2002 Chevrolet Malibu Tires Problems

I PURCHASED 4 NEW 70,000 MILE GENERAL ALTIMAX RT TIRES IN FEBRUARY 2013 FROM WALMART #3581. THE TIRES NOW HAVE EXACTLY 10,774 MILES ON THEM. THEY ARE MAKING LOUD THUMPING NOISES THAT I DESCRIBE AS A HELICOPTER SOUND. THE SOUND VARIES DEPENDING ON VEHICLE SPEED, BUT IT SEEMS MOST NOTICEABLE AROUND 35-50 MILES PER HOUR. STEERING IS DIFFICULT, AND THE CAR FEELS UNSTABLE. 70K TIRES SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 10,774 MILES ON PASSENGER CAR. THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU EQUIPPED WITH UNIROYAL TIGERPAW TIRES, SIZE 215/60/15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE TIRE HAD A KNOT ON THE TREAD BELT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FOUR OTHER OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

ON 3/21/15, WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH, MY RIGHT REAR TIRE SHREDDED COMPLETELY CAUSING ME TO SWERVE OFF OF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE TIRE IS A REMINGTON EMERALD LX 215 / 60 R15, DOT PJMW 6PKR (GSWR30895). *TR

IN 2006 I PURCHASED 4 NEW COOPER LIFELINER TOURING SLE TIRES FROM A LOCAL DEALER FOR A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. TIRES WERE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND TOUTED AS BEING TOP OF THE LINE. JUST AFTER A FEW YEARS OF SERVICE, I HAD TO FREQUENTLY ADD AIR TO THE TIRES. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY WORSE UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE FRONT AXLE. INSTEAD OF CHECKING AIR PRESSURE ONCE A MONTH, I HAD TO CHECK ABOUT EVERY 2 WEEKS. CAUSES THE CAR TO HANDLE POORLY ON THE ROAD, STEER HARDER, AND FUEL EFFICIENCY GOES DOWN. RETURNED TO PLACE OF PURCHASE, AND TIRES WERE REMOVED AND REINSTALLED TO RESEAL. TIRES WERE ALWAYS WELL MAINTAINED, ROTATED, CLEANED, GARAGED, AND PROPERLY AIRED TO THE SPECS OF THE VEHICLE. I EVEN AVOID POT HOLES. SHOP OWNER COMMENTED HOW NICE THEY WERE WEARING. AFTER ONLY ABOUT 35K MILES OF SERVICE AND 5/32 TREAD REMAINING I RETURNED TO THE SHOP FOR 2ND OR 3RD TIME AGAIN WITH SAME COMPLAINT OF HAVING TO ADD AIR TOO FREQUENTLY. TIRES WERE AGAIN REMOVED AND SHOP OWNER STATED THE TIRE NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO A SPLIT ON THE INSIDE AND POTENTIAL FOR COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE. SHOP OWNER STATED THAT THE TIRES ARE NOT WARRANTED DUE TO AGE. TIRES GAVE NO INDICATION OF IMMINENT FAILURE. TIRES ARE NOT DRY ROTTED, NO NOISE, NO REPAIRS, NO VIBRATION AND PLENTY OF TREAD DEPTH WITH AT LEAST 5/32 REMAINING. TIRES CONVENIENTLY JUST MADE IT PAST THE WARRANTY. THE SHOP HAD TO INSTALL MY TEMPORARY SPARE SO I COULD GET HOME. I FOUND IT A BIT UNUSUAL THAT THE SHOP OWNER WANTED TO KEEP THE BAD TIRE WITHOUT CHARGING ME DISPOSAL FEE. I STILL HAVE THE TIRES, AND CURIOUSLY ALL 4 HAVE HAIR LINE SPLITS ON THE INSIDES. YOU CAN'T SEE ANY INDICATION ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. IT HAS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE RIM TO SEE THE PROBLEM AREAS. NOT INCLUDING MY EXPERIENCES, I KNOW OF AT LEAST 3 OTHER INSTANCES OF COOPER LIFELINER TOURING TIRES HAVING AIR PRESSURE ISSUES. I CONSIDER THIS PREMATURE FAILURE AND POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS. *TR

CHEVROLET MALIBU 2002, TIRES WORN AT 9,000 MILES. *BF THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED. AT 29000 MILE THE TIRES WERE BADLY WORN AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRES INDICATING THAT THE WEAR WAS THE CONSUMER'S FAULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TIRES WERE IMPERFECT. *NM

PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU 07-04-03 WITH 4500 MILES. NOTICED THE TIRES HAD CRACKS BETWEEN THE TREAD AND SIDEWALLS. DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE TIRES. FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT TIRE AT NO CHARGE, STATED IT LOOKED LIKE PREMATURE DRY ROT. FIRESTONE AFFINITY, DOT 8XMWAAA4501, P215/60R15. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SWERVE OFF THE RAOD AND STRIKING A MEDIAN WALL, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. NO OTHER TIRE INFO GIVEN. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-90-494)*JB

TIRES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES IN FRONT HAD DEVELOPED WEAR OUT IN MIDDLE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT STATE WHAT HAD CAUSED WEAR JUST ON FRONT. FIRESTONE, P-215/60R15. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK