Defective Tires

Tire failures often happen at high speeds, when crashes can be more severe. A blowout or tread separation can cause a driver to lose control, roll over, drift into other lanes, or leave the road. These failures put drivers, passengers, and pedestrians in serious danger. Many defective tires fail without warning, even when they look normal on the outside.

• Tire Blowouts – A tire blowout is a sudden loss of air pressure. Blowouts can be caused by design defects, manufacturing mistakes, or weak parts inside the tire. When a blowout happens at highway speeds, drivers may lose control in seconds, leading to serious accidents.
• Tread Separation – Tread separation happens when the tire’s outer tread pulls away from the steel belts inside. This problem has been linked to defects in steelbelted radial tires and poor manufacturing. Some drivers may feel shaking, vibration, or a wobble before failure, but many tires fail with no warning at all.

NHTSA reports that nearly 1 in 10 vehicles on the road has at least one tire in unsafe condition, including worn or bald tires. Simple steps can lower your risk.

• Get Regular Inspections – Do not rely on visual checks alone. Have a tire professional inspect your tires and follow the inflation guidelines listed in your vehicle’s manual or on the door placard.
• Check Tire Age – Tires older than six years can dry out and become more likely to fail—even if the tread looks good. Look for the DOT date code on the sidewall. For example, “0806” means the tire was made in the 8th week of 2006.
• Watch Tread Depth – Replace tires when tread depth reaches 1/16 of an inch or less. Most tires have builtin wear bars that indicate when a tire should be replaced. You can also use a penny test—if you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time for new tires.
• Monitor Tire Pressure – Underinflated tires create extra heat and increase blowout risk. Use a reliable tire gauge, as gas station gauges can be inaccurate. For best results, have a professional check your pressure.