Defective Tires

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Tread Separations

Tread separations, like the recent Continental tire recall, is a very dangerous defect that results in death, injury, and destruction of property. The announcement on August 19, 2002 from Continental Tire North America that they were issuing a tire recall for more than half a million tires installed on Ford SUVs was the first large tire recall following the Bridgestone/Firestone tire recall that was linked to the deaths of 271 people and thousands of accidents. As a result of the catastrophic events, there had been an increase in awareness of tire recalls and tread separations and the need to be able to better identify problems in a quicker manner.

Tread separations result because of the steel belted radial tire technology. When a tread belt separation occurs it often leads to a tire blowout. Tread separations cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, even when the tire does not lose pressure. The Continental tire recall is investigating the Ford Expedition rollover that resulted in the death of six people after the car had a tread separation on one of the recalled tires. Continental has not yet determined if this particular accident was the direct result of a recalled tire. Tread separations have been found to be especially dangerous when occurring on an SUV because of the high center of gravity that lead to SUV rollovers, causing serious injuries and deaths.

Tread separations can occur due to the manufacturing process, including:

Improper repairs
Using over aged dry stock
Missing signs during final inspections
Using petroleum solvent before vulcanization
Curing moisture into the tire

A report that was released in October 2001 from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration said that the tread separations studied in the Bridgestone/Firestone accidents reduced the ability of a driver to control the vehicle, especially when the tire failure occurred on a rear tire and at high speeds. There was a much greater likelihood for death, injury, and crashes resulting when the tread separation occurred on an SUV rather than a pickup truck.

Product Liability Breaking News

"Border Patrol Agent Wrongful Death"

Continental Tire North America Inc. is one of several defendants in a lawsuit filed recently over the death of an Arizona Border Patrol agent in November 2006.

David Webb died of head injuries sustained in a single vehicle acc...

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"Imported Tires To Be Recalled"

About 450,000 tires made in China for light pickup trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are the subject of a request for a recall by their U.S. distributor. The tires have an insufficient or entirely missing gum strip, which is a required sa...

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