KM2's cracking between tread blocks after 35,000kms

M

MSkinner

Member
I was washing the Patrol over the weekend when I noticed that the tyre carcass was starting to crack between the tread blocks. Some of the cracks are almost dead centre between the tread, whereas in other places the cracks are at the base of the tread blocks. Some tyres are worse than others but all 4 are effected (I've never used my spare). I've also noticed that the tread rubber seems 'drier' now, looks almost 'crumbly'.

I'm religious with my tyre rotations and pressures, every 5000kms or more often if I notice irregular wear starting, 40psi hot on the road, 20-25psi in the bush. I never drive long distances at low pressures as I own an Ironman Flo Max air compressor that sees all 4 tyres back to road pressures in under 10 minutes. The Patrol never sits for extended periods of time as its our only vehicle. The tread wear on the tyres is as close to perfectly even as I've ever seen.

This damage comes after 2 years from date of purchase and with approximately 35,000kms on them.

I'm sure this is an isolated case as these tyres have been absolutely perfect up until now, but has anyone else experienced anything similar with their KM2's? Am I right in thinking that this should be covered by the manufacturer as a defect? I've read reports of people seeing over 60,000kms from their KM2's with up to 6mm of tread left. At this rate I'll be lucky to see 40,000km. This is if they don't blow out before then.

I'd prefer personal experiences as opposed to 'some guy I heard about'.
 
M

mrfelix

New Member
I'm pretty sure tyres have a statutory warranty of 5 years from purchase date (I know this to be the case with my local tyre place ) , would be having a chat to the retailer, if no luck might be worthwhile contacting the Tyre and Rim association.
 
Alien d2

Alien d2

4x4 Earth Contributer
Mmmm,
I'll have to look at mine in the daylight but can't recall this type of damage.
I've got some chiping but as I play on rockier type tracks it's to be expected with open diffs.
Fingers crossed the true trac may reduce this from happening.
 
Swaggie

Swaggie

Moderator
mrfelix said:
I'm pretty sure tyres have a statutory warranty of 5 years from purchase date (I know this to be the case with my local tyre place ) , would be having a chat to the retailer, if no luck might be worthwhile contacting the Tyre and Rim association.
Click to expand...

Standard Limited Warranty (All BFGoodrich® Tires)
All BFGoodrich® tires have a Standard Manufacturer's Limited Warranty, which covers defects in workmanship and materials for the life of the original usable tread, or for 6 years from date of purchase, whichever occurs first. See warranty for details

Let us know how you go mate...
 
M

MSkinner

Member
I took the Patrol out to the dealer yesterday who didn't deny that he could see the effect I was talking about and said that 'perhaps one or two are a little out of the ordinary', but tried putting most of them down to 'regular wear and tear'. Mind you, it had just rained and the cracks are much more visible when dry. Anyhow, he ended up calling the area rep who said he would have to come out and inspect the cracks himself. That's two days now. Lucky I have some time owing at work. I was told that if the rep deemed the cracks a manufacturers defect, that I can expect pro-rata compensation on the amount of tread left.

Fingers crossed.
 
M

mrhr33

New Member
any more feedback on the tyre rep mate?
i have just purchased a set of 285x75r16 for my GU in the mud terain's... hope this dosnt happen to em..
 
M

MSkinner

Member
No, nothing yet. If I don't hear anything by Wednesday I'll call the dealer back and depending on what they say, might just call BFG myself.

I'm sure this is an isolated case because as I said, with regular rotations and pressure checks, these tyres have been amazing. Can't fault them in any terrain, the tread wear is as even as I've ever seen, and the road noise is far more acceptable than some other mud terrains I've had.
 
DazzGUIV

DazzGUIV

4x4 Earth Contributer
I had a similar experience with my coopers. Used them correctly, tyre pressures etc and the blocks were just cracking off... I had no luck with warranty despite only having about 40,000k's on them. I heard heaps of different "theories" like its was due to having them new and taking them straight on the track when they were "soft":confused: and it was from changing the prerssures often from going wheeling (not sure what else your meant to do??).
Never really got to the bottom of it or got a reason from anyone that was believable.

