Defective Tires, Negligent Injury and Wrongful Death

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Many tires sold in the U.S. look normal but may have defects or manufacturing short-cuts that lead to fatal car accidents.

Although it comes as a shock to most consumers, many tire-manufacturing companies employ short-cuts to reduce the cost of products and labor in the tire manufacturing process. The bottom-line profit drives many tire manufacturers to produce large quantities of tires with low overhead.

As an example, tire-manufacturing workers are paid on a commission or pay plus bonus basis, which creates a powerful incentive for factory workers to complete as many tires as possible on each shift in order to maximize their personal income. As a result, quality control in tire manufacturing can be minimal and possibly superficial which leads to the subsequent distribution of millions of substandard or defective tires.

Another way tire manufacturers try to save money is by reducing the strength and durability of a tire - thereby shortening the integral lifespan of the rubber and thread, forcing the consumer to replace the tires more frequently.

In the tire manufacturing process, the interliner is the tire's foundational structure. No tire should be manufactured and sold unless the critical interliner is wrapped with a sufficient overlap at the splice to assure full and complete interliner continuity. If a tire has a defective interliner, this weak point can cause a separation of the tread from the belts and, ultimately a destructive failure of the tire. Such failures often result in loss of control and subsequent injuries to the driver, passengers, and other property or pedestrians.

Another important factor in manufacturing tire rubber is the use of anti-oxidant and anti-ozone components. These components actually control and limit the aging of the tire. The lack of these components may cause the rubber to deteriorate in strength while the depth of the rubber seems unaffected.

Allegations indicate that some tire companies may knowingly remove anti-oxidant and anti-ozone components [known as the AO package] from the base rubber stock used in the manufacturing of the tire as a cost control measure; to make more money.

A law firm is investigating the manufacturing process of car tires due to several allegations of poorly made tires that increase the risk of delamination (separation of the outer layer of the tire from the body of the tire) and other forms of catastrophic tire failure.

Don't be Fooled by Tread Wear or the Lack of It

Even with good tread depth, according to some experts, a poorly manufactured or formulated tire will weaken and deteriorate because of the absence of key anti-oxidants. Some experts also note that all tires should be replaced every three years no matter how good they look.

Problems Even Worse in the Southern States

Many experts have stated that car tires in the warm, temperate regions of the Southern United States, such as California, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona are more susceptible to premature aging. This increased wear and tear is a result of greater heat exposure and well as the absence of anti-oxidants.

Europe Demands Far More Control and Safeguards

Ironically, tires manufactured for sale in Europe are required to contain anti-oxidant and anti-ozone components which ensure their strength and safety. It is clear that the European safety enforcement agencies exceed that provided by the U. S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Defective Tire Accidents in the News

MAR-22-07: Lawsuit accuses Continental Tire North America Inc. of wrongful death, negligence, product liability and breach of implied warranty when defective tire allegedly caused pickup truck crash that killed five. [OC REGISTER: DEFECTIVE TIRE FATALITY]

Defective Tire Legal Help

If you experienced a tire failure after normal use and minimum recommended maintenance, you may have a basis for a lawsuit and potential compensation.

If an injury or death occurred, the potential can be quite substantial if the statute of limitations has not passed. Note: If you had an accident with injuries where you suspect tire failure was a factor, even if you were not told this by accident investigators, recoverable evidence or witness testimony could indicate a tire blowout.

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