A damaged or defective used tire places you, your loved ones, pedestrians and fellow drivers at risk of a serious accident resulting in injury or death. Some of the most common incidents that may result include:
- Rollovers
- Roof crushes
- Blowouts
- Tread separations
- Belt separations
- Tire bead explosions
Some, but not all, of the reasons why a tire may be damaged or defective to the point it causes an accident include the following:
- Aged tires sold as new
- Negligent auto repair shops
- Manufacturer error
- Poor storage conditions
- Over-patching holes
- Shallow treads
- Improperly sized tires
- Tire placement
- Tears and cracks
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) runs the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), and noted that many un-recalled Firestone tires suffer from the exact same afflictions as those that make it to the recall phase – though the company isn’t the only one with such issues. It’s entirely possible you may be driving on a tire so dangerous it deserves to be sent back to the manufacturer. You can learn more about the research as well as some serious accidents involving Firestone tires.
Tire Tread Separations
A tire tread separation is one of the most dangerous accidents you can experience on the road, causing thousands of deaths and serious injuries annually.
Spotting a possible tire tread separation is the first line of defense against an incident. You need to thoroughly and regularly inspect your tires for the following signs that will indicate that something is wrong:
- Tread detached from top breaker (or breakers depending on the size)
- Tread looks to be detaching as one continuous strip
- Broken or fraying cords
- Rubber marks on the wheel arches
- Tide marks
- Loosening of breaker edges
- Rusted breaker cords
- Rubber separation
- Tearing
- Signs of overloading
Consumers should also regularly conduct the penny test to better assess the risk of a tread separation. This is one of the simplest ways to prevent an injurious or fatal accident.
Understand the signs of bad tires and learn more about tire tread separation.
Tire Markings
Tire inspectors, at the manufacturer, the auto repair shop and the ODI, have set standards to analyze a tire’s “road-worthiness” and potential for tread separation and other dangerous problems. Consumers should also be aware of these tests in order to reduce their chances of an accident. Certain makes, models, and configurations are more susceptible to tread separations than others, so you’ll need to pay close attention to the markings inside your tires to determine whether or not the warnings you see on the news or elsewhere apply to you.
All of the following qualities can have an effect on a tire’s chances of a tread separation, so it’s a good idea to know what they are:
- Size: Diameter and width of both the tire and the wheel
- Height: Distance between bead and tread
- Type: Either tubed or tubeless
- Construction: Radial or belted bias, and also includes material and ply information
- Speed, Load, Temperature, Wear and Grip: What this particular tire can handle for each given stimulus
- Origin: What country it was manufactured in
- DOT code: Assigned by the Department of Transportation
- Load and speed codes: Maximum speed and load that the tire can handle
- Pressures and loads: Warnings of what the tire is unable to handle
Tire Failure Lawyer
The Willis Law Firm stands ready to assist you and your family into investigating a tire failure injury or accident caused by defective used tires. For over 30 years, David P. Willis has been helping victims of serious accidents and rollovers involving defective tires and vehicles. In fact, Willis was awarded the prestigious Steven J. Sharp Public Service Award for his work in uncovering the Firestone tire defect leading to the recall of millions of tires. One phone call is all that is needed for the Willis Law Firm to begin investigating a new tire failure case. Upon acceptance, we’ll begin preserving the evidence, gathering additional facts and building your case. To schedule a free no cost consultation, fill out our online tire failure lawsuit form or call us at 1-800-883-9858.