Goodyear G159 Tire issue
http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/investigations/2015/09/03/goodyear-deadly-tires-coverup/71618544/ I think their legal team is in deep doo-doo. Lyle
Forum Discussion
Having retired from the tire industry after 40 years, I can mentally track a lot of successes and failures of many major world-wide brands of tires, primarily radials.
I recall when Michelin introduced the 'X' radial truck tire and the 40,000 mile pass. tire, all US manufacturers went into a frenzy to try to produce a tire that would compete with these new developments. In pass. tires, G/Y produced a 'bias-ply' tire, which could be built on the same equipment as the 20,000 mile bias tires they sold then. The PolyGlass and PolySteel were disasters.
G/Y's policy, IMHO has been for many, many years "yes, we have some problems with that particular tire, but we have a new one just on the market that takes care of those problem." In truck tires it was first Unisteel, then the supposedly improved Unisteel I, then Unisteel II, and I don't know how many other versions of the Unisteel.
A radial tire is simple in design, but quite hard to produce a high percentage of top quality tires. A radial tire producer cannot afford to lower their final inspection standards and let tires out that are less than perfect. In a radial tire, if you get a less-than-perfect tire, you have problems. Possibly as simple as a vibration that never completely goes away, all the way to sudden separations and blowouts.
True dedication to quality of any product is a culture, a passion that has to be displayed from top management all the way down. Some companies have it, many do not.
Keep in mind, all I have written here are my opinions based on experience.
I recall when Michelin introduced the 'X' radial truck tire and the 40,000 mile pass. tire, all US manufacturers went into a frenzy to try to produce a tire that would compete with these new developments. In pass. tires, G/Y produced a 'bias-ply' tire, which could be built on the same equipment as the 20,000 mile bias tires they sold then. The PolyGlass and PolySteel were disasters.
G/Y's policy, IMHO has been for many, many years "yes, we have some problems with that particular tire, but we have a new one just on the market that takes care of those problem." In truck tires it was first Unisteel, then the supposedly improved Unisteel I, then Unisteel II, and I don't know how many other versions of the Unisteel.
A radial tire is simple in design, but quite hard to produce a high percentage of top quality tires. A radial tire producer cannot afford to lower their final inspection standards and let tires out that are less than perfect. In a radial tire, if you get a less-than-perfect tire, you have problems. Possibly as simple as a vibration that never completely goes away, all the way to sudden separations and blowouts.
True dedication to quality of any product is a culture, a passion that has to be displayed from top management all the way down. Some companies have it, many do not.
Keep in mind, all I have written here are my opinions based on experience.
