MICHELIN UNKNOWN TIRES Complaints

A MICHELIN DESTINY 195/60/15 TIRE WITH DOT # HONDA-F5AX-5005 FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING ON CA-94E IN SAN DIEGO AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE STEEL BELTS SEPARATED FROM THE CAP PILES IN THE LEFT REAR TIRE ON MY 1991 HONDA ACCORD EX COUPE CAUSING THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE TO RUPTURE AND THE TIRE TO SUBSEQUENTLY DISINTEGRATE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD SAFELY AND DISCOVERED THAT THE OUTER SIDE WALL ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. NO OBSTRUCTION IN THE ROAD WAS OBSERVED PRIOR TO THE TIRE FAILING AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED BY THE TIRE FAILURE. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE PURCHASED NEW ON 07/31/2006 FROM DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY. MILEAGE ON THE TIRES AT TIME OF FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000. REMAINING TREAD WAS MEASURED AT 1/8". THE TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED EVERY 5000 MILES AND AIR PRESSURE WAS LAST CHECKED SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO TIRE FAILURE. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE REMAINING THREE TIRES IN DAYLIGHT REVEALED SLIGHT CRACKING IN THE SIDE WALLS OF EACH. DISCOUNT TIRE REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH MICHELIN HYDROEDGE TIRES UNDER THE 80,000 MILE PRORATED WARRANTY FROM MICHELIN, HOWEVER, I WAS STUCK FOOTING 3/4 THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENTS. THE DEFECTIVE TIRES HAVE BEEN SENT TO MICHELIN FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. *TR

I PURCHASED A SET OF FOUR TIRES FROM COSTCO.COM IN FEBRUARY OF 2006[1]. THEY WERE DELIVERED TO AND INSTALLED AT MY LOCAL COSTCO TIRE CENTER. ON 28 AUG 2009, I EXPERIENCED A TIRE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THAT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE RESULT OF ITS VALVE STEM SEPARATING AT THE BASE AND LEADING TO RAPID DEFLATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS WAS A NOVEL FAILURE MODE TO ME, BUT I INITIALLY CHALKED IT UP TO BAD LUCK AND HAD THE TIRE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT COSTCO. EXACTLY ONE WEEK LATER, I SUFFERED YET ANOTHER TIRE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED FOR A DIFFERENT TIRE. THE CAUSE, AS WITH THE FIRST FAILURE, WAS AGAIN THAT THE VALVE STEM HAD SEPARATED AT THE BASE. SUSPICIOUS OF THE COINCIDENCE, A SEARCH OF THE NHTSA/DOT DATABASES REVEALED THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED IN MAY OF 2008 FOR THE MODEL OF VALVE STEM INSTALLED IN THE TIRES THAT HAD FAILED[2]. THE COSTCO TIRE CENTER MANAGER I SPOKE WITH CONFIRMED THAT THE RECALLED VALVE STEMS WERE THE SAME MODELS USED BY THEIR TIRE CENTER. BECAUSE OF THE DATE OF PURCHASE/INSTALLATION OF MY TIRES, THE VALVE STEMS THAT WERE INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE PRECEDES AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL HOWEVER. NOTES: [1] MICHELIN HYDROEDGE P185/70R14 87T [2] HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/RECALLS/RESULTS.CFM?RCL_ID=08T018&SEARCHTYPE=QUICKSEARCH&SUMMARY=TRUE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND ON I-84 IN DANBURY CT, IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. IT FELT AS IF I HAD HIT SOMETHING. THE CAR VEERED INTO THE GUARDRAIL, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS RIPPED OFF THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY - BREAK DOWN LANE. I FELT HEAT UNDER MY SEAT, I IMMEDIATELY GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WITH IN 3 - 5 MINUTES THE CAR WAS FULL ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR

