NHTSA Complaint #11691695 — 2011 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

In summary, a business is selling unsafe "sidewall patched" used tire. On Sep 20, 2025 I purchased four used tires for my 2011 Chevy Traverse in this business. Mike's Tires Plano [XXX] ) [XXX] [XXX] Ten days later, one of the tires started to have a slow leak. On Oct 5, 2025, I visited a nearby National Tire & Battery store to have it checked. And was told that the tire is not repairable, since it already had a sidewall patch and the same patch had a leak again. After some research, I found it was illegal to sell and install sidewall patched tires in Texas, since it is unsafe to drive with such tires. (A failed patch on the sidewall dramatically increases the risk of a sudden and catastrophic tire blowout, Most professional tire shops will refuse to repair sidewall damage because of the significant safety risk and liability involved) A common criterion for an unsafe used tire is one that "has a repair to the tire in the tread shoulder, sidewall, bead area or belt edge area." On Oct 6, 2025, I went to the tire shop to ask for a refund or to replace other safer used tires. But the owner refused to do any, and even refused to admit that his tire is a sidewall patched tire, saying it is safe to use and legal to sell. I am writing this letter to complain that this business unlawful and unethical practice puts people's lives in danger. Texas Transportation Code Sec. 547.612 [XXX] “(f) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a person who owns or operates a business that installs tires on motor vehicles or an employee of the person may not knowingly install an unsafe tire on a motor vehicle to be used on a public street or highway.” INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)