David Mc
New member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2012
- Messages
- 22
- Tractor
- NEW HOLLAND TN75S,KUBOTA z121,KUBOTA KG222
I have a New Holland TN75s fitted with Pirelli branded TM700 tires and thought I should post a word of warning re these tires, which I consider to be the absolute worst agricultural tires known to man. In spite of my machine (which is not fitted with a FEL) having hauled nothing more than a slasher, the tires being kept properly inflated and the machine and being parked in a concrete-floored lockup shed every night, the TM700 tires repeatedly develop massive, deep radial sidewall cracks. This is particularly prevalent when the machine has to be left parked overnight on a hillside, and the only possible explanation I can see is that the rubber compound used to make the tires is either too soft or lacks structural elasticity.
In light of the cost of these tires running at more than $2000 each, I initially thought that this was an isolated problem and responded by fitting tubes to both rear tires, but the problem continued unabated with the number of sidewall cracks multiplying to the point where in spite of having less than 50% wear, I now need to replace both rear tires. Note that we are not talking hairline cracks here, but gaping chasms up to 10cm(4") long and over 1.3cm (1/2") deep which are not related to any impact with sticks or foreign bodies, but just as a result of structural failure of the tire sidewall.
I emailed Pirelli Customer support about the problem and initially received no response at all, then about a month later, I received a message from a product manager from Pirelli, who informed me that the Agricultural tire Division of Pirellli had been sold off to Trelleborg some years ago. He informed me that Trelleborg had also been forwarded a copy of my email and inquired as to whether I had received a response from them - which I had not. To date I have still received no response from Trelleborg, whom after speaking to a local tractor mechanic who has encountered this problem numerous times, I believe may be well aware of this problem.
In light of now being faced with a bill of around $4000 to replace two tires, I thought I would share this experience with other potential Pirelli/Trelleborg victims and can assure everyone that in light of my treatment, there is not an iceberg's chance in **** of me ever buying another Pirelli/Trelleborg product.
In light of the cost of these tires running at more than $2000 each, I initially thought that this was an isolated problem and responded by fitting tubes to both rear tires, but the problem continued unabated with the number of sidewall cracks multiplying to the point where in spite of having less than 50% wear, I now need to replace both rear tires. Note that we are not talking hairline cracks here, but gaping chasms up to 10cm(4") long and over 1.3cm (1/2") deep which are not related to any impact with sticks or foreign bodies, but just as a result of structural failure of the tire sidewall.
I emailed Pirelli Customer support about the problem and initially received no response at all, then about a month later, I received a message from a product manager from Pirelli, who informed me that the Agricultural tire Division of Pirellli had been sold off to Trelleborg some years ago. He informed me that Trelleborg had also been forwarded a copy of my email and inquired as to whether I had received a response from them - which I had not. To date I have still received no response from Trelleborg, whom after speaking to a local tractor mechanic who has encountered this problem numerous times, I believe may be well aware of this problem.
In light of now being faced with a bill of around $4000 to replace two tires, I thought I would share this experience with other potential Pirelli/Trelleborg victims and can assure everyone that in light of my treatment, there is not an iceberg's chance in **** of me ever buying another Pirelli/Trelleborg product.
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