PEARSON & PEARSON, L.L.P.

In 2008 the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company recalled 48,037 tires that failed to comply with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. The tires may bulge in the lower sidewall on the white sidewall side. This indicates a separation between two lower sidewall components that could lead to serious car accidents.

The Cooper tires were produced between December 2, 2007, and February 9, 2008, at Cooper’s plant in Albany, Georgia. Affected models include:

1.      Cooper Discoverer ATR,

2.      Stampede Radial AT/S, and

3.      Approximately 20 other brands.

Cooper is attempting to notify all purchasers and owners and replacing the tires free of charge. 

The 2008 recall is not the only recall Cooper Tire has issued. Cooper also recalled tires manufactured between

1.      January 28 and February 3, 2001 and between April 4, and

2.      May 15, 2004. In July 2007.

Cooper Tire recalled more than 91,500 16-inch Dominator Sport A/T light-truck radial tires sold through Discount Tire Co., Inc. In 2006, Cooper recalled almost 300,000 tires. 

The previously recalled tires lack adequate rubber coverage of the belt edge or belt overlap, which can lead to tire tread separation. 

The NHTSA has previously investigated reports of tire tread defects in Dominator Sport A/T, a line of tires produced by the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company.  This investigation involved over 100,000 tires manufactured between 2003 and 2005 and is based upon failure rates supplied by the tire manufacturer.

Other Cooper Tire lines, such as Futura, Trendsetter, and Discoverer have also been the subject of investigations and/or complaints.

Chinese Tire Defects

Several brand of tires made by Chinese tire manufacturer Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. are believed to be defective. These defects can cause accidents arising out of tire blow outs and tread separation.

In June 2007, Foreign Tire Sales, Inc., an importer of Chinese tires, estimated that almost 450,000 steel-belted radial tires were defective because they lacked a key safety feature, known as a "gum strip," which gives the tires added durability.

The Chinese tires were sold in America as replacement tires for SUVs, pickups and vans under the brand names:

1.       Westlake,

2.      Telluride,

3.      Compass, and

4.       YKS.

Steeltex Tire Failure and Bridgestone Tire Tread Separation

In 2006 the NHTSA began an investigation of Steeltex tires manufactured by the Bridgestone/Firestone Corporation. The agency said the review was prompted by claims that 57 deaths and 161 injuries were caused by tire-tread separations.  The tires subject to this review included tires produced from 1999 to 2005 under the following models/numbers:

1.      R4S,

2.      R4SII, and

3.      A/T Steeltex.

Steeltex tires have been included as standard equipment on Ford's Explorer SUV and E-Series and F-Series trucks and on General Motors Corp. trucks such as the Chevy Suburban and Silverado. 

Uniroyal Goodrich & Michelin Tire Recall

BFGoodrich Tires recalled 46,000 passenger and light truck tires in 2004. The recall began after it’s the company itself discovered a condition in some of its tires which could result in sudden tread and steel belt separation. 

This recall included certain aftermarket Michelin BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Liberator, Medalist, Phantom and Prospector brand tires manufactured between April 11 and April 24, 2004. 

Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company and Michelin tires that may be included in this recall: 

A.    109S MEDALIST TRAIL A/P ORWL  P255/70R16

B.     MEDALIST SPORT KING A/T  Steel Radial P255/70R16

C.     109S PHANTOM AP  P255/70R16

D.    112S UNIROYAL LAREDO A/S  P265/75R15SL 

E.     114S UNIROYAL LAREDO AWP  P265/75R16, P245/75R16, P255/70R16 

F.      AMERICAN PROSPECTOR AP  P255/70R16 

G.    BF GOODRICH

H.    MICHELIN  PHANTOM A/P 

Dunlop Tire Recall

The NHTSA launched an investigation into Dunlop Corporation in 2004 following allegations of tread separations on tires manufactured between 1995 and 1999 under the name of Grandtrek. These tires were installed as original equipment on most Nissan Pathfinders built between 1996 and 1999.