#1. Goodyear’s G159 

If you’re buying a used RV, it may come standard with Goodyear’s G159. The tire was allegedly developed for urban delivery vehicles like mail or UPS trucks. However, it was marketed for RVs. Urban delivery vehicles don’t generally spend hours on the highway. However, RVs do and this specific tire is believed to have blown out on numerous occasions killing drivers, passengers, and even other commuters on the road. The problem? The tire became too hot over sustained periods of driving resulting in tread separation. So if your new used RV comes with G159s, you’ll want to replace those ASAP.

While the G159 is less dangerous for those who do not drive over great distances on the highway, G159s are not suited for RVs. The G159 has never been recalled and although Goodyear has settled multiple lawsuits related to wrongful death, they have never admitted that the tire is faulty for RVs. In other words, there are a lot of RVs that still have them.

#2. They might be really old 

Unless you’re a travelin’ man, you probably don’t use your RV as your main source of transportation. Your RV sits in your garage most months of the year and then you break it out when it’s camping time. Folks do the same thing with their sports cars and motorcycles. But neither of those have curb weights of greater than 6300 pounds.

The problem is that tires age, just like people, even if they’re not in use. While tire companies will guarantee their tires up to a certain tread depth, the rubber of the tire hardens as the years pass, and the more years that pass, the harder the tire becomes. Hard tires are not good tires. The rubber should be slightly pliant and supple for traction. Older tires have a propensity to blow out on potholes or sometimes, for no apparent reason at all.

So if you’re going to buy a used RV, then your first order of business should be to replace the tires before you take it on the highway, even if the tread depth is an acceptable range.

Talk to a Florida Defective Tire Attorney Today 

If a tire blowout accident results in injury, the fault may not be the driver’s. If that’s the case, the Coral Gables tire defect attorneys at Halpern, Santos & Pinkert can help you sue negligent parties and recover damages related to your injuries. Call today to learn more.

Resource:

consumerreports.org/product-safety/goodyear-rv-tire-linked-to-multiple-deaths-is-still-on-motorhomes/

The greatest number of vehicles that have been recalled address the braking systems of the 2015-2018 Ford Edge and the 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX. Some of these vehicles can have defective brake jounce hoses that can lead to a loss of braking power. The hoses run from the chassis to the front brake calipers. Defective hoses might rupture, causing brake fluid to leak and resulting in the loss of brake function. Ford has agreed to replace the components.

Other Recalled Vehicles

The next-largest recall addresses the 2020 Lincoln Corsair model. About 3000 Lincoln Corsairs were assembled improperly without the proper clearance between the rear suspension springs and the toe link brackets. The components could grind together wearing down the protective coating on the rear coil springs allowing the part to corrode prematurely.

In addition to the two models mentioned above, a handful of Ford F150s was assembled with an incorrect retention nut on the hot lead to the starter motor. This could lead to increased heat in the circuit, which could cause a fire.

Ford is offering to correct and repair any of the aforementioned problems free of charge. F150 owners can bring their vehicles down to the dealership, where a mechanic will ensure that the truck has the proper retention nut.

Understanding Recalls 

There are essentially two types of recalls. Those are voluntary and involuntary. If the U.S. government via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opens an investigation and determines that a vehicle has a defective part, they can force a company to issue a recall. This typically happens only after several owners have complained about the issue and filed a class-action lawsuit for breach of warranty and other issues.

Voluntary recalls are initiated by the auto manufacturer itself. This usually happens when several customers have filed complaints, or there is a paper trail of acknowledgment concerning the defect. In some cases, the company will refuse to admit that the problem exists or attempt to lay the blame with the owner of the vehicle. However, once enough complaints pile up, the company is generally forced to either voluntarily recall their vehicles or the government steps in and forces them to issue the recall.

Recalls and Personal Injury Lawsuits

Class-action lawsuits that result in recalls are not the same as class-action injury lawsuits. In some cases, the manufacturer fails to issue a recall, and several people are injured or killed by the part that malfunctioned. They too can create a class of injured parties to file a collective lawsuit against the automaker or file an individual lawsuit against the automaker.

Talk to a Florida Defective Auto Part Attorney 

Halpern, Santos & Pinkert handles cases involving defective auto parts that result in serious injury to our clients. If a defective auto part contributes to your accident, call our Coral Gables tire defect attorneys today to schedule a free consultation.

