The Worst Tire Made In History

In a Jan. 8 court filing, David Kurtz, an attorney who’s embroiled in an ongoing legal battle with Goodyear over the tire, estimated its reported rate “means that 1 out of 10 motorhomes using the G159 experienced a failure resulting in a claim for property damage, injury or death.”

“You cannot debate the defective nature of the G159,” Kurtz told Jalopnik. “There’s nothing to discuss.” His opinion’s clear: “I believe it to be the worst tire made in history.”

Via Jalopnik.

Goodyear allegedly kept tire problems secret by settling cases and getting judges to seal records. The Center for Auto Safety and Public Justice petitioned the courts to have the records released to the public. Goodyear opposed. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Hannah ruled in favour and most of the information was unsealed.

He wrote the following in his ruling:

That information — primarily concerning the tire’s design, its testing, the decision to market it for use on motor homes, and the adjustment data generated by consumer experience with it — should be made public because it relates to and reveals a substantial potential risk to public health or safety.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated a probe after the release of the data.

This article by Ryan Felton describes in detail how Goodyear sold the G159 tire to RV manufacturers that, based on Goodyear’s own internal research, wasn’t suitable for motorcoaches. Compelling reading and the article certainly made me think twice about what tires I run on my motorcoach.