Tire Failure Recall and Tread Separation Defects

Over the last several years, there have been several large-scale tire recalls due to defects, including the Bridgstone/Firestone tire recall , Cooper tire recall, Goodyear tire recall, Uniroyal tire recall and Dunlop tire recall. These recalls have been issued to replace specific models of tires with a tendency to crack and split, causing separation of the tire belts from the casing. Many new tires are frequently being added to the list of those recalled.

In June 2007, Foreign Tire Sales, Inc., an importer of Chinese tires, estimated that almost 450,000 steel-belted radial tires were defective because they lacked a key safety feature, known as a "gum strip," which gives the tires added durability. The Chinese tires were sold in America as replacement tires for SUVs, pickups and vans under the brand names Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS.

How Tire Failure and Tread Separation Can Cause Deadly Accidents

Ordinarily, the length of time it takes to wear down tire treads should be less, by a substantial margin, than the useful life of the tire itself. However, when tire failures occur, they began as small cracks on the side of a tire and frequently because of design and manufacturing defects.

For example, with Firestone's Wilderness AT tire, the tire lacked proper adhesion between the steel belts and the surrounding rubber. Firestone neglected to utilize gum edge strips, nylon overlays or caps, or other safeguards to reduce the hazard of tread belt separation.

The small cracks, which are virtually invisible to the naked eye, give way to larger cracks that develop between the belts, causing premature tire fatigue and tread failure - long before a tire's tread is worn out. Tire tread separation is particularly dangerous with vans and SUVs, which have a high center of gravity and more prone to tip over than passenger cars, leading to deadly rollover accidents. Learn also about the danger aging tires pose.

Why Manufacturers Are Legally Responsible For Tire Failure and Tire Tread Separation

Tire tread separations are often the result of design and manufacturing defects for which manufacturers are liable under the law.

Moreover, all product manufacturers have the legal responsibility to notify consumers of dangerous defects with their products and undertake recalls. In certain cases, tire manufacturers failed to initiate a recall until after lawsuits were filed by injured drivers and passengers.

Auto manufacturers may also be liable since, in many instances, the defective tires came as standard equipment with new vehicles.

National Tire Recall and Tire Failure Attorney | Lawyer: Free Lawsuit Evaluation

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car, truck, or SUV accident caused by tire failure or tread separation and would like to learn more about your legal rights, click here to contact a tire accident injury attorney at Lieff Cabraser. We represent families nationwide injured in auto accidents.

There is no charge or obligation for our review of your case. Alternatively, you may call Lieff Cabraser toll-free at 1-800-541-7358 and ask to speak to partner Fabrice Vincent.

List of Tire Failure | Tire Defect Cases and Investigations

Bridgestone/Firestone Tires
Cooper Tires
Dunlop Tires
Firestone Steeltex Tires
Goodyear Tires
Goodyear RV Tires
General Tires