Pilot Powers/2ct's Recalled

Release date: June 15, 2007 GREENVILLE, S.C. --
Dot Marking Illustrations
http://michelinmedia.com/media_storage/jpg/DOT_code1.jpg
Tire Manufacturing Location, Size and Brand Information

http://michelinmedia.com/media_storage/jpg/DOT_code2.jpg
"Made in France"


Downloads

• http://tnpv.us/i/b_ascii.gif http://tnpv.us/i/a_c00.gif text
  
• http://tnpv.us/i/b_msword.gifhttp://tnpv.us/i/a_c00.gifSafetyRecall61507.doc

Michelin has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Transport Canada that it is recalling Michelin� Pilot� Power 2CT and Pilot� Power 120/70 ZR 17 (58W) front motorcycle tires with the "Made in France" markings in the United States and Canada. This recall involves these specific tires only and has no impact on any other Michelin tires. Related actions are under way in other countries.

An examination of these tires showed a possible defect in the tread due to a manufacturing irregularity. No cases of pressure loss have been reported and no accidents have occurred.

Because rider safety is the primary concern, Michelin has decided as a precaution to replace the 120/70 ZR 17 (58W) Michelin Pilot Power 2CT and Michelin Pilot Power front tires, which can be identified by the following markings on the sidewall:

• a "Made in France" label
  
• DOT 6UCW 980T or DOT 6UCW 979T

Any consumer in the United States or Canada who believes they are affected by the recall should not wait to receive notification but should call Michelin Consumer Relations at 1 866 324 2835.

The company will be replacing all potentially affected tires in a comprehensive commitment to retrieve from the market any tire that does not meet Michelin quality standards. Replacement tires are available at no cost (including mounting and balancing) to consumers through participating Michelin� motorcycle tire servicing retailers.

About Michelin
Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelin.com) employs more than 22,000 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.

NOTE TO EDITOR: Attached is an illustration of how to read a sidewall DOT code to assist consumers in determining if their tires are affected by the recall.

About the DOT Code and Tire Identification Number

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) markings serve as the tire's fingerprint and signify compliance with U.S. Tire Safety Standards. The DOT code can be found on the sidewall right above the rim printed in small type less than half an inch tall.

Make sure your tire is of the make and model:
Michelin� Pilot� Power 2CT or Michelin� Pilot� Power 120/70 ZR 17 (58W)

Then, look for a DOT code 6UCW 980T or DOT 6UCW 979T on the sidewall.

If you are having difficulty identifying your tire's DOT code, please ask your local tire dealer to assist you or call Michelin Consumer Relations at 1 866 324 2835.

My new bike just came with Pilot Powers................... :blink: ...not good news.......... :unsure:

And 2CT's.

PARIS, June 15 (Reuters) - French tyre group Michelin (MICP.PA: Quote, Profile , Research) said on Friday it was recalling some 68,000 motorbike tyres after finding a possible defect in their tread due to a manufacturing fault.

The company said it would recall the Pilot Power 2CT and Pilot Power 120/70 ZR 17 front motorcycle tyres. A Michelin spokeswoman said the recall would affect tyres sold in 40 countries in north America and Europe.

Michelin added no accidents had occured as a result of the fault.

:joystick:

Interesting....I just got Pilot Powers....

Guess I better go get some miles on that front tire before it falls apart?

[image: View Post]bktobk3233, on Jun 15 2007, 12:41 PM, said:

http://tinyurl.com/2kw55z
More to come I'm sure.

I called Michelin USA:

Consumer Relations Department Tel : 1-800-847-3435
P.O. Box 19001
Greenville, SC 29602-9001


I called and asked about PP 2Cts. I didn't ask about pilot powers.

They told me the affected tires have "Made in France" on the sidewall and bare either of the following DOT Nos.

6UCW980T

6UCW979T

One serial number may well be for the 2Cts, the other for the regular powers.

If you have one, a dealer will replace it at no cost. :thumbsup:

The shop said my front is affected. :(

http://www.moderntiredealer.com/t_inside.c...mp;storyID=7543

It's only the front tire as well. Here is the official Michelin link.

http://www.michelinmedia.com/pressSingle/v...CH2007061546507

It's a good thing my front tire is not on the ground much! :rolleyes:

:wheel: :wheel:

Haha just went back and looked, out of 16 2ct's we have in our warehouse here at work, 14 of them match the recalled numbers.

dang, there goes that new front... FYI i bought it before t-mac, so some of those tires have been out for a few weeks!

Not sure of the accuracy of the report, but I read over on a Triumph (Europe) forum that the recall stemmed from a tread from carcass seperation, but non have de-flated from the problem. All I've read, and haven't had time to make any phone calls.....maybe someone else can come up with something more "detailed".................. :unsure:

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Jun 15 2007, 03:39 PM, said:

It's a good thing my front tire is not on the ground much! :rolleyes:

:wheel: :wheel:

It's a good thing my bike is busted! http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b76/hovmaven/crackup.gif

[image: View Post]lizard, on Jun 16 2007, 12:30 AM, said:

Found this on another site.

