YOKOHAMA TIRES Complaints

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU OF A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH YOKOHAMA GEOLANDAR G91 TIRES. ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2011, I HAD A BLOWOUT IN ONE OF THEIR TIRES LOCATED IN THE RIGHT REAR OF MY SUV. THE TIRES ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT IN A 2009 RAV4, WITH 32,900 MILES, AND ARE INFLATED TO A PRESSURE OF 32.5 PSI. THE TIRE THREAD IS EVENLY WORN TO A DEPTH OF 5/32?, MEASURED VIRTUALLY EVERYWHERE ALONG THE TIRE, INDICATING EVEN WEAR. THE PHOTOGRAPH BELOW SHOWS THE TIRE WALL WITH THE DIMENSIONS, 225/65 R17 101H. THE BLOWOUT OCCURRED AT 4 AM, ON A SMOOTH ROAD (SANIBEL-CAPTIVA ROAD, BETWEEN THE 1 AND 2 MILE MARKERS) WHILE I WAS GOING BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS 82F ACCORDING TO THE CAR THERMOMETER. I DO NOT THINK I HIT ANYTHING, OR THAT THE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED, AS YOU CAN SEE WHEN I FOLD THE PIECE OVER THE SPACE, AS SHOWN IN THE PICTURE BELOW. BECAUSE OF THE SPEED AND ROAD CONDITIONS THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE RIM BENT AND CRACKED. I HAVE FOUR PICTURES AND A DETAILED DESCRIPTION IN MY FILES, AND CAN SHARE IF YOU NEED THEM. I WILL REPLACE THE YOKOHAMA TIRES AS SOON AS A REPLACEMENT WHEEL ARRIVES. *TT

****** PLEASE DO NOT ADD MY INFO. TO ANY SOLICITATION LISTS..****** PURCHASED NEW 2011 MAZDA 2, BLOW OUT OCCURRED WITH 3021 MILES ON VEHICLE/TIRES. 185/55/15 YOKOHAMA TIRES. LOW SPEED BLOW OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. NO WRECK OR INJURY OCCURRED BUT IT SCARED BOTH ME AND MY 85 YEAR OLD FATHER. THE SPACE SAVER SPARE TIRE IS REALLY AN ISSUE AS WELL. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT IS SO NARROW IN COMPARISON TO THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES. EVERY TIME I WAS ON GROOVED PAVEMENT, THE TIRE WOULD PULL ME INTO THE NEXT LANE OF TRAFFIC. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS AS IT HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET THE TIRE REPLACED ON MONDAY THE 25TH OF JULY. NO ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE BY THE DEALER AND I SPOKE WITH THE TIRE MANUFACTURER AND THEY WANT THE TIRE BUT IF I GIVE THEM THE TIRE THERE GOES MY CASE FOR REIMBURSEMENT AND OR CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT, IF ONE IS ALREADY PENDING. I AM AS MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPACE SAVER TIRE AS THE BLOW OUT OF THE NEW TIRE! PLEASE DO NOT ADD ANY OF MY INFO. TO ANY SOLICITATION LISTS OR SPAMMING LISTS. *TR

FRONT TIRES CHIPPING ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. TOLD TO GET THEM ROTATED AND ALIGNMENT. 6 LUG NUTS BROKE OFF DURING THE ROTATION AND THE ALIGNMENT WAS NOT THAT FAR OFF. TOLD THE TIRES WHERE THE WRONG ONES FOR THAT HEAVY OF A VEHICLE. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND HE LAUGHED AT ME AND SAID THEY WOULD LOVE TO CHARGE ME TO REPLACE ALL MY LUG NUTS AND THOSE WHERE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR THE VEHICLE AND HE SAID I WAS LUCKY TO GET 35,000 MILES OUT OF THEM BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE ONLY GOT 25,000 MILES WITH THE TIRES HE THEN TRIED TO SELL ME A NEW SET OF TIRES. FOUR DAYS LATER THE CAR DECIDED TO DRIVE ITSELF INTO A TREE AT 20 MILES AN HOUR. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *KB

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF SIDEWALL WHILE DRIVING. DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOW SPEED AT TIME OF FAILURE. NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF ROAD HAZARD PENETRATION AND/OR CONTACT. PRODUCT IS IDENTIFIED ON SIDEWALL AS YOKOHAMA AWD 833 (DID NOT SEE IN DATABASE). IN ADDITION TO THE DOT#, THERE WAS ANOTHER 'SERIAL #' OR SOMETHING ON THE TIRE - N5P2210. *TR

TIRE PRESSURE AND REGULATING SYSTEMS - I OWN A 2010 MAZDA 3 AUTOMATIC (14,542 MILES) --ALSO PURCHASED JUST OVER A YR AGO. I HAVE NOW HAD "THREE" VALVE STEMS THAT HAVE BROKEN; WITH SLOW LEAKS AND FLAT TIRES. THE LAST ONE LEAVING ME STRANDED FOR 2 HRS UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. THIS ALSO HAPPENED 2 DAYS AFTER I HAD MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE FOR ANOTHER TIRE WITH A "VALVE" STEM REPLACEMENT--COSTING ME $198.00. ALSO TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL AND IT APPEARS MAZDA HAVING PROBLEMS NOW WITH THIS FOR A FEW YEARS. ALSO THOUGHT IT FUNNY THAT WHEN DEALERSHIP COMPLETING MY PAPERS THEY COMMENTED THAT THEY JUST COMPLETED EXACT SAME PAPERS FOR CAR BEFORE MINE !!!! I AM A CAUTIOUS DRIVER AND I KNOW MY WHEEL/TIRES WHERE NOT DAMAGED AND THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE VALVE STEM. I NOW HAVE 3 NEW VALVES STEMS THRU MY COST ---JUST WAITING FOR LAST ONE TO GO AND THEN WILL SEE HOW LONG THE "NEWER" ONES LAST. HAVE A FEELING THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM. AT LEAST DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE ONE TODAY AS A GOOD WILL FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA, MAZDA5 EQUIPPED WITH YOKOHAMA AVID ENVIGOR TIRES, TIRE SIZE P205/50/17. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT ENCOUNTERED A POTHOLE AND HEARD A LOUD BANGING SOUNDED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES EXHIBITED SUBSTANTIAL TREAD SEPARATION AND CAUSED THE TIRES TO COMPLETELY DEFLATE. AS A RESULT, THE FAILURE CAUSED EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO BOTH RIMS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE REAR AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES AND BOTH RIMS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,684. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/20/11*LJ UPDATED 3/13/12 *CN