WHILE CLEANING TRUCK, I NOTICED HUNDREDS OF SMALL CRACKS IN THE TIRE SIDEWALL AREA ON ALL FOUR TIRES. ALL SMALL CRACKS WERE ON THE SIDEWALL THAT WAS EXPOSED. NO CRACKS WERE OBSERVED ON THE INNER SIDEWALL AREA. NO FAILURE NOTED AS OF NOW BUT I'M LEARY ABOUT KEEPING THESE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE TIRES ARE MICHELIN XCX/APT TRUCK/SUV TIRES THAT WERE INSTALLED ON 10/2004 AND THEY HAVE ONLY 33,268 MILES ON THEM SO FAR (60K MILE WARRANTY). THE VEHICLE IS A 2000 NISSAN FRONTIER XE, V6, 2WD. THE TIRE SIZE IS P235/75R15. *TR

07 FORD FUSION REQUIRED TWO LEAKING STEMS TO BE REPLACED SINCE JAN 09. 4/6/09 TRAVELING ON I-4 OUTSIDE OF TAMPA AT 70 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT, NO POP OR ANYTHING, JUST NOTICED A CHANGE IN THE ROAD NOISE SO I TOUCHED THE BREAK AND IT GOT LOUDER. I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND GOT SAFELY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WHEN THE TREAD PART OF WHEEL CONTINUED TO ROLL/BOUNCE DOWN THE BREAKDOWN LANE. A ROAD RANGER STOPPED AND CHANGED MY TIRE FOR ME, ASKED WHERE I WAS GOING AND TOLD ME TO BUY A NEW TIRE. PURCHASED NEW TIRE FOR $278 FROM A FORD DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO CONTACT TIRE MANUFACTURER FOR WARRANTY. THERE ARE NO OBVIOUS PUNCTURES IN THE TREAD, IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL IF ANY DAMAGE TO THE SIDEWALL AS THERE WASN'T MUCH LEFT ON THE RIM AND COULDN'T TELL ON THE TREAD PART. I HAVE THE PIECES IN MY POSSESSION. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT AFTER 2 TIRES GOING FLAT AND STEMS HAVING TO BE REPLACED THE STEM (WHICH HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED) FAILED AND CAUSED THE FLAT TIRE. ON 4/10/09 DROVE TO WORK, CAME OUT FOR LUNCH LEFT REAR WAS FLAT AND ANOTHER STEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. I'M NOT SURE IF WHEN I PURCHASED THE NEW TIRE, THEY PUT ON A NEW STEM BUT ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER THEY ALL LOOK OK AS OF TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD STEMS. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2006 HONDA ODYSSEY BACK IN NOV, 2006. WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR A VAN I ASKED THE SALES PERSON IN ROCK HONDA IN FONTANA, CA THAT I NEEDED A GOOD CAR BECAUSE I HAD CHILDREN AND I DID NOT WANTED TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS ON THE ROAD AND OF COURSE I'M WAS A WOMAN THAT DIDN'T DO ANY AUTO WORK, SO I NEEDED SOMETHING EASY TO MAINTAIN, WELL TO MY SURPRISE THE TIRES THAT THIS VAN HAS, BUT THAT I WAS NOT TOLD AT THE DEALER THAT THESE TIRES (PAX SYSTEM) WEAR REALLY FAST AND ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND ONLY A HONDA DEALER CAN CHANGE THEM. WHEN I TOOK MY VAN TO HAVE THE TIRES CHANGED, I TOOK IT TO 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS AND TOLD ME THAT ONLY A HONDA DEALER OR A CERTIFIED SHOP COULD DO IT AND THE COST IS $1,500.00 TO CHANGE THEM. I TRIED TO CONTACT THE ROCK HONDA AND THEY ACTUALLY HUNG UP ON ME 3 TIMES, ONE OF THE SALES PERSON TOLD ME THAT TIRES WERE EASY TO CHANGE THAT "HE COULD PURCHASE AND CHANGE TIRES IN HIS OWN GARAGE" THAT THE PEOPLE FROM THE SHOP DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT. WELL I CALLED HONDA MOTOR CO,INC AND MICHELIN AND THE ONLY THING THEY DID WAS APOLOGIZED FOR THE INCONVENIENCE. IF I HAD KNOWN THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE SUCH AN EXPENSIVE MAINTENANCE I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT IT, BUT OH WELL I'M STUCK WITH IT NOW, AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF, THE ROOF IS LEAKING AND THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER LEAKS, AND THE DOOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN IT OPENS AND CLOSES BUT IT'S THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE WARRANTY. *TR

