vitesse
Member
Just thought I'd pass this along. Recently ordered two sets of Bridgestone BTO14s from an on-line retailer.
When I received them, had to do a double take. The two fronts looked pretty nasty. Not the shiny, bright new look like the two rears. Fronts were dull and coated with what looked like dirt that wouldn't come off.
On checking the dates of manufacture, the two rears were made in 2007 which was no surprise. On the other hand, one front was made 12th week of 2004 and the other 26th week of 2004. Sent an email to Blaine at SWMOTOTIRES.com asking for an exchange as almost three and half and four year tires was unacceptable. He answered back that he wouldn't exchange, but would take only the two fronts back for full refund. I sent them back.
I then ordered two fronts from RIDENOW.com. They both were manufactured the 49th week of 2004. A little better but not satisfactory. When I called and explained I was told that they would look into it and get back to me. Of course I never heard back. I then decided to keep the tires and go another route. I determined that both these on-line retailers had the tires drop shipped from a TUCKER-ROCKY distribution center in So. CA. and thus had never the seen the tires.
I called and then wrote a letter to the CEO of Bridgestone in Nashville, TN. Ended up talking to a senior engineer in their motorcycle tire division. Their policy is that their motorcycle tires are not considered safe for the consumer if older than 4 years. I asked for an exchange. Within a few days, UPS dropped two fronts at my door both of which were manufactured three months prior.
I can only surmise that tucker rocky had a bunch of tires buried in the back of their warehouse and were forgotten for over three years. Somebody doing some housecleaning found them and all of a sudden there's a shitload of old tires being dumped on the market.
So, watch out :yahoo:
When I received them, had to do a double take. The two fronts looked pretty nasty. Not the shiny, bright new look like the two rears. Fronts were dull and coated with what looked like dirt that wouldn't come off.
On checking the dates of manufacture, the two rears were made in 2007 which was no surprise. On the other hand, one front was made 12th week of 2004 and the other 26th week of 2004. Sent an email to Blaine at SWMOTOTIRES.com asking for an exchange as almost three and half and four year tires was unacceptable. He answered back that he wouldn't exchange, but would take only the two fronts back for full refund. I sent them back.
I then ordered two fronts from RIDENOW.com. They both were manufactured the 49th week of 2004. A little better but not satisfactory. When I called and explained I was told that they would look into it and get back to me. Of course I never heard back. I then decided to keep the tires and go another route. I determined that both these on-line retailers had the tires drop shipped from a TUCKER-ROCKY distribution center in So. CA. and thus had never the seen the tires.
I called and then wrote a letter to the CEO of Bridgestone in Nashville, TN. Ended up talking to a senior engineer in their motorcycle tire division. Their policy is that their motorcycle tires are not considered safe for the consumer if older than 4 years. I asked for an exchange. Within a few days, UPS dropped two fronts at my door both of which were manufactured three months prior.
I can only surmise that tucker rocky had a bunch of tires buried in the back of their warehouse and were forgotten for over three years. Somebody doing some housecleaning found them and all of a sudden there's a shitload of old tires being dumped on the market.
So, watch out :yahoo:
