Experience with Bontrager tyres?

[alfonso]

My front tyre burst at the sidewall on the way to work this morning. It and my Trek Pilot are only 6 months old. It could have been deadly: a steep downhill run ending at an intersection with a very busy road.

Has anybody had this experience with Bontrager tyres? Wondering if I should replace it with another brand.

Apologies for the British/Aust spelling of 'tyre'. No, dammit! Suffer, the lot of you.

And thanks in advance for any help.

Alfonso the editor.

[cyclesafe]

Bontranger tires simply don't last.  I didn't even get 6 months.  Consider yourself lucky.  IME, the Race Lites and Hard Case are both junk.

For commuting get a Schwalbe Marathon Plus (25mm)or Schwalbe Ultremo (23mm).

[alfonso]

Many thanks, Cyclesafe. I'll see if those are available.

Did your Bontragers burst? I got a little lecture at the LBS about how
the bead probably wasn't seated properly etc - but on re-examining it
at home I found a slit just above the level of the rim; the tube had
protruded through and popped. I'd have suspected malicious damage,
but the bike's been inside or in my office all the time.

This message was edited by alfonso on 3-16-07 @ 3:52 AM

[DaveB]

The damage needen't have been malicious. A piece of glass or metal on the road could cause the cut you experienced.  

Tougher, touring type "tyres" are more resistant to this type of damage but light weight, thin sidewall tyres are vulnerable.  

[cyclesafe]

The tread surface on the Race Lites wore down after about 1000 miles and the sidewall peeled away on the Hard Cases after about the smae amount of use.

[alfonso]

Thanks both! Got a Continental Dura-Skin this morning - allegedly
resistant to punctures on tread and sidewalls. We'll see.

Best wishes

Alf'o