The Importance of Tire Safety: Analyzing Tire Recall Data and Recommendations for Improvement

There have been many recalls in the tire industry, and it has affected various tire brands. NeoTires studied tire recall data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and found some interesting facts about the tire recall landscape. This article presents an objective view to highlight both the challenges and improvements within the tire industry. 

According to NeoTires analysis, several major tire brands have experienced a high number of recalls over the past decades (1966-2024). More tire production leads to more tire recalls. The five tire brands below have higher tire production, so the number of recalls is also higher.  

Which tire brands have the greatest number of recalls? 

The tire brands mentioned in the graph have higher production, so the opportunity of errors also increases. Hence, they have a high recall rate.  

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.: 

• Recalls: 145 

• Common Issues: Accelerated belt degradation, air loss, belt separation, cracks in the shoulder base, tread chunking. 

• Improvements: Cooper Tire should be appreciated as they have managed a completion rate of 258.13%. It shows their commitment to addressing these issues in the tires. 

Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Co.: 

• Recalls: 81 

• Common Issues: Tread separation, sidewall separation, air loss. 

• Improvements: Uniroyal Goodrich is working towards better transparency in their recall processes. 

Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.: 

• Recalls: 60 

• Common Issues: Tread separation, belt separation, sidewall separation. 

• Improvements: Firestone has strict quality control measures to prevent future recalls. 

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company: 

• Recalls: 51 

• Common Issues: Incorrect tire identification numbers, tread separation, sidewall punctures. 

• Improvements: Goodyear is enhancing their recall tracking and reporting mechanisms. 

General Tire & Rubber Co.: 

• Recalls: 40 

• Common Issues: Belt separation, sidewall separation, tread chunking. 

• Improvements: General Tire is implementing regular audits and compliance checks to improve their recall management. 

What are the most common reasons for a tire recall? 

There are 4 main reasons for a tire recall, these are 

● Tread Separation: During tread separation, tread separates from the underlying layers of the tire structure. 

● Belt Separation: This is an issue where steel or fabric belts separate from the surrounding rubber layers.  

● Sidewall Separation: In this issue, part of the tire that bridges between the tread and the bead detaches from the rest of the tire structure. It is one of the reasons for tire blowouts.  

● Air Loss: It refers to the reduction of air pressure within the tire over time. 

Recommendations to decrease the recall rate 

Below are the 2 recommendations to decrease the tire recall rate: 

• Enhanced Quality Control: Investing in advanced quality control technologies can help detect issues early. 

• Regular Audits: Ensuring regular audits and compliance checks can prevent widespread recalls. 

Conclusion 

This data analysis done by NeoTires provides a detailed overview of tire recalls. Experts at NeoTires suggest always checking the reviews of tires to make the right buying choice.  

References: 

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/recalls-data