Falken is the Japanese tire brand of Sumitomo Rubber Industries. Falken is well-known in the tire industry for building high-end tires, but its history of tire defects is less commonly known among consumers. Consumers should know about Falken’s history of blowouts, defects and recalls before purchasing any of its products for their vehicles. Falken tires have been implicated in problems like casing failure, sidewall separation and other serious issues that can lead to blowouts and crashes. Consumers should know that Falken’s excellent reputation conceals a history of manufacturing defective tires.

About Falken

Initially launched in 1983 by the Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Falken Tire Corporation is based in Rancho Cucamonga, California, with distribution centers in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey and Texas. The company began exporting tires from its North American manufacturing plants in 1985. Although the company targets the North American market most heavily, Falken tires can be found on high-performance vehicles all over the world. The company specializes in ultra-high performance tires, and its products have made appearances on Formula 1 and Le Mans racetracks. Although Falken enjoys an excellent reputation, the company’s rapid rise to prominence in the tire industry conceals a disturbing history of tire defects and other major safety issues. Falken tires have been implicated in serious manufacturing flaws and have led to blowouts, crashes and, in some cases, deaths.

Brief History of Falken

Since its founding in 1983, Falken Tire Corporation has made a name for itself in the highly competitive world of competitive motorsports. In 1999, Falken debuted at the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany. The company’s flagship high-performance tire, the FK451, impressed European audiences and garnered a following across the continent. Falken’s line of Formula Drift tires won the 2011 Formula 1 championship in 2011, and its American Le Mans product line won two championships at the world-famous Le Mans racetracks in France. The Falken Tire Corporation sponsors many motorsports teams and events as part of its campaign to build a reputation for high and ultra-high performance tires. Falken’s history of creating tires for ultra-high performance vehicles is unmatched in the tire industry, but consumers may not have heard about its history of manufacturing defects and catastrophic tire failures.

History of Falken Tire Defects

Falken’s P23575R15, in particular, have suffered blow outs with almost no warning. Falken’s high-performance tires operate near the upper limits of speed and handling, but sometimes performance comes at the price of safety. Heat buildup can cause tread separation, leading to blowouts and crashes. Falken issued a recall notice for the P23575R15 in 1995, but the tire continues to be sold in North American and European markets for a wide variety of high-performance applications. In 2001, Falken issued a recall notice for its LT23585R16 product line because of issues with casing failure. Specifically, the tire ran the risk of suffering catastrophic casing failure if the tire was loaded to the max. In addition, the tire failed the “plunger test,” which tests tread and sidewall strength. Although the tire was marketed to consumers wanting high-performance, speed and handling, it was not strong enough to pass one of the benchmark tire safety tests. Consumers may have overlooked Falken tire failures based on the company’s reputation for high-performance and its prominent position in the world of professional motorsports, but they should be aware of the company’s checkered safety record.

Legal Assistance for Falken Tire Injuries and Accidents

The board-certified, Martindale-Hubble-recognized Willis Law Firm earned the Steven J. Sharp Award in 2001 thanks to its leadership in recalling millions of faulty Firestone and Ford Explorer tires. With over 30 years of experience, we have the skills and resources needed to help you with every component of your defective tire personal injury case. To schedule a consultation with us, call us toll-free at 1-800-883-9858 or fill out our form.