Basically what I learned from dealing with Michelin is I will never buy their tires again.

I bought my R53 with 32k on it last year from a family friend. He had replaced the tires the year before and when I got the car they were basically still almost new.

Drove on the tires for the rest of the summer and went to switch out to my winter tires when my local shop pointed out that my tires have a major problem that I should take a look at.

Every single tire had tread separating in the same spot all the way around.

Contacted Michelin and after 2 months of run around and visiting different tire shops they basically said - it's normal and your safe, but keep an eye out if it gets worse.

The tires are basically brand new still, just over 2 years old with 80% tread left.

I couldn't believe it, I would never trust my life or my family/passengers life's on these.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY9c7...ature=youtu.be

 

Can't get a single hit on "michelin pilot sport a/s 2" anywhere.

 

Same here...
Google does not seem to know they were ever made...sold or used....
get the name right?

 

Here's the AS 3. I'd guess AS 2 is an older version.

http://www.michelinman.com/tire-sele...3/tire-details

 

LOLOL

I think those are Pilot Sport A/S.
They look a bit dried out. Are you sure they were new tires? New as in fresh off production. Check when the tires were made. For all I know, they could have been sitting at a warehouse for 4 years without proper storage procedures.

 

Yeah sorry, didn't need the / in there. They were new tires, bought from costco. Michelin went off from the date code of the tire not when they were purchased.

 

I don't think there was an A/S 2. On youtube the tire with cracks appears to be an A/S Plus which is still sold in the 205/45-17 MINI OEM size.

I'd be interested to know if that is so and what the production date was (last 4 digits in DOT serial number stamped on tire.) There is a current recall for tread separation on one size of Michelin LTX M/S tires manufactured between week 2 of 2010 and week 25 of 2012.

 

Just uploaded pics of the tires, you are right hsautocrosser, they are A/S Plus tires. The shop I took them to was trying to sell me a new set of AS 3's to replace what I had on there.

Still currently have my snow tires mounted. Pics were taken last fall and I have been fighting with Michelin ever since.

 

All tires left outside in Texas look like that after 4-5 years, like I ever get that
long on a tire, our company trucks that sit outside in the sun look like that long before the tread wears out.

 

Can't read the DOT date code in the pics even when enlarged. Did you or the previous owner talk to Costco?

 

DOT code was 4MLL001X983218 and the week of manufacturing was the 46th week of 2010. Purchased the tires about 6 months after the DOT date from Costco.

So the tires certainly didn't sit around for very long before they were purchased and I know the car was garage its entire life before I got it so the sun damage thing doesn't really sit either.

 

costco is pretty good about taking back tires if defective or damaged.

Since all your tires are that way at low miles then you can claim it is defective.

Costco will prorate your worn tires and give you credit but it may cost something to get a new set.

Do you have the costco tire receipt? Are you a costco member?

Also when I have bought from tirerack a similar thing happened to my race tires and I brought it up with my sales rep Alex. He had me photo document the problem, I sent the tires back and got full credit for them claiming it was a mold defect as the rubber had an open seam on the sidewalls. In your case the rubber is cracking along the treads.

I don't think Michelin is any better or worse as a tire company but you need to complain since these tires aren't up to normal spec. Much of the responsibility goes to the tire vendor that you are working with. Talk to the supervisor and ask for some help to resolve the problem as you believe it is a safety issue.

 

Getting ready to buy new tires for my 2008 R56 and considering the Michelin Super Sports. Anyone come across any problems with these? I run 205/40R18. Most reviews I read were good.

 

Agreed Costco is a good place, I have a membership and love the store. Problem is I was too honest and told them the family friend had bought them. Even though both of us are members they said the warranty through them is over since the tires were not purchased under my membership - even dragged my friend in with me that purchased them - still a no go.

I think I am officially hosed.

 

On a side note, I think my next set of tires will be some Nitto Neogen.

I found a set of R105 rims so I don't have to mount and balance snow tires each year.

I think I am going to go with the 215/40/18. Seems like a lot of people really like them on their Mini's.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

 

I don't have any experience with the Nitto tires. But in reference to the OP, as crappy as it is that the tires are cracking, you are the second owner. There is no warranty. I guess the only thing you could try is have your family friend head over to a different Costco and try to have them warranty the tires? I assume you have receipts and AFAIK you can go to any Costco and have the warranty applied.

But thats just a thought, as I am not a member of Costco. I go to Sams and thats how it works there. I would assume competetors have similar policies.

 

How did you figure 46th week of 2010 from DOT code 4MLL001X983218 ?
See: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=11

Unless the last 2 digits make a legitimate 20XX year, you may be looking at an ancient pre-2000 tire code!?

a

 

I called Michelin yesterday and asked them to tell me the specifics of the tire code and the case details.

After 8 months of going back and forth they offered to pay 30% for new tires.

 

Can you photograph the DOT number and post it please?

The brown out on these tires are signs of dry rot, Time and the sun can do this. Tire dressings accelerate the drying. They kick you into a cycle, requiring tire dressing because they keep browning out. The brown is oil from within the tires being drawn to the surface.

 

That DOT number! What is that from?!

 

This!! Those tires are from 21st week of 98..

 

 

im afraid that is correct. ive worked as a tire technician for the past 5 years. if that is the full DOT, those are from 98. the shop i worked at would never mount a tire older than 9 years, and even that is generous id say.

also as someone else said, frequent use of tire shine, as well as long term sitting, etc... will weaken the rubber and cause dry rot/splitting.

 

Tires from 1998. How could that be?

Well, it is possible that the tires were made in 1998 and stored a long time before they were sold, usually at lower prices because they were lying around for so long (overstocked). So let's say it was 4-5 years waiting in a warehouse. Then it could be sold and resold inventory, again as some low price so more time before it could be sold.

Then without paying attention to the manufacture date some shop put old tires on the MINI a few years ago. So of course lots of time has gone by and there is dry rot developing which can easily happen in about 3-4 years of use.

Costco has fast turnover of tires in general so that is a bit of a puzzle that they had tires that old. Having visible tread doesn't ensure a tire's age, old tires have hard brittle rubber, they tend to be harsher riding and noisy. Once they get really old they don't wear done fast.

So, I really don't think Michelin was to blame that the tires got dry rot. Tires of about 6 years old are better off getting replaced even if they have tread left.

 

If the tires are really 16 years old - kudo's to Micheline for making amazing rubber that lasted this long!

The OP should go back and change the thread's name to "Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 2 tires - CUSTOMER FOR LIFE !"

a

P.S.: OP should have a chat with whomever sold him the car - I seriously doubt Costco was ditching inventory that old on one of their customers. Mistakes can happen, but this story has "fire-sale suckers special @corner tire monkey store" written all over it.