Been using Veloflex tires for quite awhile, and so far have never encountered the problem that you mention. I'd pack them off to Veloflex for an exchange, or at least a try at one, saying I bought them new but the bike shop fell into a sink hole or something. I have never heard of anyone selling "seconds", and seriously doubt they exist. I have used various brands, Vittoria included, where the tread pattern was not straight at one point, but never anything that went "squish" in the night...or day. By the way, for ease of centering tubulars, nothing beats the Tufo tape, where you first can center the tire, then pull off the adhesive covering between the tire and rim tape. It works like a charm, but not wanting to again start a thread on love it or wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole rim tape, it's all in the archives.
Dennis Young
Hotaka, Japan
> Folks, I am a newcomer to sew-ups for about a year now. After some trial and
> error, I settled on Vittoria Rallys. But everyone told me to get Veloflex
> Criteriums. So splurge on a pair sold on eBay. New. $120 for a pair. Cheap.
> I put them on my TI Raleigh Team Pro. Guess what? Both are defective! The
> tread is warped or out of round near the labels on each. So they go squish
> squish squish as I ride. Useless. And the chances of getting my money back..
> well, I don't rate them any high. So much for "handmade in Italy"! I suspect
> this seller who has been flogging these for several months bought seconds or
> something. But that's enough "high end" sew-ups for me... I am sticking to
> my cheapo Rallys and happy to do so.
>
> Peter Kohler
> Washington DC USA