Resource:

yahoo.com/news/ford-recalls-more-550-000-133400684.html

https://www.tiredefectattorney.com/class-action-accuses-audi-of-dangerous-start-stop-system-defect/

The Debate on EVs and Tire Wear

While Nokia insists that EVs have no impact on tires and may reduce tire wear, nearly everyone else is claiming the opposite. In fact, Pirelli recently announced a new performance tire designed specifically for electric vehicles. While these tires aren’t available on the market yet, they very well could be in the not-so-distant future.

Nonetheless, consumers must be aware that EVs will eat through tires faster than internal combustion engines and this is directly related to the vehicle’s powertrain. Not only are EVs heavier than ICEs, they also create near-instant torque. Some Tesla drivers report having to replace tires after as few as 10,000 miles.

What Does This Mean for EV Drivers? 

Those who drive electric vehicles will need to maintain vigilant care of their tires and ensure that they are checking on them more frequently than they’ve likely had to in the past. Since EVs will wear down the treads faster than their ICE counterparts, the chances that the tires will go bald or otherwise become dangerous to the drivers is a major consideration.

In terms of liability, EV drivers who do not maintain a fresh set of tires on their vehicle and experience a tire blowout may be liable if the tire blowout results in an injury to other drivers on the road. It is always the responsibility of the driver to maintain their vehicle in roadworthy condition and when they fail to do so, they are liable for the damages.

Otherwise, electric vehicles are must cheaper to maintain than their ICE counterparts. But those who drive electric vehicles are enthusiastic about how fast the start from a dead stop. Those who are a little more gentle with their accelerators may be able to get a few thousand more miles out of their tires. But fast acceleration isn’t the only issue.

From just about any other vantage, the situation has not changed significantly for those who now prefer EVs to ICE vehicles. Drivers will need to check for tread wear and ensure that the tread wear indicators aren’t indicating that the vehicle is ready for a new set of tires. But knowing that EVs eat through tires more frequently should help alert drivers to premature balding.

Talk to a Florida Defective Tire Attorney

If you’ve suffered a tire blowout and this directly led to serious injury, you are entitled to recover compensation related to medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced quality of life. Call the Coral Gables tire defect attorneys at Halpern, Santos & Pinkert today to schedule a free consultation.

Resource:

solarchargeddriving.com/2018/08/26/premature-tire-wear-appears-to-be-biggest-maintenance-issue-for-electric-cars/

nokiantyres.com/company/news-article/there-is-a-common-misconception-related-to-electric-cars-in-reality-tires-will-last-for-a-long-time/

https://www.tiredefectattorney.com/new-jersey-man-killed-after-tire-blowout-accident/

Heat and Your Tire Pressure

The hotter it gets outside, the more your tire will inflate. This is no secret to anyone who took a high school chemistry class. Heat and pressure are both kinetic energy. Heat causes molecules to move faster which increases pressure within a closed system. The hotter it is, the more pressure there is within your tire.

In fact, for every 10 degrees of Fahrenheit, an extra pound of PSI is added to the tire. This makes tires that are overinflated into tires that are dangerously overinflated.

Overinflated tires are significantly weaker than those that are properly inflated. The added pressure inside weakens the tire casing. It can also cause the tread to separate from the casing. It is important to check your tire pressure regularly to ensure that an extra-hot day isn’t putting you in danger.

Heat and Tire Rubber

There is a great deal of debate over how long tires last. The tire companies say that they can last for a long time so long as the treads haven’t worn down. However, some consumer groups believe that tires have a shelf life regardless of the conditions of the treads. The main culprit? Heat.

Over a long enough time period, heat will cause the tire’s rubber to harden resulting in a less pliant tire. This can make your tire susceptible to blowouts caused by road debris, potholes, or direct trauma. Small micro-tears will form in the fibers and, over time, this will considerably weaken the tire.

Driving on old tires is not recommended. Older tires often experience issues with both the sidewalls and the treads. This is of particular importance for those living north of us. These folks tend not to take out their motorcycles and sports cars in the winter months. This leaves their tires with a solid amount of treading, but the rubber itself can be dangerous to drive on. Those driving sports cars and motorcycles during the summer months are advised to replace their tires, regardless of the condition of the treads, once every six years. But since many believe that the tire is still good because the tread is still under warranty, some find themselves in major tire blowout accidents.