What i would say though is keep an eye on it, cause mine were cracked bad enough in the end that 2 let go when i was out bush by myself over crissy. luckily i had 2 spares, cause there was no way you could plug or repair them.

I hope you have some luck with the warranty!
 
M

MSkinner

Member
DazzGUIV said:
I had a similar experience with my coopers. Used them correctly, tyre pressures etc and the blocks were just cracking off... I had no luck with warranty despite only having about 40,000k's on them. I heard heaps of different "theories" like its was due to having them new and taking them straight on the track when they were "soft":confused: and it was from changing the prerssures often from going wheeling (not sure what else your meant to do??).
Never really got to the bottom of it or got a reason from anyone that was believable.

What i would say though is keep an eye on it, cause mine were cracked bad enough in the end that 2 let go when i was out bush by myself over crissy. luckily i had 2 spares, cause there was no way you could plug or repair them.

I hope you have some luck with the warranty!
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing mate. I'll keep this in mind when speaking with the rep.
 
Alien d2

Alien d2

4x4 Earth Contributer
Any chance of a picture?

I have a camping trip on this weekend and a few coming have BFG's so it's a good chance to have a look.
Just have to remember:cool:
 
T

Travis22

New Member
Over 70,000km on our KM2's now, purchased mid 2009.

One week after fitting / brand new we did the Strez - 6000km.
Since then we've done the Kimberley - 15,000km
Simpson / Birdsville - 8000km
And easily 50-60 trips into the High country.

In 2 weeks time we'll be off for Cape York - est. 9000km.

All tires currently down to approx 7-8mm tread.

Will buy them again after the Cape trip.

Travis.
 
M

MSkinner

Member
Travis22 said:
Over 70,000km on our KM2's now, purchased mid 2009.

One week after fitting / brand new we did the Strez - 6000km.
Since then we've done the Kimberley - 15,000km
Simpson / Birdsville - 8000km
And easily 50-60 trips into the High country.

In 2 weeks time we'll be off for Cape York - est. 9000km.

All tires currently down to approx 7-8mm tread.

Will buy them again after the Cape trip.

Travis.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm going to use this as ammo in my arsenal should BFG deny that this is a warranty issue. What pressures have you been using?
 
C

clarkey26

New Member
Gday all just be careful how you word what youve used the tyres for seems to be a few grey areas that they would get you on like running your tyres at low psi for conditions. BFGoodrich promises to deliver the very best. And with over a century of designing tyres, we back that promise. Our tyres are made to meticulous quality standards. That's why every tyre designed and manufactured by BFGoodrich is warranted by us.

All BFGoodrich tyres used in normal service and in accordance with the maintenance recommendations and safety warnings of the BFGoodrich company are covered by a warranty against defects in design, workmanship and materials subject to these conditions:
•The warranty shall be for the life of the original usable tread pattern or six years from the date of purchase, whichever comes first.
•Date of purchase is documented by new vehicle registration (where the tyres were fitted on a new vehicle) or original tyre sales invoice. If there is no proof of purchase, the warranty will be based on the date of manufacture.
•The warranty period of 6 years from date of purchase is limited to a maximum tyre age of 9 years from the date of manufacture.
•At the end of the relevant periods stated in the paragraphs above, all warranties, express or implied are terminated.
•The original usable tread pattern is the original pattern down to the level of the tread pattern wear indicators - 1.6mm of tread pattern remaining.

