M+ tyres - folded or not folded?

[beanzontoast]

Should a standard (non-folding) Marathon+ tyre bought over the internet arrive in a folded condition - i.e. made into a figure-of-eight, then folded on itself to give a circle, and squished into a plastic bag - or should it arrive in a non-folded state?

The reason I ask is I have bought M+ in both states and the only time I've had to return one is when it arrived folded. The tyre wall in one place just would not assume a normal profile and exhibited a pronounced bulge whatever seating adjustments, inflation pressure / position on the rim I tried.

 

[Paul.G.]

Are they wire bead, if so then they should not be folded.

 

[User6179]

My Mplus came unfolded ( wire bead)

 

[beanzontoast]

It's of the wire bead type.

I figured as much. Anyway, as I said... on its way back to the seller for a full refund. I'll be off to the LBS and ordering one in if necessary.

 

[lpretro1]

This is normal - all that needed to be done was to fit the tyre and inflate it - it would have regained it's shape no problem

 

[beanzontoast]

This is normal - all that needed to be done was to fit the tyre and inflate it - it would have regained it's shape no problem

I'm a veteran of M+ tyres having used them for some time over the past few years on different bikes. It was left unfolded for a day before I attempted fitting. This particular tyre refused to assume 'normal' profile whatever I did - and I tried removing it, rotating it on the rim, different inflation pressures, using washing-up liquid on the rim, seating and re-seating it, changing the tube, leaving it at full inflation for a couple of days... the bulge was still there. The wheel and rim are fine by the way. I tried a different tyre and it looked fine.

I'm not saying the folding definitely caused this, which is why I asked what people thought. What has made me wonder is that the only time I've had a problem is when the tyre has arrived folded. Previous deliveries of M+ tyres have arrived unfolded - either loose with a delivery label looped around them or (somewhat hilariously as my neighbour kindly took delivery for me and was surprised when I told him what each contained) in individual large cardboard boxes with oodles of brown paper packing inside.