BFG All Terrain T/A Failure
Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 at 00:55
ThreadID:
78980
Views:
5851
Replies:
5
FollowUps:
11
This Thread has been Archived
RonD1972
I have seen the historical threads on this website about BFG tyre failures. Such a failure occurred to my left rear tyre while travelling on a clear bituman road in the
Pilbara at 110km/hr speed limit - the result was just under $10K damage. Note that the tyre clearly delaminated - the offending tyre was still inflated after I changed it. Interesting to note is that only the day before, all my tyres (all BFG AT T/A) were inspected and cleared at a RACWA service centre as having the right pressure (38psi) and all 4 tyres had over 65%+ tread remaining.
I do want any salesman spruiking about the pros of these or other tyres. What irks me is that only after chasing up Michelin (and submitting my tyre for analysis) for close on three months do I finally get a response from the manufacturer. I am not satisfied with the initial response and offer without admitting to any liability noting that I almost lost my life. I swerved into the wrong lane a few times trying to maintain the car from rolling over and I ended up on the road shoulder facing oncoming traffic. I was lucky in that in my two
young kids and heavily pregnant wife were not in the car with me.
Michelin confirmed that the tyre was within the 6 year warranty period. The offending tyre had been kept as a spare.
I have done a scan on the internet and it would seem that there have been a few incidents in Australia where BFG tyres have had similar delaminating issues (inc bulging side walls leading to replacement which other pictures taken of the offending tyre show) and yet there doesn't seem to be any adequate explanation or acknowledgement that maybe, just maybe, there could be something more than isolated incidents? I have been told by Michelin that my tyre DOT code indicates that it was manufactured in the US in the second week of 2005. This is less than a year after BFG recalled tyres made between Feb and Apr at one of their US plants.
I was wondering whether anyone could point me in the right direction if they know of:
1. Any trend analysis (for particular tyre makes) done by any group into such incidents (doubtful)?
2. Any people that have had this happen to them before and what DOT code was applicable?
The actual costs associated with this incident, while not light, is not my primary concern ... the fact that there may be tyres out there that could result in the injury, or worse death, to people is a concern. I am relatively confident that BFG tyres are good - everyone seems to agree and I have not had any other issues with my other BFG AT T/As in my relatively short 6 months of owning my Prado.
The fact that there does not seem to be any forthcoming assurance from Michelin that there has been no trend or an acknowledgement that my incident is just a freak accident, is a worry. Any advice out there?