sidewalls of the tires.

 

Back to Barry, now...

 

Here are two tips for storing your bike during the off riding months, especially if it is during the Winter.

 

Tip # 1...put the motorcycle on it's centerstand, to take most of the weight off the tires. If you do not have a centerstand, then jack the bike up on one of the available bike lifts, under the frame, and secure the bike lift so that it does not bleed down during the storage time. Many of these hydraulic lifts can/will bleed down over time. Once you get the bike balanced, jacked up, and in place, then place a 2x4 or a 2x2, or even a 1x1 under the scissor part of the lift, so that "if" the hydraulic jack bleeds down over 3 to 6 months of storage, it will bleed down only to the point of engaging that wooden block you put in palce, and the lift will not lower any more than that. When it is time to take the bike off the lift, simply jack the bike back up, remove the wooden block, and then lower the lift.

 

Having the bike on the centerstand, or on a bike lift, also helps keep all the bikes fluids, i.e., engine oil, coolant, etc, centered in the engine, rather than having a lot of oil leaning onto the valve stems on one side of the engine...and then when you go to start the bike up, you blow gray or blue smoke out of one side of the exhaust. How many old BMW boxers have we seen that leave their bikes on the sidestand, and then when they go to start the bike, with more oil in that left head than there should be, the engine smokes.

I have seen the same thing on Goldwings, by owners too lazy to use the centerstand.

 

So...use either the centerstand, or a bike lift, to relieve weight from the tires.

 

Tip # 2...store the bike in a heated garage. Since heat rises, place a small electrical heater on the floor, pointed in the direction of the bike(s), and allow the garage to we (warmed) up, so that it is not freezing. I would rather pay a little extra each month on my electric bill, than to have my bikes frozen for a few months. There is more than the tires at stake. There are many rubber items on the bike, fluids that can freeze, oils that can sludge up, etc, etc, etc. By adding a little warmth to your garage, you avoid having the rubber tires on your bike contract as much as they would with no heat, and thus avoiding as much sidewall cracking, or tire aging, as they would.

 

Storing the bike INDOORS...in a slightly heated garage...on the centerstand or lift, will prolong the life of your tires. Check that DOT date code, ask for newer tires, and...if you really want to go to the extremes...

 

Tip #3...(extreme ideas)...when you store the bike...in a slightly heated garage...on the centerstand or lift...let about 10 psi out of each tire, so that it is not fully inflated during storage months. By relieving a small amount of pressure from the tire, (only during storage months), you relieve pressure from the sidewalls, and further avoid cracks from forming.

 

Just remember...as you should already know...that when that bikes comes out of storage, you need to go over the entire bike, stem to stern, and put everything back to road ready conditions, including tire pressures.

 

Okay, somebody now owes me a slice of Pi.

 

 

Miles, you are one smart fella. I guess with me living here in Florida, I have the option to ride 6-7 days a week. I do not "store" it very long. I do ride, albeit not like some of you guys, but that's based on where I am at in my life. That said... I will be looking at my tires more closely and more seriously then before. I have both bikes in the garage and it not heated per se, but it gets quite warm to sizzling here.

 

So...for a rider that does not go through tires like yourself , once purchased and broken in, how long ( miles and or time stamp) should they be strongly considered time to change?

[Miles]

Miles, you are one smart fella. I guess with me living here in Florida, I have the option to ride 6-7 days a week. I do not "store" it very long. I do ride, albeit not like some of you guys, but that's based on where I am at in my life. That said... I will be looking at my tires more closely and more seriously then before. I have both bikes in the garage and it not heated per se, but it gets quite warm to sizzling here.

 

So...for a rider that does not go through tires like yourself , once purchased and broken in, how long ( miles and or time stamp) should they be strongly considered time to change?

 

Barry, I would guess that my personal opinion would be that if a tire on a bike is 7 years old, per the DOT date code, then I would change it out. It is an odd situation for me, as I wear them out faster than Bongobobny wears out an inflatible doll. I do have some bikes that have tires older than that on them, but those are my stored/museum bikes, that I have no intention of riding again. If I were to sell one of them to someone that wanted to ride it, I would suggest new tires, simply due to age.

 

So, if a tire on your bike looks good, still has decent tread on it, but is 7 or more year old, I would change it out.

 

Now...Oh Barry...an overheated garage can also be a problem. If the bike is stored in a garage in Florida, and the garage gets to be over 90+ degrees for long periods of time, I would suggest a small fan installed in the garage, just to circulate the air, and keep air moving around the bike(s), at a slow speed. Hot...still...air in a, closed garage in Florida can cook the tires, almost as bad as freezing the tires in Minnesota.