MAZDA MIATA 2006, YOKOHAMA TIRE ADVANA11A205/50R16, DRIVING ON I-10 ON RAMP ABOUT 45-50MPH, BIG POP AND THUD, PULLED OVER ON SHOULDER, LOOKED AT BACK RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD SPLIT ON INSIDE OF TIRE BETWEEN RIM AND TIRE EDGE ABOUT 10 INCHES LONG. TIRE WAS MAINTAINED WITH CORRECT AIR PRESSURE AND ROTATION BY AUTO DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE MIATA. THE CAR DEALERSHIP HAD A TIRES FOR LIFE PROGRAM ON MY MIATA AND THIS WAS MY SECOND SET AND I HAD APPROX. 45,500 MILES ON THE CAR. I WAS VERY THANKFUL THE TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED ON THE LAST OIL CHANGE/INSPECTION POINT ON MY CARS MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.--OR THAT TIRE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON MY FRONT--PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FLIPPED THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS PARTICULAR TIRE IS DEFECTIVE OR A FLUKE, BECAUSE THIS IS THE KIND OF TIRES THAT MY DEALER WILL PUT ON MY MIATA FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I OWN THIS CAR? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

ON MAY 15, 2011, I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM LAPLUME, PA WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I STARTED HEARING A LOUD NOISE AND RUMBLING, I SLOWED DOWN WITH SOME TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE (LUCKILY I WAS NOT GOING THE SPEED LIMIT BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUOUS RAIN) AND AS I SLOWED DOWN IT GOT LOUDER. I THOUGHT MY ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO DIE. I PUT ON MY DISTRESS SIGNALS, PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (PRETTY CLOSE TO THE FREEWAY), AND MY SISTER GOT OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO CHECK TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS HANGING AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE LOOKED AS IF IT HAD BEEN BLOWN UP. I CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHICH ARRIVED ABOUT AN HOUR LATER TO PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON. WHEN I GOT HOME AND CHECKED THE LAST FOUR NUMBERS ON THE TIRE FOR THE MANUFACTURER DATE AND IT READ--1005. WHICH I WAS INFORMED IT MEANT THE TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED ON THE TENTH WEEK OF 2005. MY VEHICLE IS A 2009 VEHICLE--PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 2009 FROM THE ADVENTURE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IN WILLOUGHBY, OHIO. *TR

YOKOHAMA AVID TRZ S316 31631 TIRES P255/55R-18 97T BSW WITH 13,000 MILES ON 2008 ACURA RDX. TIRES PURCHASED 10-30-2010 ON 4-12-2011, WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 60MPH, EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE ON RIGHT REAR TIRE. PULLED OFF OF FREEWAY AND REMOVED TIRE. COULD NOT FIND ANY CAUSE FOR LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. TOOK WHEEL TO AIR SUPPLY AND RE-PRESSURIZED TIRE TO 35 PSI. MADE CLOSE EXAMINATION TO FIND CAUSE OF PRESSURE LOSS AND DISCOVERED NO PUNCTURE, NO OBJECT IN TIRE, NO LEAKS. A BUBBLE/BLISTER WAS OBSERVED ON INSIDE TIRE NEXT TO RIM . CARRIED FULLY PRESSURIZED TIRE TO DEALER (DISCOUNT TIRE, ARLINGTON, TX) POINTED OUT BLISTER TO TECH, HE BLAMED ROAD HAZARD, SAYS PROBABLY HIT A POTHOLE. WHILE THE TIRE WAS BEING REPLACED, I QUESTIONED THE COUNTERMAN AS TO WHY THE SUDDEN LOSS OF PRESSURE AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE TIRE HAD A LARGE PUNCTURE. I ASKED TO SEE IT AND SURE ENOUGH, A 1/8 TO 1/4 INCH PUNCTURE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE! ANOTHER TECH ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERED THAT HE HAD HEARD AIR HISSING FROM THE TIRE WHEN HE TOOK IT OUT OF MY TRUNK! WHY WOULD A TIRE DEALER DISCOUNT THE INSIDE WALL BLISTER/BUBBLE AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF TIRE FAILURE AND THEN PUNCTURE THE TIRE ON PURPOSE TO CLAIM AS THE CAUSE OF TIRE FAILURE? *TR

I HAD A COMPLETE TIRE BLOWOUT/FAILURE YESTERDAY APRIL 8, 2011. TIRES ARE YOKOHAMA PARADA 225/65R17... DOT# FDF5N4Y4409 TIRE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY 75 JUST NORTH OF TULSA, OK. SIDEWALLS OF TIRE JUST BLEW OUT... COMPLETE SEPARATION. AAA RESPONDER SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT ON A PASSENGER VEHICLE... ONLY ON TRUCK TIRES. HE MENTIONED THAT IT LOOKED SIMILAR TO WHAT HE HAD HEARD OF THE FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURES. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUPPLY A PHOTO.. *TR