Reuters link to PP recall
Another site? Are there other sites on the internet? :goofy:

Interesting though. I just put Corsa IIIs on my bike but while I was at the dealership today a guy was having a Pilot Power mounted. Wonder if he's heard about this! Good find.

Interesting...I just got a new set of PPs put on today. I wonder how they will handle the recall? Free new front tire and we pay for the mount/balance?

They are covering the replacement in full. My friends Gixxer is affected by this.

Well... just found my 2CT fell into the range. Time to call the guy who just bought my fifth gen, as I put brand new pilot powers on it for him.

(((EDIT)))

Well, the VFR is fine, the front on my GSXR is fine... but the 2CT's I had on the shelf for the next track day is effected.

[image: View Post]theoxmole, on Jun 16 2007, 12:50 AM, said:

[image: View Post]lizard, on Jun 16 2007, 12:30 AM, said:

Found this on another site.

Reuters link to PP recall
Another site? Are there other sites on the internet? :goofy:

Interesting though. I just put Corsa IIIs on my bike but while I was at the dealership today a guy was having a Pilot Power mounted. Wonder if he's heard about this! Good find.


Oxmole, it was purely by accident that I happened upon another site...I think my wife was playing on the laptop yesterday and must have bookmarked some sites! :rolleyes:


I have Diablo Strada's that came in a value meal with some pretty good sized chicken strips! :goofy:
But I know a lot of folks here like the Pilot Powers and thought our stock front size was 120/70x17 so I posted the info right before the laptop battery died.

Oh, and I completely missed the other thread about this because I was trying to post before my battery died. So if HS or one of the mods wants to merge the threads or delete this one as a duplicate that's fine by me.

Of course, it's the day after the recall, but I've got a trip coming up. I don't want to be riding around on a recalled front tire. So, I starting calling places. I called the following shops in St. Louis and no one even knew about it yet. Michelin gave me most of these places to call (with the exception of Motorrad and Honda).

• Donelson Cycles (both the St. Ann and Affton locations) - were not very nice or patient
  
• Rich's Cycle - does not deal many Michelins anymore, not patient
  
• Motorrad of STL - does not carry Michelin, but was nice and interested in the recall
  
• STL Honda Motorsports - does not carry Michelin, indifferent reaction to my inquiry
  
• Niehaus in Litchfield, IL - carries Michelin, did not know about recall, very nice, has started some research into it to see what they can do

If anyone in or around STL knows more places I should try, let me know.

Jeez, I feel real lucky... I have been inactive on VFRD for the past few months and just stumbled across this yesterday because I was tired of doing real work at work... :unsure:

I'll keep trying places around here and post as much info as possible for the STL VFRD'rs

I just got a brand new front on, luckily it was made in Spain. :thumbsup:

FREEDOM TIRES! :wheel:
http://michelinmedia.com/media_storage/jpg/DOT_code2.jpg
"Made in France"
Sorry, I couldn't resist :lol:

[image: View Post]Brown81, on Jun 16 2007, 03:58 PM, said:

I just got a brand new front on, luckily it was made in Spain. :thumbsup:

Spain here too..good find lizard.

Bummer, I just got a set of ct2's to replace my Z6's. I have not yet mounted them, plan on calling on Monday.

H'mm I had to replace my last Front Powers at my cost after only 4000kms as it developed a strange vibration which increased with frequency with speed.
On visual inspection it looked fine and a trip back to the Tyre dealer on the balancing machine confirmed wasn't actually balance related.

Odd really as the previous 2 sets and current replacment Pilot Powers front have been fine. ?? :huh:

Dang... I got my 2cts when they first came out.... and my numbers match exactly.
Wait... this is a good thing, I've got plenty of wear on it... and I get a new one for free!

Happy Fathers Day!

Figures I have a damn track day in 1 week and just put the tires on Thursday, now I have to pull it off again. I went for a ride and mine has a strange vibration in the front that's annoying as all get out, I'm hoping someone has them in stock so I can get another mounted before the weekend.

My front is affected as well. I bet new 2CT's are going to start to become hard to get.

What a PITA! Funny though, I have just started to get a vibration in the front as well. I was planning on taking it in for a balance again but as others mentioned that this may be the culprit.

Cheers,

Too bad my current front tire is made in Spain, would love to get a free new one as it is completely bald on the sides and pointed into a V. I will have to check my stock of old tires, hopefully my old 2CT was one of the affected ones.

Whew!! Lucked out!!

Just had a new front mounted Friday. It's "Made in Spain".

[image: View Post]MacVFR, on Jun 18 2007, 02:35 AM, said:

My front is affected as well. I bet new 2CT's are going to start to become hard to get.
Cheers,

I called Michelin and they said go to any shop that sells their tires for a free replacement, nice! But...
Not one of my local shops have them! One of four had heard of the recall, and the only shop that had a tire had one that is part of the recall.

Got a little different message this morning. They asked me to go back to the dealer I bought it from, which was Sportbike Track Time. Contacted Mark at STT and he said that he hasn't gotten any replacements yet, and all his stock is effected.

