NHTSA Complaint #10498553 — 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU

IN 2006 I PURCHASED 4 NEW COOPER LIFELINER TOURING SLE TIRES FROM A LOCAL DEALER FOR A 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU. TIRES WERE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND TOUTED AS BEING TOP OF THE LINE. JUST AFTER A FEW YEARS OF SERVICE, I HAD TO FREQUENTLY ADD AIR TO THE TIRES. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY WORSE UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE FRONT AXLE. INSTEAD OF CHECKING AIR PRESSURE ONCE A MONTH, I HAD TO CHECK ABOUT EVERY 2 WEEKS. CAUSES THE CAR TO HANDLE POORLY ON THE ROAD, STEER HARDER, AND FUEL EFFICIENCY GOES DOWN. RETURNED TO PLACE OF PURCHASE, AND TIRES WERE REMOVED AND REINSTALLED TO RESEAL. TIRES WERE ALWAYS WELL MAINTAINED, ROTATED, CLEANED, GARAGED, AND PROPERLY AIRED TO THE SPECS OF THE VEHICLE. I EVEN AVOID POT HOLES. SHOP OWNER COMMENTED HOW NICE THEY WERE WEARING. AFTER ONLY ABOUT 35K MILES OF SERVICE AND 5/32 TREAD REMAINING I RETURNED TO THE SHOP FOR 2ND OR 3RD TIME AGAIN WITH SAME COMPLAINT OF HAVING TO ADD AIR TOO FREQUENTLY. TIRES WERE AGAIN REMOVED AND SHOP OWNER STATED THE TIRE NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO A SPLIT ON THE INSIDE AND POTENTIAL FOR COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE. SHOP OWNER STATED THAT THE TIRES ARE NOT WARRANTED DUE TO AGE. TIRES GAVE NO INDICATION OF IMMINENT FAILURE. TIRES ARE NOT DRY ROTTED, NO NOISE, NO REPAIRS, NO VIBRATION AND PLENTY OF TREAD DEPTH WITH AT LEAST 5/32 REMAINING. TIRES CONVENIENTLY JUST MADE IT PAST THE WARRANTY. THE SHOP HAD TO INSTALL MY TEMPORARY SPARE SO I COULD GET HOME. I FOUND IT A BIT UNUSUAL THAT THE SHOP OWNER WANTED TO KEEP THE BAD TIRE WITHOUT CHARGING ME DISPOSAL FEE. I STILL HAVE THE TIRES, AND CURIOUSLY ALL 4 HAVE HAIR LINE SPLITS ON THE INSIDES. YOU CAN'T SEE ANY INDICATION ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. IT HAS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE RIM TO SEE THE PROBLEM AREAS. NOT INCLUDING MY EXPERIENCES, I KNOW OF AT LEAST 3 OTHER INSTANCES OF COOPER LIFELINER TOURING TIRES HAVING AIR PRESSURE ISSUES. I CONSIDER THIS PREMATURE FAILURE AND POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS. *TR