On February 12, 2013 I was driving my 2008 Acura Rdx on a side road when my tire pressure indicator light came on. I felt a slight bumping from my wheels. When I looked up in my rear view mirror saw a section of my tire lying in the road behind me. Fortunately I was at a low speed. When I picked up and checked the section of tire that had detached I realized that the tire had split in a circumference along the side walls on both sides and that the segment that had detached had the tread section intact along with a few inches of the sidewalls. The remaining portion of the tire remained on the rim. The tire was a Michelin mxm4 Pilot 235/55vri and had only been on my car for 26,000 miles. I am very concerned that this is a significant safety issue. The dot# for this tire is B93jphfx4110. None of these tires have performed to near the 50,000 miles that they are rated at. On January 4, 2011 at 26,644 miles I had to replace the 2 rear tires as they had worn to the tread wear indicators. On January 6, 2012 at 38,979 I had to replace the front tires as they had worn to the tread wear indicators. The tire that fractured along the side wall is now the 5th. Tire that I have needed to purchase in this series for this car.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

Yokohama avid trz S316 31631 tires P255/55R-18 97T BSW with 13,000 miles on 2008 Acura Rdx. Tires purchased 10-30-2010 on 4-12-2011, while driving on freeway at 60mph, experienced sudden loss of tire pressure on right rear tire. Pulled off of freeway and removed tire. Could not find any cause for loss of tire pressure. Took wheel to air supply and re-pressurized tire to 35 psi. Made close examination to find cause of pressure loss and discovered no puncture, no object in tire, no leaks. A bubble/blister was observed on inside tire next to rim. Carried fully pressurized tire to dealer (discount tire, arlington, tx) pointed out blister to tech, he blamed road hazard, says probably hit a pothole. While the tire was being replaced, I questioned the counterman as to why the sudden loss of pressure and he informed me that the tire had a large puncture. I asked to see it and sure enough, a 1/8 to 1/4 inch puncture was in the middle of the tire! another tech actually volunteered that he had heard air hissing from the tire when he took it out of my trunk! why would a tire dealer discount the inside wall blister/bubble as a possible cause of tire failure and then puncture the tire on purpose to claim as the cause of tire failure?

- Arlington, TX, USA