A tire failure at highway speed is not a minor accident. It is a sudden, violent loss of control that can send a vehicle into a rollover, a median barrier, or oncoming traffic in seconds. When that failure traces back to a defect in design or manufacturing, the injured driver is not at fault. The tire company is, and those companies have legal teams ready to argue otherwise.
Gallagher & Kennedy has represented clients in defective tire cases throughout Arizona for decades. Our tire defect attorneys take on manufacturers and their insurers directly, using engineering experts, crash reconstruction specialists, and product liability law to hold them accountable. Request a free case evaluation to find out whether a tire defect caused your crash.
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Phoenix Defective Tire guide
How Tire Defects Cause Accidents in Phoenix
Tires are among the most safety-critical components on any vehicle. They are the only contact point between a multi-thousand-pound vehicle and the road. When a tire fails, the driver loses the ability to steer, brake, or maintain lane position. In high-speed driving conditions common on Phoenix freeways like I-10, Loop 101, and US-60, that loss of control is often catastrophic.
Arizona's heat compounds the risk. Sustained high temperatures accelerate the degradation of rubber compounds and adhesive bonds inside a tire. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study found that heat is a primary contributing factor in tread separation failures, and Phoenix regularly records pavement temperatures well above 150°F in summer months. Tires that might perform adequately in cooler climates can fail in Arizona conditions, a fact that tire manufacturers are required to account for in their design and testing standards.
Most Common Types of Tire Defects
| Defect Type | What Happens | Common Cause |
| Tread separation | The outer tread layer peels away from the steel belts beneath, often at speed | Defective bonding agent, improper curing, or design failure in the belt package |
| Belt separation | Steel belts inside the tire delaminate from each other, causing sudden blowout | Manufacturing defect or inadequate adhesion between belt layers |
| Bead failure | The tire separates from the wheel rim, causing immediate loss of pressure and control | Defective bead wire or improper tire-to-rim fit specifications |
| Sidewall blowout | The sidewall ruptures, collapsing the tire instantly | Thin sidewall construction, manufacturing voids, or undisclosed material defects |
| Defective valve stem | Slow or sudden air loss leads to underinflation and handling failure | Component defect or improper seal design |
In most of these failures, the driver has no warning and no time to react. The accident that follows is not the driver's fault. It is the predictable result of a tire that should not have passed inspection, should have been recalled, or should have carried a different safety rating for the conditions it was sold into.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Tire Defect Case
Defective tire claims are product liability cases, and Arizona law allows injured victims to pursue recovery from every party in the chain of distribution that contributed to putting a dangerous product on the road.
- Tire manufacturers — responsible for design defects that affect an entire model line, and for manufacturing defects that produce a specific bad batch of tires.
- Distributors and wholesalers — parties that moved a defective product through the supply chain may share liability under Arizona's strict liability law.
- Retailers — a tire shop that sold a tire it knew or should have known was recalled or defective may be liable.
- Fleet operators and commercial carriers — truck accident cases involving tire failures often involve carrier negligence in maintenance and inspection, alongside the manufacturer's product defect liability.
- Vehicle manufacturers — in some cases, an underlying vehicle defect contributed to the tire failure, implicating the auto manufacturer as well as the tire company.
Identifying all liable parties from the start matters because it affects which insurance policies apply, how damages are allocated, and the total amount recoverable. Our defective tire lawyers investigate the full chain of distribution, not just the most obvious defendant.
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Accidents and Injuries in Defective Tire Cases
Tire failure tends to produce the most severe crash scenarios. When a blowout or separation occurs at highway speed, drivers typically have less than a second to respond before the vehicle goes out of control. The crashes that result are often high-energy rollovers, median crossings, or multi-vehicle collisions.
Vehicles Commonly Involved
Tire defect accidents affect every type of vehicle, but the injury profile varies significantly by vehicle type:
- Passenger cars and SUVs — SUVs are particularly vulnerable to rollover in tread separation events because of their higher center of gravity. Car accident claims involving tire defects require a product liability investigation in addition to standard crash analysis.
- Motorcycles — a tire failure on a motorcycle is almost always catastrophic. Riders have no structural protection and no way to compensate for a sudden blowout. These cases often involve motorcycle accident claims alongside product liability theories.
- Commercial trucks — truck tire failures at highway speed can affect not just the truck driver but everyone in the surrounding lane. Catastrophic rear-end crashes, jackknifes, and load spills are all documented outcomes. Our truck accident attorneys handle the full complexity of these cases.
Injuries Our Attorneys Handle
The injuries in defective tire crashes reflect the violence of the accidents themselves. Cases we handle regularly involve:
- Traumatic brain injury from rollover or high-impact collision
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Severe fractures and crush injuries from roof collapse in rollover events
- Burns and lacerations from post-crash fire or road contact
- Internal organ damage from blunt force trauma
- Fatal injuries, for which surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim
Many of these injuries require years of treatment and produce permanent limitations. Any settlement in a defective tire injury case must account for future medical needs, lost earning capacity, and long-term quality of life, not just the bills already incurred. If your injuries are severe enough to affect the rest of your life, our catastrophic injury attorneys ensure the full picture is part of your claim.
If you or someone you love is dealing with life-altering injuries from a tire failure crash, reach out to our Phoenix tire defect legal team for a confidential case review. There is no cost and no obligation.
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How We Build a Defective Tire Case
Product liability claims against tire manufacturers are not simple. These are well-funded companies with experienced defense teams. Building a case that holds up requires a different level of preparation than a standard auto accident claim.