What's not covered

Tyres which become unserviceable under the following circumstances are not covered by this warranty:
•Road hazard injury (e.g. a cut, snag, bruise, impact damage or puncture, whether repairable or not)
•Incorrect mounting of the tyre, tyre/wheel imbalance or improper repair
•Under-inflation, over-inflation, improper maintenance or other abuse
•Mechanical irregularity in the vehicle such as wheel misalignment resulting in uneven or rapid wear
•Tyres fitted to or used with incompatible or improper valves, rims or wheels
•Vehicles which are carrying loads or running at speeds higher than the load and speed index marked on the tyre sidewalls
•Tyres purchased second hand
•Improper storage
•Tyres which have not been fitted or used in accordance with the technical recommendations of the manufacturer as published from time to time
•Accident, fire, chemical explosion, tyre alteration or vandalism
•Climatic or ozone effects.
•Tyres purchased from any entity not authorised by BFGoodrich
•Tyres purchased from the website of any entity not authorised by BFGoodrich


cheers hope all is good. clarkey
 
M

MSkinner

Member
clarkey26 said:
Gday all just be careful how you word what youve used the tyres for seems to be a few grey areas that they would get you on like running your tyres at low psi for conditions. BFGoodrich promises to deliver the very best. And with over a century of designing tyres, we back that promise. Our tyres are made to meticulous quality standards. That's why every tyre designed and manufactured by BFGoodrich is warranted by us.

All BFGoodrich tyres used in normal service and in accordance with the maintenance recommendations and safety warnings of the BFGoodrich company are covered by a warranty against defects in design, workmanship and materials subject to these conditions:
•The warranty shall be for the life of the original usable tread pattern or six years from the date of purchase, whichever comes first.
•Date of purchase is documented by new vehicle registration (where the tyres were fitted on a new vehicle) or original tyre sales invoice. If there is no proof of purchase, the warranty will be based on the date of manufacture.
•The warranty period of 6 years from date of purchase is limited to a maximum tyre age of 9 years from the date of manufacture.
•At the end of the relevant periods stated in the paragraphs above, all warranties, express or implied are terminated.
•The original usable tread pattern is the original pattern down to the level of the tread pattern wear indicators - 1.6mm of tread pattern remaining.

What's not covered

Tyres which become unserviceable under the following circumstances are not covered by this warranty:
•Road hazard injury (e.g. a cut, snag, bruise, impact damage or puncture, whether repairable or not)
•Incorrect mounting of the tyre, tyre/wheel imbalance or improper repair
•Under-inflation, over-inflation, improper maintenance or other abuse
•Mechanical irregularity in the vehicle such as wheel misalignment resulting in uneven or rapid wear
•Tyres fitted to or used with incompatible or improper valves, rims or wheels
•Vehicles which are carrying loads or running at speeds higher than the load and speed index marked on the tyre sidewalls
•Tyres purchased second hand
•Improper storage
•Tyres which have not been fitted or used in accordance with the technical recommendations of the manufacturer as published from time to time
•Accident, fire, chemical explosion, tyre alteration or vandalism
•Climatic or ozone effects.
•Tyres purchased from any entity not authorised by BFGoodrich
•Tyres purchased from the website of any entity not authorised by BFGoodrich


cheers hope all is good. clarkey
Click to expand...

Thanks! Taking all this into account, my tyres should definitely be covered. Do you work for BFGoodrich? Because it's been more than two weeks since the dealer originally contacted their sales rep regarding this matter and I still haven't heard anything.
 
03hilux

03hilux

4x4 Earth Contributer
I am lead to believe Michellin are the distribitor for BFG. Contact details are below. give them a call.


Michelin Australia Pty Ltd
51-57 Fennell Street
Port Melbourne VIC 3207
Phone:1300 72 78 78
Fax:1300 72 48 48
 
C

clarkey26

New Member
nah sorry mate dont work for them just got curious as i run these tyres on my work ute and honestly i got the last set about 18 months & 20 000 km ago roughly could be a bit more i dont beleive they have stood up that well, i mean i am off road 80% of the time as i manage a cattle property and most of my driving is paddock & dirt road driving but hey isnt that what there designed for. cheers clarkey.
 
T

Travis22

New Member
I run around 58PSI on the blacktop, and vary the pressure to suit the terrain offroad.

Will start by dropping to around 28-26. Rougher stuff 22-20. Extreme mud, or super soft sand we'll just keep going lower as needed. IIRC 12 is about the lowest we've had them.

Travis.
 
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