How To Tell if a Tire Failure Was Due to a Defect or Improper Maintenance

There are a lot of factors that can lead to a tire blowout, and not all of them are related to defects. In some situations, a tire failure can occur due to improper maintenance or installation. Understanding the root cause of a failure is important, especially if it leads to a vehicle collision. Thankfully, your attorney can help you get to the bottom of how your accident happened.

Signs of Improper Tire Maintenance

Proper maintenance is important for every part of your vehicle, including your tires. Unfortunately, one mistake by a mechanic during a rotation or installation can lead to devastating consequences. Accidents can also occur when the owner of the vehicle fails to take care of their tires. Some of the signs of a lack of proper maintenance include the following:

• Worn tread: This often signals misalignment, overuse, or under-inflation. If the tread is bald or worn more on one side, it may be a maintenance issue.
• Under- or over-inflation: Tires must be inflated to the manufacturer’s specifications. Incorrect air pressure weakens the tire walls and can cause blowouts.
• Visible cracks: Cuts or punctures are signs of long-term neglect. The same is true of tires that have bulging sidewalls or weather-related cracking.
• Improper repairs: Faulty work by a mechanic can also lead to an accident. This might involve using the wrong plug, or even failing to notice a damaged section of the tire in need of repair.

Indicators of Tire Defects

Some tire failures are not the result of neglect but of flaws in the design or manufacturing process. Red flags that suggest a defective tire include:

• Tread separation: If the tread peels away from the casing with minimal wear, it may be a sign of a factory error.
• Blowouts with no visible warning signs: Sudden bursts without underinflation, punctures, or wear may indicate structural defects in the rubber or steel belts.
• Consistent failures in the same model: If the tire has been subject to recall or has a history of similar incidents, it may reflect a known design flaw.
• Early sidewall failures: Premature bubbling on the sidewall of the tire can result from flawed curing during production.

In these cases, the tire manufacturer could be held legally responsible through a product liability claim.

What to Do After a Tire Failure

If you suspect a defective tire played a role in your accident, preserve the evidence. Do not throw away the tire, even if it’s badly damaged. Photograph the tire, vehicle, and accident scene. Save receipts, maintenance records, and warranty information. If possible, have a professional inspect the tire before it’s moved or altered.

You should also check for tire recalls through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and consult a product liability attorney to evaluate your options. If the failure was due to a defect, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, vehicle damage, and other losses.

Learn How Clark, Fountain, Littky-Rubin, & Whitman Can Help–Speak with a Florida Personal Injury Attorney

If you have been injured in a crash due to a tire failure, you might be entitled to compensation. Determining who was ultimately at fault for your accident can be challenging, but our firm is here to help. Reach out today to discuss your case during a private consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions: Tire Defects

1. What usually causes a tire to fail?

Tires most often fail because of under‑inflation, overloading, impact damage (like hitting a pothole), or long‑term wear and tear. Defects in design or manufacturing can also cause failures such as tread separation or sudden blowouts, even when the tire appears properly maintained.

2. How can I tell if my tire failed from poor maintenance?

Signs pointing to maintenance rather than a defect include very low tread depth, uneven wear across the tire, visible sidewall damage, and running tires past the age or mileage recommended by safety agencies and manufacturers. Chronically low pressure, ignored vibration, or driving on a damaged or improperly repaired tire also lean toward owner or service‑shop neglect.

3. What are common red flags of a defective tire?

Defect indicators include tread separating from the casing, recurring air loss without a puncture, unusual bulges or bubbles that appear early in the tire’s life, and repeated failures involving the same brand and model. If a tire has been recalled or is under federal investigation for safety issues, that is a strong sign of a potential design or manufacturing defect.

4. Can both a defect and poor maintenance contribute to a blowout?

Yes. A tire with a hidden manufacturing defect may be pushed over the edge faster by under‑inflation, overloading, or improper repairs. In product liability cases, experts often analyze whether the failure pattern matches a pure misuse/maintenance issue, a pure defect, or a combination of both.

5. What should I do with the failed tire after a crash?

Do not throw it away; store the failed tire, any loose tread, and the wheel in a safe place where they will not be further damaged. Take clear photos of the tire, vehicle, and scene, and avoid allowing insurers, tow yards, or repair shops to discard or cut up the tire before an attorney or expert inspects it.​

6. How do experts tell if a tire was defective?

Forensic tire engineers inspect the rubber, belts, bead, and tread under magnification and often perform lab testing to see if the separation pattern or fracture lines are consistent with a manufacturing or design flaw. They also review maintenance records, mileage, impact history, and recall data to rule out under‑inflation, overloading, or road hazards as the primary cause.

7. Who can be held liable for a tire‑related crash?

Depending on what caused the failure, liability can fall on the tire manufacturer, a distributor or retailer who sold an unsafe or recalled tire, the vehicle manufacturer (in some mismatch scenarios), or a mechanic who installed, repaired, or rotated the tire negligently. In some cases, multiple parties share responsibility if both a defective product and improper service contributed to the accident.

8. How do I check whether my tires have been recalled?

You can enter your tire’s DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN) into recall lookup tools maintained by federal safety authorities and tire industry organizations to see if there is an active recall. Your attorney can also help document any recall, link it to your crash, and determine whether it supports a product liability claim.

9. What compensation might be available in a tire defect case?

If a defective tire caused or worsened your crash, you may be able to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and, in severe cases, wrongful death damages for surviving family members. Time limits apply, and preserving the tire evidence is critical to proving that a defect—not just poor maintenance—was the root cause.

10. When should I talk to a lawyer about a tire failure?

You should contact a product liability or auto‑defect attorney as soon as possible after a blowout, tread separation, or unexplained tire failure, especially if anyone was injured. Early involvement allows your legal team to secure the tire, investigate maintenance and recall history, hire the right tire experts, and protect your right to seek compensation under Florida law.