LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION
Tire Aging
Unbeknownst to most people, six years after manufacture, tires are subject to tread separation, which may result in accidents and deaths.
Tire manufacturers have allegedly failed to inform the public that they may be at risk of tire tread separation failure on their older tires.
Tread separation can cause tire blowouts. The tire can loose tire pressure, causing the driver to loose control of the vehicle. Or the tread, detaching from the tire at high speeds, can cause loss of control and result in accidents and rollovers.
The driver may hear a loud thumping noise just before loosing control of the vehicle. Loose tread pieces may hit or catch on the undercarriage of the vehicle. It is virtually impossible to control a vehicle that has experienced a tire tread separation. Even experienced test drivers, who knew the tread was going to separate, could not control their vehicles.
It is recommended that consumers replace tires that are more than 10 years old - including the spare tire. European manufacturers recommend replacing any tire that is more than six years old.
Retailers should not sell tires that have been in storage for more than six years, as tires deteriorate over time - even when they are not being used. This is particularly dangerous as the tires may look like new - but inside the rubber is deteriorating. The problem is worse in areas that experience hot weather.
To check the date of your tires, look for the last group of digits in the DOT manufacturer code on the sidewall of the tire. (This is often stamped in a recessed rectangle.) The last group of digits indicates the date the tire was made.
Published on Apr-16-08
Tire manufacturers have allegedly failed to inform the public that they may be at risk of tire tread separation failure on their older tires.
Tread separation can cause tire blowouts. The tire can loose tire pressure, causing the driver to loose control of the vehicle. Or the tread, detaching from the tire at high speeds, can cause loss of control and result in accidents and rollovers.
The driver may hear a loud thumping noise just before loosing control of the vehicle. Loose tread pieces may hit or catch on the undercarriage of the vehicle. It is virtually impossible to control a vehicle that has experienced a tire tread separation. Even experienced test drivers, who knew the tread was going to separate, could not control their vehicles.
It is recommended that consumers replace tires that are more than 10 years old - including the spare tire. European manufacturers recommend replacing any tire that is more than six years old.
Retailers should not sell tires that have been in storage for more than six years, as tires deteriorate over time - even when they are not being used. This is particularly dangerous as the tires may look like new - but inside the rubber is deteriorating. The problem is worse in areas that experience hot weather.
To check the date of your tires, look for the last group of digits in the DOT manufacturer code on the sidewall of the tire. (This is often stamped in a recessed rectangle.) The last group of digits indicates the date the tire was made.
Tire Aging Legal Help
If you or a loved one has been affected by a tire aging tread separation accident, please click the link below to send your complaint to a lawyer to evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.Published on Apr-16-08