Scared to drive my car anymore...
Not true! Mine has come on sitting in my garage.
This is a classic sign of under inflation. Have your TPM system checked when you get new tires.
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Joined: Mar 2008
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Not true.. The owner's manual says the TPMS may not operate properly if the car is driven at speeds less than 16 mph, not 50 mph.
sorry
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my TPMS came on as i started the car when my pressure was low
glad you are alright. Thats crazy, I agree that it most likely was a defective tire. Hope Infiniti takes good care of the situation. Make sure they fully inspect the rim or replace it for any damage. Good luck with everything.
Bad tire. Sorry it was scary for you, but don't let it get to you - I'm now running Goodyear F1 Asymmetrics on mine, and haven't had a problem (other than wear...) even at some fairly high speeds.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Annapolis, MD
Under inflation can cause this. Remember those SUVs and Firestone tires? I believe the research came back and found the tires just fine at rated pressure but the sidewalls broke down when under inflated. Of course, on the SUV that could cause the vehicle to roll over.
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Clearly that was a pretty catastrophic failure. My driver-side rear tire went out pretty similarly, though the outer part did not totally separate...just one sidewall came apart (and that was at 20k, and there was very little tread remaining on those tires). I found upon further investigation that I had run over something that made a small hole in my tire. It quickly deflated (TPMS sensor came on) and then broke apart shortly after. I didn't think it was especially abnormal after I saw how little tread was remaining, but at 8k miles, that sounds strange. Glad to hear you made it out ok!
check the blown tire's DOT (serial number). Ensure it is not older than 6years as it shouldn't have been sold on the car.
From a website on how to read the number:
From a website on how to read the number:
DOT Number
DOT NumberAll tires sold in Canada must have the "DOT" ((Department of Transportation), or tire identification number, moulded into the sidewall. Our tire has a DOT number of GHYT 4501. The first two characters after DOT indicate the manufacturer; the second two characters indicate the plant where the tire was manufactured.
Next you may see an optional string of three to four characters. Our example does not include this code. Most manufacturers use these to record company specific information about the tire, and, if necessary, use them as a guide when issuing product recalls. Because they are company specific, these codes are not standardized and are meaningful only to the manufacturer.
The last three or four digits give the date the tire was made. For all tires built after 1999, this will be a four-digit number with the first two digits giving the week number, and the last two giving the year. For many tires built previous to 2000, the date indicator will consist of three digits, the first two giving the week number and the last giving the last digit of the year. In our example tire, the last four digits of the DOT code are 4501, so our tire was made during the 45th week of 2001.
DOT NumberAll tires sold in Canada must have the "DOT" ((Department of Transportation), or tire identification number, moulded into the sidewall. Our tire has a DOT number of GHYT 4501. The first two characters after DOT indicate the manufacturer; the second two characters indicate the plant where the tire was manufactured.
Next you may see an optional string of three to four characters. Our example does not include this code. Most manufacturers use these to record company specific information about the tire, and, if necessary, use them as a guide when issuing product recalls. Because they are company specific, these codes are not standardized and are meaningful only to the manufacturer.
The last three or four digits give the date the tire was made. For all tires built after 1999, this will be a four-digit number with the first two digits giving the week number, and the last two giving the year. For many tires built previous to 2000, the date indicator will consist of three digits, the first two giving the week number and the last giving the last digit of the year. In our example tire, the last four digits of the DOT code are 4501, so our tire was made during the 45th week of 2001.
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From: Westchester Co, NY
Glad your safe too. You had the smarts to pull over when you smelt the rubber burning. Same thing happened to a Michelin tire on my 2001 Pathfinder. My 20 year son was driving in July at 56-70 mph on an interstate. His buddy thought the rear passenger tire looked a little low when they left UMASS- Amherst. About 15 miles from home, the "blowout" occurs in a PATHFINDER.....We thank God many times - our son could have flipped over all over the intterstate. He had the ability to get over to the shoulder. The AAA tow truck that arrived said that He never saw anything like that in 25 years. The tire was purchased at COSTCO as apart of a set of 4 - new Michelin LTX - M&S. Sent the tire to Michelin - who responded that this was a result of driver error- I had quit a battle with them going up the line to senior management. They wouldn't budge - they wouldn't even offer a new tire and of course, they pay for the damages to the SUV: muffler, tailpipe, and mudflap [$750]. The entire tread ripped from the sidewall just like this case. Only the tread wrapped itself around the tailpipie and rear mudflap!! COSTCO was very good and replaced the tire immediately, but would not take responsibility for the other damages. As pisses as I was over this: I still thank God for the safety of my son. I would also offer: The Pathfinder handled very well - not like an Explorer. As add'l aside: I reported this to NHTSA. They never repsonded either. Oh Yeah: Those tires were supposedly manufactured - you guessed it: CHINA
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Canada
^^^Never ever give it to the manufacturer right away.Just call them with your concern. Make sure you find a 3rd party to analize it first and give it to the manufacturer after third party is done with it. Tell your manufacturer you gave it to a 3rd party (don't tell name). Then just tell them they will get it after that. It would change the whole story. Keep all the bills and at the end just give it too the manufacturers. Their insurance would pay.
I went thru this. Not with tires totally different field but same idea no matter what. They pay no question about it. They even paid me my day off.
tg
I went thru this. Not with tires totally different field but same idea no matter what. They pay no question about it. They even paid me my day off.
tg
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From: Westchester Co, NY
This case for me is over. it went to the top of regional Michelin ranks. What 3rd party analysis did you use?
Michelin wouldn't offer a new TIRE!!! never mind the payment for the damages. At least COSTCO delivered and that was done WITHOUT question. Excellent service.
Michelin wouldn't offer a new TIRE!!! never mind the payment for the damages. At least COSTCO delivered and that was done WITHOUT question. Excellent service.