Recall: Some 2019-2023 KTMs And Husqvarnas May Wear Recalled Tires

On August 11, 2022, KTM North America issued a safety recall for certain 2019 through 2023 KTM and Husqvarna motorcycles because they came from the factory equipped with TKC80 tires that Continental recalled in May, 2022. In affected tires, cracks longer than 3/16 of an inch could develop within the tread grooves, which could potentially lead to tread separation and a crash. 

According to KTM’s estimates, approximately 27,399 of its bikes may be affected, which represents around 10 percent of the population. If a bike has the affected tires installed, KTM dealers will replace the affected tires, free of charge. Notification letters will be sent to owners in September, 2022, the KTM and Husqvarna dealer service network already has a service bulletin about this recall, which is dated July 25, 2022. 

The list of affected models is long. If you own a KTM or Husqvarna motorcycle that is a 2019 or newer model, you may want to check if your bike is included in the affected population. 

According to KTM and Husqvarna’s service bulletins regarding this recall, on some bike models, only the front tire is affected and requires replacement. On others, both the front and rear tires will require replacement. All models requiring attention are linked by VIN in KTM and Husqvarna’s Dealer.Net database. 

KTM North America has also included a detailed guide on how to identify which Continental TKC80 tires are affected. It notes that at this time, no other tire sizes, production periods, or product lines involved with KTM and Husqvarna products are affected. 

The service bulletins also include detailed instructions to technicians on how to effectively render the recalled tires unserviceable, so that they may not be returned to service by any means at a later date. These options include hole drilling, sidewall cutting, and/or bead cutting to make sure the recalled, defective tires cannot be reused.