I scrubbed the rear on my gixxer to bald on the Cherohala on Sunday... so I guess I can pry on the rear.... Maybe I'll use up some of the center on the old tire commuting for a few days first, still got tread there.

I wonder how this will effect thier image. I consider Michelin to be a good company, and the Pilot Power to be the top of the street tires now. But this doesn't help...

Just put one of these on the front of my VFR a couple of weeks ago. I guess I dodged the bullet though because my tire was made just down the road in Spain.

Missed it by THAT much! =)


Jake

I just called about my affected tire on Friday the 22nd. The Michelin rep stated that it would be 2-3 weeks before they got the tires to the dealers, but that they are safe to ride on still. If they are safe to ride on, why did they recall them???? <_<

[image: View Post]hondalover, on Jun 24 2007, 06:35 PM, said:

I just called about my affected tire on Friday the 22nd. The Michelin rep stated that it would be 2-3 weeks before they got the tires to the dealers, but that they are safe to ride on still. If they are safe to ride on, why did they recall them???? <_<

You are asking the wrong people. You should have asked the Michelin rep. I bet you would have gotten an ear full of political spin and doublespeak.

[image: View Post]Motor_Ref, on Jun 24 2007, 09:27 PM, said:

[image: View Post]hondalover, on Jun 24 2007, 06:35 PM, said:

I just called about my affected tire on Friday the 22nd. The Michelin rep stated that it would be 2-3 weeks before they got the tires to the dealers, but that they are safe to ride on still. If they are safe to ride on, why did they recall them???? <_<

You are asking the wrong people. You should have asked the Michelin rep. I bet you would have gotten an ear full of political spin and doublespeak.



Michelin is who I called. I didn't speak to the shop I bought it from until later that afternoon. The rep I talked to on the phone was informative and apologetic for the issue. It sounded as if his goal was only to help me get a new tire. Maybe I'm just naive. :(

I got lucky......MADE IN SPAIN.................. :thumbsup:

[image: View Post]skuuter trash, on Jun 25 2007, 03:17 PM, said:

I got lucky......MADE IN SPAIN.................. :thumbsup:


And I always thought you were aMerican! :blink:

Your English is very good!

Just never know these days! <_<


:goofy:

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Jun 25 2007, 05:03 PM, said:

[image: View Post]skuuter trash, on Jun 25 2007, 03:17 PM, said:

I got lucky......MADE IN SPAIN.................. :thumbsup:


And I always thought you were aMerican! :blink:

Your English is very good!

Just never know these days! <_<


:goofy:

yeah, still gotta' look at my PP and see where it was made.......we seem to communicate a lot better since you took that Spanish class................... :goofy:

I did notice a heavy vibration from the front over 100 mph (back country, no traffic, 3 miles visability). I guess this is the culprit. Luckily I was on the 2CT train early and managed to put over 4K miles on them and now I get a freshy for free. :thumbsup: Love the tire and I'm sure it's just a glitch from Michelin.

+1 Lizard, how did you ever find this information so fast? That's amazing!

Well that explains the wobble I had. They "Re-balanced" the front twice then told me I needed my forks rebuilt to solved the "bounce" I had. Glad I didn't have that done yet. It was funny that it didn't start until I pit the 2ct"s on though. THANK YOU for whoever found and posted this, I have not received anything in the mail about a recall.

I do mostly commuting .About 43 km one way .I do like the ramps .After reading all the posts .I think 36/F and 38/R sounds about right .

[image: View Post]pfbmgd, on Aug 2 2009, 11:04 PM, said:

I do mostly commuting .About 43 km one way .I do like the ramps .After reading all the posts .I think 36/F and 38/R sounds about right .
You sure dug up an old thread. I did have a worn out PP2CT and got a new free one, so I was overall happy with the recall.

After running a few PP2CTs I came to the conclusion that they are not an improvement over the regular Powers. If you are commuting, I would recommend some Road2s. They will last a lot longer and keep their shape better than Powers, while still offering more grip than 99% of riders can even hope to utilize.

Funny after all the fear expressed on this site about Michelin tires made in Thailand that now we get word that even Michelin tires from France can have QC problems. Goes to show that source of tires don't neccesarily automatically equate to their quality.
On a related note, I just recently found out after shopping for tires and inner tubes for my Peugeot racing bicycle that many Euro brand bicycle tires from the biggest manufacturers like Continental, Michelin and Vittoria comes from Thailand these days, comees from there. It's only natural that most tire manufacturers will have some sort of manufacturing operation in that country because it's still a big source for rubber to make the tires.

Beck
95 VFR

[image: View Post]jeremy556, on Jun 17 2007, 10:50 PM, said:

Too bad my current front tire is made in Spain, would love to get a free new one as it is completely bald on the sides and pointed into a V. I will have to check my stock of old tires, hopefully my old 2CT was one of the affected ones.

Same here - I have one that's not on the bike, about 2/3 used. I was hoping to trade for a free new one, but it's made in Spain. :(