THE MICHELIN PAX TIRE SYSTEM: HONDA USED THIS PAX SYSTEM ON TOURING VERSIONS OF THE ODYSSEY MINI VAN IN 2005 (AND BEYOND BUT MINE IS A 2005). THESE TIRES WEAR EXTREMELY FAST AND UNEVENLY. THEY ARE EITHER AN EXTREMELY POOR DESIGN OR ARE DEFECTIVE. REPLACEMENTS CAN ONLY BE FOUND AT HONDA DEALERS. THIS IS MOSTLY AN ANNOYANCE AND ENDS UP COSTING THE OWNER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, IT MAY LEAD TO SAFETY ISSUES IN THE EVENT THE AVERAGE OWNER DOESN'T THINK TO CHECK THEIR TIRES AS FREQUENTLY AT A RATE THAT WOULD CATCH A PROBLEM. *TR

2007 FORD F150 WAS LEASED FROM ENTERPRISE LEASING ON MARCH 31, 2008 AT GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) SHOWED LOW TIRE PRESSURE AT TIME OF LEASE DELIVERY. AGENT FOR ENTERPRISE HAD TIRES INFLATED AT TIME OF LEASE DELIVERY. WAS INFORMED BY ENTERPRISE THAT TIRES AND AIR PRESSURE WERE FINE. ON APRIL 6, 2008 (6 DAYS LATER), THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED GOING 55 MPH IN 55 MPH ZONE ON STRAIGHT, LEVEL ROADWAY AND CRASHED ALMOST KILLING COMPLAINANT AND WIFE. DISCOVERED UNEVEN TREAD ON TIRES AND DEFECTIVE TIRE VALVE STEM ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. *TR

I PURCHASED NEW TIRES IN JANUARY 2007, THEY HAD APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES ON THEM. THERE HAD NEVER BEEN ANY INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES, OR VALVE STEMS. THEY WERE BALANCED AND ROTATED ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND MAINTAINED AS THEY SHOULD BE. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN AUGUST 2008 WHILE DRIVING HOME. SHORTLY AFTER GETTING ON THE ROAD AND WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, I RECEIVED A FLAT TIRE ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE; THE FLAT TIRE OCCURRED VERY SUDDENLY AND LEFT THE TIRE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. AFTER TAKING THE TIRE TO THE REPAIR SHOP I WAS FORCED TO PURCHASE A NEW REPLACEMENT TIRE. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER, UNDER ALMOST THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY LOST PRESSURE AND WENT FLAT. UPON TAKING IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP, I WAS TOLD I WAS SOLD TIRES WITH FAULTY VALVES STEMS BUT WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF ANY RECALL. I THEN HAD TO PURCHASE A TWO MORE NEW TIRES AS A RESULT OF THEM NOT HAVING THE CORRECT REPLACEMENT IN STOCK, AND HAD THE VALVE STEM REPLACED THE IN THE ONLY ORIGINAL REMAINING TIRE. THE DAMAGED TIRES WERE DISPOSED OF BY NTB, WHERE THEY WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED AND WHERE I BOUGHT NEW REPLACEMENT TIRES. *TR

ON 9/9/08 WE WERE TRAVELING TO THE AIRPORT WHEN OUR TIRE COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED. WE HAD THAT TIRE REPLACED. ON 9/26/08 A SECOND TIRE WAS SEPARATING FROM THE SIDEWALL. IN LESS THAN 25000 MILES ON OUR VEHICLE WE ARE HAVING TO REPLACE A THIRD TIRE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE BECAUSE WE CAUGHT IT IN TIME AND USED WISDOM. ONE TIRE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IT IS AT THE DEALER AT THE MOMENT. THE OTHER TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED AND WAS REPAIRED AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION. THE FIRST TIRE REPLACED WAS FLAT AND LEAKING AT THE SIDEWALL. IT WAS REPLACED SOME TIME AGO. *TR