Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Maxxis Fuse with a broken cord in the tire.

I have a quesiton for you guys. I was about two miles into a ride three weeks ago and noticed a rythmic thump coming from my front wheel. I pulled over expecting to see a nail or screw in the tire and found what I think is a broken cord in the tire. These Maxxis Fuse tires only had about 266 miles on them when this happened.

Anyone else had this happen? I had just run over some small pebbles in the middle of an intersection. I'm around 290#s.

I just put on my new ebay wheels: 36 spoke Mach One rims with Shimano 105 hubs and continental gatorskin tires this combination is alot heavier than the Shimano WH-R500 wheels/Maxxis Fuse Tires that came on the Cannondale but, the 36 hole rims should be stronger.

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/1113/dscn1050f.jpg
By crabhab (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/crabhab), shot with COOLPIX L2 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=COOLPIX+L2&make=NIKON) at 2009-09-25

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6351/dscn1049g.jpg
By crabhab (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/crabhab), shot with COOLPIX L2 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=COOLPIX+L2&make=NIKON) at 2009-09-25

Wheels that came on the bike.

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/8918/dscn1048u.jpg
By crabhab (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/crabhab), shot with COOLPIX L2 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=COOLPIX+L2&make=NIKON) at 2009-09-25

Those tires have a poor reputation. (http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wheels/tires-clincher/maxxis/PRD_300146_2489crx.aspx)

I only use my Maxxis Fuse tires as "a last ditch back up if I really have too" type tire.

Manufacturing defect, return for a new one....

Manufacturing defect, return for a new one....

I think I disagree. You're heavy, and while I can't tell what size the tires are, they look like maybe 25s or so. You don't have any business on anything smaller than 35s. I weigh 240, and I haven't used anything smaller than 32 in years.
Grant Petersen has written about this on the Rivendell Web site, and includes a chart to help choose tires. I haven't looked at it in awhile, but as I recall, he doesn't recommend 23s or 25s for anyone over about 150 lbs. www.rivbike.com

Manufacturing defect, return for a new one....

No, bad luck. Time for a new tire. The cord was damaged by riding over debris, which usually happens at the point furthest from home with no cell phone signal.