NHTSA Complaint #10511676 — 2002 LEXUS RX300

WHILE INSTALLING WINTER TIRES WE NOTICED THE INNER BEAD ON THE RIMS SEPARATING. THE CHROME IS DELAMINATING TO THE POINT WHERE ONE TIRE WILL NO LONGER HOLD AIR, OTHER RIMS ARE ALSO DELAMINATING BUT AT THIS POINT THEY STILL HOLD AIR. THE DELAMINATION OCCURS ON THE INNER BEAD SO IT IS NOT VISIBLE UNTIL THE TIRE IS REMOVED. A TIRE SHOP TOLD US THE CHROME RIM IS NEXT TO THE BRAKE ROTOR AND THE HEAT CAUSES THE CHROME TO SEPARATE, HE WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REINSTALLING THE WHEEL SINCE THE TIRE BEAD COUD SEPARATE WHILE IT IS BEING DRIVEN AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR COULD EQUAL A BLOWOUT. THE TIRES ARE MICHELLIN AND STILL IN GOOD SHAPE, WE INSTALLED WINTER TIRES ON STEEL RIMS BUT CANNOT PUT THE CHROME RIMS BACK ON. WE WERE TOLD BY TIRE SHOPS THAT LOOKED AT THE RIMS THAT THAT SEEMS RO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE RIMS. *TR