The National Law Journal, "Tire-tread separations at center of lawsuits"

Auto accidents allegedly caused by tire-tread separations are sparking lawsuits across the country, with plaintiffs charging that tire manufacturers are selling tires without warning consumers of the potential risk when the tires get older. A handful of cases have settled, and about 25 lawsuits are currently pending in several states, including California, Florida, North Carolina and Texas, according to attorneys involved in tire litigation. The lawsuits allege that tires older than six years -- even if never used -- could cause fatal accidents due to the degradation of the chemical adhesive that bonds tire treads to tires. Attorneys for the tire industry counter that many factors could cause tires to deteriorate, and that tire-aging claims are merely a creative way for plaintiffs to present products liability cases. And not all tire-aging cases are plaintiffs' victories or settlements.

In a recent petition to the federal government, Safety Research Strategies, a private Massachusetts-based research and consulting firm specializing in motor vehicle safety, urged the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue consumer advisories warning the public of dangers involving old tires. In the petition, Sean Kane, president of Safety Research, asserted that "tires with acceptable tread and no significant visible signs of defect or degradation are likely to find their way into service or continue to remain in service regardless of their age." In a separate interview, Kane asserted that "[t]here's no doubt there are more incidents that are not accounted for."