Cooper Tire And Rubber, Cooper Tire claims that my tire failed due to tire pressure. All my tires have stress cracks on sidewalls. Internet, Ohio
I had a Cooper Tire Discover STT explode while I was traveling on the highway. The day I started my road trip from California to Kansas I stopped at a Discount Tire shop in California and paid to have the tires balanced, rotated, and tire pressure checked. I have the receipts and sent it in with my claim to Cooper Tire. The following day while traveling on the highway my tire exploded without warning while I was towing my trailer at 65 mph. Both sidewalls exploded on the right rear of my truck. I didn't strike anything in the roadway. The tread stayed together as my rim hit the ground and my tire hit the side of my truck causing approximately $1100.00 dollars worth of damage to my truck. I was also left without a rim and tire.
I had to change all four tires on the side of the road and continue with my trip. I examined the other three tires and found that there are cracks at the top of the side walls on all three remaining tires. These cracks are not weather cracks, they appear to be stress cracks. I watched the tire guy check my tire pressure and he confirmed what pressure he was going to install.
The cooper tire claims people told me that the tire exploded due to insufficient tire pressure. I find this to be a cover up for liability reasons. I have photos if anyone is interested in seeing them and I still have the remaining tires. Cooper tire would not send me back my tire and rim after I requested. It was difficult to get Cooper Tire to call me back when I left messages on multiple occasions. I felt like they were laughing at me knowing that there is nothing I can do. I am a soldier in the U.S. Army and I serve proudly. I will be deploying to Iraq in March so I will be able to replace my tires and the damages to my truck after I return. All I can say is that I will not buy Cooper tires again nor will I allow anyone I know to purchase them. I believe you give your business to the corporations that take care of their customers.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Joseph
sanford,Florida,
U.S.A.
Exact same thing happened to me SCAM Cooper tire
#6Consumer Comment
Thu, January 26, 2012
Exact same thing. Had a blow out almost recked caused damage to my Van and destroyed my rim. Went to Pep Boys where I bought the tire and they told me to file a claim with Cooper Tire. They sent the tire directly to Cooper who denied my claim claiming the tire was under inflated. Funny because of the blow out there were about two pieces of the tire left attatched to the rim..Absolutely not possible to determine anything.. I asked them to send the rim back. The refused.. What a scam and dirt bag company..
Mdooo1
Aberdeen,Mississippi,
USA
If all 4 tires show same damage, prob. improper installation.
#6UPDATE Employee
Mon, January 04, 2010
This certainly sounds like a disappointing event, especially considering the process of such a long drive when the incident happened.
I'm curious to know if there has been any thought of fault into this event on the installer of the tires. I can understand that this would be a naturally expected view considering I am employed by Cooper Tire, but I think many people would find it quite difficult to believe that ALL four tires are identically defected. It seems reasonable that one tire out of millions MIGHT have failed to be caught during the inspection process and may be defected, but all of them?
I'm sure there is a considerable amount of justified speculation on the installation of these tires. Merely observing a tire technician installing tires and asking him what tire pressure he is setting them at is not a surety that it is being done right.
One faulty tire out of millions from ANY tire manufacturer I can believe as a consumer, but all four? Sorry, I think the focus needs to be turned elsewhere.
Does anyone else share the same view?
I can't understand why your rim was not returned though. At the very least, I'd make a small claims court case for a refund of the tire, rim and expense of processing the claim if they are not returned. And of course, if the tire WAS faulty, then it's only reasonable to claim vehicular damages as a result.
ralee@telusplanet.net
REd Deer,Alberta,
Canada
SOMETHING MISSING
#6Consumer Comment
Mon, November 30, 2009
As an industry insider I have to deal with this type of warranty claim on a regular basis. Not with Cooper though. Loading of the tire is critical in this examination as over loading will cause the same problem, previous low pressure operation will cause the issue to appear like this. And finally one of the problems with tire warranty is that the counter guy dealing with the customer wont spend the time to explain things as the proccess works its way to a unsatisfactory conclusion. I hope the tire shop or Cooper posts a rebutal.
ralee@telusplanet.net
REd Deer,Alberta,
Canada
SOMETHING MISSING
#6Consumer Comment
Mon, November 30, 2009
As an industry insider I have to deal with this type of warranty claim on a regular basis. Not with Cooper though. Loading of the tire is critical in this examination as over loading will cause the same problem, previous low pressure operation will cause the issue to appear like this. And finally one of the problems with tire warranty is that the counter guy dealing with the customer wont spend the time to explain things as the proccess works its way to a unsatisfactory conclusion. I hope the tire shop or Cooper posts a rebutal.
ralee@telusplanet.net
REd Deer,Alberta,
Canada
SOMETHING MISSING
#6Consumer Comment
Mon, November 30, 2009
As an industry insider I have to deal with this type of warranty claim on a regular basis. Not with Cooper though. Loading of the tire is critical in this examination as over loading will cause the same problem, previous low pressure operation will cause the issue to appear like this. And finally one of the problems with tire warranty is that the counter guy dealing with the customer wont spend the time to explain things as the proccess works its way to a unsatisfactory conclusion. I hope the tire shop or Cooper posts a rebutal.