COOPER DISCOVERER SRX TIRES Complaints

TPS monitoring system displayed front right tire pressure low. Seconds later tire blew-out where sidewall meets tread. We luckily were traveling at low rate of speed (25mph). This is new van with 100 miles on it.

Was driving on Hwy at 65 mph. Rear drivers side tire blew out. Sidewall split and cause the tread to detach. Caliber Collision has pictures of the damage. I had to immediately pull to the side of a busy hwy at dusk. Just managed to get off the road. Called 911 but they didn’t stop to talk to us. AAA towed me to Caliber Collision. Total damages were $10,587.67. Car was totaled by USAA insurance. No warning ahead of time and the tire was 3 years old. Less than 25,000 miles put on it. Warning came on as I was pulling over after the flat but it was too late. Now I have an accident on my record when I only collided with the ground by the flat.

THE VEHICLE IS A 2020 MERCEDES BENZ GLE 580, WHICH HAS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE. IT HAS STANDARD WHEELS AND TIRES. THE OE TIRES ARE COOPER DISCOVERER SRX LE, SIZE 275/50R20. AT 5,900 MILES, BOTH OF THE FRONT TIRES BEGAN CHUNKING, WHERE CHUNKS OF TIRE TREAD BEGAN FALLING OFF. THIS OCCURRED IN THE CENTER OF THE TREAD, AS WELL AS AT THE EDGE OF THE TREAD WHERE IT MEETS THE GROOVE. THE FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED BY MERCEDES AT 5,932 MILES. APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES LATER, I NOTICED THE FRONT TIRES WERE CHUNKING AGAIN. THE REAR TIRES WORE OUT AND WERE REPLACED AT ABOUT 10,250 MILES. IF THEY ALSO EXPERIENCED CHUNKING, IT WAS NOT NOTICED.

I AM REQUESTING THAT THE DOT NHTSA LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF A TIRE DEFECT THAT CAN AFFECT THE SAFE OPERATION OF VEHICLES WITH COOPER DISCOVERER SRX TIRES. I PURCHASED A SET OF 4 COOPER DISCOVERER SRX TIRES AND HAD THEM PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED ON MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE SIZE IS 255/50R20. DURING THE WINTER OF 2018-19 THEY BEGAN TO LEAK AIR EXCESSIVELY WHEN IT WAS COLD. THE LOSS WOULD GROW TO A POINT THE LOW AIR LIGHT CAME ON EVERY WEEK. IT WAS VARIOUS TIRES CAUSING THE ISSUE. THIS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE WINTER AND INTO THE SPRING OF 2019. THE LEAKS ARE MORE SEVERE WHEN DRIVING THAN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. I BELIEVE THE TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED TO THE POINT THAT THEY ARE CONTINUING TO LEAK WHEN IT IS WARM OUTSIDE NOW. OVER THE PAST 3 MONTHS I HAVE HAD THEM IN 2 SEPARATE TIMES AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THE TIRES DO NOT HAVE A HOLE IN THEM NOR LEAK AT THE BEAD BUT ARE LEAKING DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER. I HAVE MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS WITH COOPER TIRES TO HANDLE THE SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY NOT HANDLED THEIR WARRANTY MATTER. I HAVE BEEN TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERS WHO SENT ME BACK TO THE ORIGINAL INSTALLER AND THEY HAVE HAD THEM OFF TWO TIMES TO VERIFY THE ISSUE. BEFORE THIS SAFETY ISSUE BECOMES A SERIOUS INCIDENT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE TIRES INVESTIGATED OR POSSIBLY RECALLED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THESE TIRES AND BELIEVE THE MODEL MAY REDUCE SAFETY AS THEY AGE. MINE ARE 2 YEARS OLD ALMOST. THANK YOU, *TR