Preserving the Tire
The failed tire is the single most important piece of evidence in your case. Tire manufacturers and their experts will try to inspect it, and insurers may argue the tire was lost or improperly stored. We move quickly to secure the tire and any other physical evidence from the crash, and we send preservation letters to all relevant parties to prevent spoliation.
Engineering and Accident Reconstruction
We work with qualified tire engineers and accident reconstruction experts who can examine the failed tire, identify the defect type, and connect the defect to the crash. Their analysis addresses the questions a jury or opposing expert will raise: Was this a manufacturing defect or a maintenance issue? Was the tire within its rated service life? Did the defect exist before the tire left the factory?
Recall and Complaint History
We search the NHTSA recall database and Early Warning Reporting data for prior complaints and recall history involving the specific tire model and production run. Prior incidents involving the same defect are often the most powerful evidence in a product liability case.
Arizona Product Liability Law
Arizona follows a strict liability standard for defective products. Under Arizona law, an injured plaintiff does not need to prove the manufacturer was careless. The plaintiff must show the product was defective, that the defect existed when it left the manufacturer's control, and that the defect caused the injury. That framework is favorable to injured consumers, but building the case still requires thorough documentation and expert testimony.
Warning Signs of a Tire Defect
Not all defective tires fail suddenly. Some give warning signs that, if recognized, may allow a driver to get off the road before a blowout occurs. Common indicators include:
- Vibration at highway speed — especially vibration that worsens as speed increases, which may indicate belt separation beginning inside the tire.
- Bulges or bubbles on the sidewall — a visible bulge indicates structural failure inside the tire wall and means the tire is at immediate risk of rupture.
- Uneven tread wear — irregular wear patterns can reflect internal structural problems rather than alignment or inflation issues.
- Visible cracking in the tread or sidewall — surface cracking, particularly in tires exposed to Arizona heat, may indicate rubber compound breakdown that precedes separation.
- Pulling or drifting — a vehicle that pulls consistently to one side without an obvious alignment cause may have a defective tire affecting its structural integrity.
If you noticed any of these signs before your crash, document it. That history can be relevant to your claim, particularly in establishing that the defect pre-existed the accident and was not caused by a single road event.
Why Gallagher & Kennedy for Your Tire Defect Case
Defective tire cases require a firm with the resources to take on major manufacturers. These are not cases that settle easily. Tire companies have experienced product liability defense teams and access to their own engineering experts. The only way to level that playing field is to bring equivalent preparation and a willingness to go to trial if necessary.
Gallagher & Kennedy has handled complex product liability cases throughout Arizona since 1978. We are the seventh largest legal team in the state, and our attorneys are consistently recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Southwest Super Lawyers. We advance all litigation costs, including expert fees, and collect nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
You can review our outcomes on the results page and read what our clients say on the testimonials page.
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Compensation Available in a Defective Tire Lawsuit
Arizona product liability law allows injured victims to pursue full compensation for all losses caused by a defective product. In a tire defect case, that typically includes:
- All medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, and rehabilitation
- Future medical costs for ongoing or permanent injuries
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Vehicle damage and property losses
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and psychological impact
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members in fatal cases
In cases involving intentional concealment of a known defect, such as a manufacturer that suppressed complaint data or delayed a recall, Arizona courts may also award punitive damages. These are not available in every case, but when the evidence supports them, we pursue them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Defective Tire Claims
How do I know if my accident was caused by a tire defect?
Many tire defect crashes are initially attributed to driver error or road conditions because the tire evidence is not immediately examined. If your vehicle went out of control suddenly without an obvious external cause, or if you noticed a tread separation or blowout, a tire defect may be the actual cause. A qualified tire engineer can examine the failed tire and determine whether a defect was present. We arrange that examination as part of our case investigation.
What if the tire was old or had high mileage?
Age and mileage are defenses tire manufacturers raise, but they do not automatically defeat a claim. Tires are required to perform safely within their rated service life, and if a defect caused the tire to fail before its expected end of life, the manufacturer may still be liable. The analysis depends on the specific defect type, the tire's rated specifications, and the conditions of use.
What if I am partially at fault for the crash?
Arizona follows pure comparative fault. Even if you share some responsibility for the accident — for example, if speed or road conditions were also factors — you can still recover compensation reduced by your percentage of fault. We work to establish the defect as the primary cause and limit any fault attributed to you.
How long do I have to file a tire defect claim in Arizona?
Arizona's statute of limitations for personal injury product liability claims is two years from the date of injury. Waiting reduces your ability to preserve critical evidence, particularly the tire itself. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after a tire failure crash.
Relevant Reading
These resources cover the legal and practical issues most relevant to tire defect and product liability claims in Arizona:
- How Compensatory Damages Are Calculated in Arizona — A breakdown of how economic and non-economic losses are valued in a personal injury or product liability claim.
- 7 Things to Know About Life With Catastrophic Injuries — An honest look at the long-term reality of serious injury and how comprehensive compensation accounts for future needs.
- Why the Settlement Is Not the End of a Personal Injury Claim — What the settlement process involves and why the terms matter as much as the dollar amount.
Talk to a Phoenix Tire Defect Attorney Today
Tire manufacturers and their legal teams do not wait. The sooner you get an experienced attorney involved, the better your chances of preserving the evidence that proves what actually caused your crash.
Gallagher & Kennedy offers free consultations for injured victims of defective tire accidents in Phoenix and throughout Arizona. We will review your case, explain your legal options under Arizona product liability law, and give you an honest picture of what your claim is worth at no cost and with no obligation.
Contact our Phoenix tire defect lawyers to schedule your free case evaluation. We advance all costs and collect nothing unless we win.