Talk to a Defective Tire Attorney in Florida

While tire maintenance is every driver’s responsibility, a small fraction of tire blowouts are caused by manufacturing defects or a design failure. In that case, it’s the tire company that is responsible for the accident and they should pay for your medical expenses and lost wages. Call the Coral Gables tire defect attorneys at Halpern, Santos & Pinkert today to schedule a free consultation.

https://www.tiredefectattorney.com/tire-blowout-season-is-here/

Florida Tread Depth Regulations

Florida has a minimum tread depth requirement that is enforceable by law. The reason should be obvious. Your safety and the safety of other drivers on the road depends on it. Vehicles are expected to be easily controlled at highway speeds. A well maintained tire reduces the risk of hydroplaning and catastrophic tire failure. Drivers should frequently look for wear and tear on their treads, look for bulging treads, and sidewall cracking on a regular basis.

Florida law requires all tires to have a minimum tread depth of 1/16th of an inch. However, you can use a penny to check your tread depth as well. If you stick your penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head facing into the tread and you can see the top of Honest Abe’s hairdo, your tires need to be replaced.

However, the “official” method of checking tire tread depth is to use a tread depth tire gauge which renders results in 32’s of an inch. If your tread is 2/32nds of an inch or less, it’s time to get them replaced.

Tires with lower tread depths are more susceptible to hydroplaning on slick roads. The driver has far less control over the car, and there is even the chance that tires tread could become separated causing a major tire blowout.

Wear Bars

In addition to using pennies or specialized tools, all tires sold and manufactured in North America are required to have tread depth indicators called wear bars. They run underneath the rubber and rear their ugly head when your tires have worn down to the legal limit. This makes it much easier for folks to know when their tires have worn out. If you see the wear bar, it’s time for a new set of tires.

In some cases, drivers may notice that their tread wear is uneven. In other words, the wear bars are visible in some places but not in others. If this is the case, the tires must be replaced immediately. They are no longer safe to drive on. You should also tell your mechanic about the uneven wear. It could be a problem with your alignment or camber. Additionally, it may be that your tires are over or underinflated.

Talk to a Defective Tire Lawyer Today 

If you believe that a defective tire caused your accident, the Coral Gables tire defect attorneys at Halpern, Santos & Pinkert can help you sue the manufacturer and recover damages. We have settled or won verdicts in tire liability claims before and can help you win your case. Call us today for a free consultation.

https://www.tiredefectattorney.com/tire-failure-by-the-numbers/

Will Anyone Be Sued? 

In a case like this, the first thing that you would wonder about is whether or not the driver, Mariah Moore, had a newer car that would indicate her tire pressure was rapidly dropping on one tire. In the event that she did have such a car and neglected to do anything about it, she would be responsible for the accident. If a driver notices that one of their tires is rapidly losing pressure, they should pull over to examine the problem and call a tow truck if they have to. Driving on a tire that is rapidly losing pressure is a recipe for a serious accident and the tire company would not be responsible for it.

Modern tires are quite durable when it comes to withstanding road hazards. In this case, the nail was stuck in the tire for an extended period of time before a blowout occurred. Had anyone noticed the nail was there, it probably could have been safely removed from the treads and, not only would this accident have never occurred, but the tire would have been salvageable as well.

It’s hard to imagine anyone driving on a tire in which there was a nail stuck for an extended period of time as the nail dug its way deeper and deeper into the tire. Nonetheless, that is exactly what the police believe happened in this case. It’s hard to imagine not being able to feel the friction such a nail would cause when driving, particularly at higher speeds.

If, as we suspect, the police officers are correct in their investigation of the accident, then Mariah Moore could be held posthumously liable for the accident. As difficult as it is to blame someone whose mistake resulted in such a tragedy, there are other people that were injured in the accident and they could have potentially died.

Talk to a Tire Safety Tips Lawyer 

The Florida tire safety tips attorneys at Halpern Santos & Pinkert have successfully litigated tire liability claims against major manufacturers and negligent drivers recovering millions for our clients. Give us a call or talk to us online to set up a free consultation today.

Resource:

witn.com/content/news/Woman-killed-after-blown-tire-causes-head-on-crash-502478881.html