2011 Honda Accord Tires Problems

The contact owns a 2011 Honda Accord equipped with Bridgestone Tires, Tire Line: Ecopia EP422 Plus, Tire Size: 235/45/R18, DOT Number: BANOO3767. The contact stated that the tire dealer had previously replaced the driver's and passenger's side front tires due to bubbles along the sidewall. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle drove over a manhole cover, causing the passenger's side front rim to cut the tire and cause a blowout. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the passenger's side front tire was not replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

ON 11/25/15, I PURCHASED TWO GOODYEAR 225/50R17, 94V SL ASSUR COMTFD TOURING TIRES (M740KH1R1815). THE TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON A 2011 HONDA ACCORD WITH 54556 MILES. ON 8/9/17 BOTH TIRES WERE REPLACED AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE BECAUSE OF DEFECTS. MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS NOW 78445. SIGNIFICANT CRACKS HAD DEVELOPED IN THE SIDE WALL OF ONE OF THE TIRES AND MINOR CRACKS WERE SHOWING ON THE OTHER SUGGESTIVE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THE WORST CRACKS WERE 4 TO 5 INCHES IN LENGTH AND POSED A DANGER OF SUDDEN HIGHWAY FAILURE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN SUCH DEFECTS IN TIRES IN 50 PLUS YEARS OF DRIVING. THE FACT BOTH TIRES SHOWED SIMILAR DEFECTS RAISES QUESTIONS AS TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT MAY INVOLVE AN ENTIRE PRODUCTION BATCH OR SOMETHING LARGER. WHILE OUR DETECTION AND CORRECTION OF THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE PREVENTED A LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE FOR OUR FAMILY, OTHER FAMILIES MAY BE RIDING ON DEFECTIVE TIRES OF THIS TYPE AND NOT BE AWARE OF IT.

DEFECT IN DUNLOP SPORT 7000 A/S TIRE: TIRE SIDEWALL BULGED OUT FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. SIZE OF BULGE IS APPROX 1.5 IN X 2.0 IN. RUBBER EXTERIOR WALL OF TIRE APPEARS AS FRAYED. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR OTHER KNOWN CAUSES OF THE BULGE OR FRAYING. TIRE WAS 6 MONTHS OLD AND HAD 8600 MILES, MOSTLY SUBURBAN DRIVING (SOME HIGHWAY/INTERSTATE), DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE CAR'S SENSOR SHOWING TIRE AIR PRESSURE INDICATED LOW PRESSURE IN AT LEAST ONE TIRE; VISUAL INSPECTION IMMEDIATELY REVEALED THE DEFECT; TIRE PRESSURE HAD DROPPED TO 22 PSI, PROBABLY OVER A PERIOD OF 2-3 DAYS. NO INJURIES, ACCIDENTS OR OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE CAUSED BY DEFECT DUE TO ALERT PROVIDED BY TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR. DUNLOP OFFERED TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TIRE UNDER WARRANTY; OFFER DECLINED, AND OWNER REPLACED ALL FOUR (RELATIVELY NEW) DUNLOP TIRES WITH OTHER BRAND TIRES. ALL FOUR ORIGINAL TIRES HAVE BEEN DISCARDED, BUT PHOTOS OF THE DEFECTIVE TIRE ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. OWNER TELEPHONED DUNLOP TO NOTIFY MANUFACTURER OF THE DEFECT SEPT 20, 2011 11:40 A.M. EDT. *TR