The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating reports that some Michelin truck tyres can fail and cause crashes.
NHTSA has six complaints and a police report about crashes involving 2014 Michelin XZA 295/60/R22.5 tyres. According to NHTSA documents, “the tyre may fail catastrophically when used on the steer axle.”
“Michelin is aware of a preliminary evaluation by NHTSA regarding several complaints about a tyre identified as a 2014 Michelin XZA 295/60/R22.5 tyre used on auto-haulers. Michelin is cooperating fully with the agency,” a spokesperson for Michelin North America told Tire Review.
Five of the six complaints came from a single fleet. All seven of the incidents involve truck/tractor and trailers configured as auto haulers, NHTSA documents note.
The Office of Defects Investigation will research the alleged safety defect and its scope.