Since 1966 when the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act was passed, more than 24 million tires have been recalled because of safety defects. Further, it is estimated that defective tires are responsible for nearly 8,000 motor vehicle accidents every year. Tires, like many products, are imprinted with alpha-numeric codes that detail a wealth of information. All tires sold in the U.S. are required to display a code that starts with DOT and is then followed by 10 to 12 characters that can be used to identify the manufacturing location, tire size, manufacturer’s specifications, week of manufacture and year of manufacture. Deciphering this code can prove vital to your safety, particularly because tires that appear to be made by one company may only be imported or distributed by that company and in fact may be the product of another company that is facing investigation.
In March, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began an equipment query into certain Hercules branded tires. Marketed as Hercules Tire & Rubber Company All Trac A/T tires, they carry the DOT letters “JE,” indicating that they were actually manufactured by the Shandong Yongsheng Rubber Company Limited in China. The NHTSA was alerted that these tires were substantially similar in design, construction and performance to 95,000 tires also made by Shandong Yongsheng that had been marketed as Capitol Precision Trac II tires and recalled in October 2014.

The Capitol Precision recall was based on complaints of tread separation while the tires were in use, causing a loss of air and increasing the risk of a crash. In fact, these tires allegedly led to a 2013 accident that caused a woman to lose her arm.

The NHTSA determined that the Capitol Precision tires shared a “common green tire designation” (which means they are basically the same) with the Hercules All Trac. Hercules recalled about 90,000 15- and 16-inch All Trac tires made from June of 2008 to May of 2010. Hercules says that dealers will replace these partial nylon cap tires with a newer version that has a full nylon cap to prevent tread separation. Despite the Hercules recall, plenty of the defective tires are still on the road because consumers only receive recall notices for tires they’ve bought if they fill out a registration form at the time of purchase.
At the Mann Law Firm, we have successfully represented victims throughout Georgia who have been seriously hurt by defective products. We have also assisted families who have lost loved ones to defective cars and trucks. For over 50 years, we have been helping injured consumers put their lives back on track, and our experienced truck accident lawyers are ready to help you. For advice on how to proceed next or if you have any questions about this topic, call 478-742-3381 or submit our online form.

Attorney David Mann

Attorney David MannBefore leading his own firm, Mann served for several years as in-house defense counsel for a large insurance company, which gives him unique insight into how insurance companies work. He uses this critical knowledge as an advantage for his clients. He is a tough negotiator and litigator, and he is exceptionally strategic in building cases on behalf of personal injury victims.[ Attorney Bio ]

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