 

 

Someone now owes me 2 pieces of Pi. 2 x 3.14159 = 6.28319 pies.

[Barrycuda]

Barry, I would guess that my personal opinion would be that if a tire on a bike is 7 years old, per the DOT date code, then I would change it out. It is an odd situation for me, as I wear them out faster than Bongobobny wears out an inflatible doll. I do have some bikes that have tires older than that on them, but those are my stored/museum bikes, that I have no intention of riding again. If I were to sell one of them to someone that wanted to ride it, I would suggest new tires, simply due to age.

 

So, if a tire on your bike looks good, still has decent tread on it, but is 7 or more year old, I would change it out.

 

Now...Oh Barry...an overheated garage can also be a problem. If the bike is stored in a garage in Florida, and the garage gets to be over 90+ degrees for long periods of time, I would suggest a small fan installed in the garage, just to circulate the air, and keep air moving around the bike(s), at a slow speed. Hot...still...air in a, closed garage in Florida can cook the tires, almost as bad as freezing the tires in Minnesota.

 

 

Someone now owes me 2 pieces of Pi. 2 x 3.14159 = 6.28319 pies.

 

Excellent point on the overheating of rubber and use of fan.

 

I probably have a lot more questions, so how bout I just deliver to you a whole case of Pi?

3.14159 x standard case of 12 or deluxe case of 24. Your choice.

[Miles]

Excellent point on the overheating of rubber and use of fan.

 

I probably have a lot more questions, so how bout I just deliver to you a whole case of Pi?

3.14159 x standard case of 12 or deluxe case of 24. Your choice.

 

 

Whew...nice offer, but since I am still trying to lose weight, I will earn one Pi at a time.

 

I mean, one Pi equals 3.14159 pies, so that is enough reward for any answers I provide.

 

Your offering me a case of 12 or 24 pies, times the Pi = 37.69908 or 75.39816 pies.

 

I would have to start sharing all those pies with all the Brians, and Jeffs and Toms on this forum.

[Barrycuda]

Whew...nice offer, but since I am still trying to lose weight, I will earn one Pi at a time.

 

I mean, one Pi equals 3.14159 pies, so that is enough reward for any answers I provide.

 

Your offering me a case of 12 or 24 pies, times the Pi = 37.69908 or 75.39816 pies.

 

I would have to start sharing all those pies with all the Brians, and Jeffs and Toms on this forum.

 

Duly noted. Will scale down to Pi of the month club. 2 distinct Pi's from different states and or countries for a whole year. This month is from Hungary and Pittsburgh.

[Miles]

Duly noted. Will scale down to Pi of the month club. 2 distinct Pi's from different states and or countries for a whole year. This month is from Hungary and Pittsburgh.

 

 

From Hungary and Pittsburg???? Does that mean I get a Goulash Pie and a Ketchup Pie?

 

[Barrycuda]

Where exactly on the tire can I find the date code. I looked and wasn't sure WHERE to look. I just saw all kinds of numbers . No official DATE.

[Barrycuda]

Miles....I sent you a PM. Please let me know if it went through.

 

 

Barry

[jfoster]

Where exactly on the tire can I find the date code. I looked and wasn't sure WHERE to look. I just saw all kinds of numbers . No official DATE.

 

There will be a four digit # somewhere on the side wall. The first two represent the week of the year and the last two are the year. Example 1509 or 5112 (51st week of 2012)

[First_N_Last]

WOW - lots of comments about this

 

Here are some photos of my tire

 

 

 

Here is what the tread looks like on my Avon Venom AM42 with over 10,000 miles on it

 

 

As you can see, an AM42 really wears well (rear tire size reversed on front).

I expect when this wears out...

that my next Avon will have this cosmetic sidewall cracking fixed.

 

JohnnyB

[Miles]

Miles....I sent you a PM. Please let me know if it went through.

 

 

Barry

 

Barry, PM was received, and responded to.

[Miles]

WOW - lots of comments about this

 

As you can see, an AM42 really wears well (rear tire size reversed on front).

I expect when this wears out...

that my next Avon will have this cosmetic sidewall cracking fixed.

 

JohnnyB

 

 

JohnnyB, that is a lot of cracking. The tires wear does look good, as you said, but those sidewall crakcs are baddddddddd, and not in a good way.

 

How old are these tires????? I know you said 10,000 miles...but I mean how OLD are they...age???