Investigation EA06021: Vehicles

Status

CLOSED

Opened

Dec 27, 2006

Closed

Jul 10, 2007

Model years

—

Subject

TIRE FAILURE

Component: Tires › Tread/belt

Summary

On july 2, 2007, cooper tire (cooper) submitted a defect information report to nhtsa concerning belt separation in dominator sport a/t lt265/75r16 load range e tires produced from july 2, 2002 through march 30, 2005 (cooper recall no. 148, nhtsa recall no. 07t-005).cooper produced 91,747 subject tires, which were sold only through discount tire.the subject tires exhibited high adjustment and property damage claim rates due to belt separations, with peak failure rates observed in tires produced during the third quarter of 2002 and the first quarter of 2003.although cooper was unable to identify any design or manufacturing defects in the subject tires, it is recalling the tires based on the field performance data and replacing them with redesigned tires that have nylon overlays in the belt package.this investigation is closed based on cooper's recall.

An NHTSA investigation looks into whether a safety defect exists. Opening one is not a finding. Outcomes can include a recall, closure without action, or further inquiry.