Our Houston tread separation lawyers have been discussing the mostly hidden problem of tire aging and the dangers it poses to the consumer. Ford Motor Company sponsored some of the most public, most comprehensive research on tire aging to date. To be fair, it wasn’t a gratuitous move. Ford was probably trying to do damage control after the series of highly publicized Ford Explorer/Bridgestone tire tread separation rollover-related deaths more than a decade ago. Ford may have been trying to lay the basis for shifting the blame to the other company’s tires rather than to the Ford vehicles.
Significantly, Safety Research & Strategies reports that Ford has not issued service information, technical service bulletins, or tire aging warning information in its technical school courses, training materials, or communications with dealership service writers.
Car dealers have taken the step of advising that all tires should be removed after 10 years and that tires should receive inspection each year after reaching the age of 5. Vehicle manufacturer recommendations make tire replacement every 6 years the prevailing standard. Nonetheless, the Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (RMA) continues to insist that a tire’s age is irrelevant. And many determinations of tire condition still rely on the misleading indicator of a tread depth test.
The NHTSA was required by the TREAD (Transportation Recall Enhancement Accountability and Documentation) Act of 2000 to improve its labeling so that tire owners could better determine whether their tires were subject to recall. So the NHTSA in 2004 adopted a final rule regarding tire-labeling requirements. But that rule did not change the obscure tire date coding to make it more recognizable to the average consumer.
The NHTSA’s tire aging testing proposal of 2003 met with staunch resistance from the tire industry. And so even today, tires are not tested for heat oxidation and tire aging effects. Tread separations from tire aging and oxidation continue to occur at an alarming rate. Recent state efforts in Maryland and California to move forward on accountability for tire aging and its effects have met with equally staunch resistance.
If you’re reading this article, this may be one of the very few places you’ve ever seen a mention of tire aging and heat oxidation effects at all. Just be aware that tires do age, and that much of that aging and its effects occur on the inside of the tire at the connections between the tire’s layers where you cannot see them. You might not know that your tire is worn until it suffers a catastrophic blowout while you’re on the highway in Houston or elsewhere.
Tires age faster in warmer climates due to thermo oxidation effects. If you live and drive in Miami, Houston, or Phoenix, your tires may experience tire failure significantly sooner than if you live in Buffalo, NY or Minneapolis-St.-Paul. Over- and under-inflation add to the stress on a tire and further accelerate the effects of aging. Apparent tread depth is not a reliable indicator of a tire’s age and doesn’t warn you of impending tread separation either.
Tire failure from hidden defects like thermo-oxidation aging can cause you to lose control of your vehicle and suffer a deadly accident. After a serious accident from tire failure, you may be struggling with unimagined losses and expenses. But proving your claim against a tire manufacturer or dealer is no easy matter. You’ll face adamant resistance and well-funded, aggressive defense teams.
Contact our Houston tread separation lawyers when you need help. We’re available for a free initial consultation to answer your questions and provide the information that could help you make informed decisions about how to handle your claim. Call us toll free at 877-307-9500 or use our online contact form to reach us. We’re here to help.