Michelin North America seems to have discovered a dangerous tread separation trend and is recalling 1.2 million tires in the United States. According to information found on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, many of these recalled tires include some tires used as original equipment on full-size Ford vans, and the investigation has revealed the tread may be coming apart.
In the recall, Michelin has identified the LTX M/S tires in the 225/75/16 size, which were designed for “commercial light trucks, full-sized heavy duty vans, small recreational vehicles and some large pickup trucks.” In particular, Ford Motors used the tires as original equipment on the 2010 – 2013 models of its E-Series vans.
Tread separation is dangerous because it can lead to rapid air loss, which could result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the likelihood of a crash. In addition, it can cause the driver to slam on the brakes and steer off the road while traveling at a high speed. Turning at a high speed instead of driving in a straight line can also cause the car to swerve uncontrollably or roll over.
Michelin will send out notices about the recall at the beginning of 2014 and will replace tires free of charge. If a consumer has a question about the product, a review of the information can be found on the NHTSA website.
If you or someone you know have been injured in an accident due to a tire defect, contact the attorneys at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211.