Hydroplaning or Blowout? It Might Be the Tire Shop’s Fault

Did you lose control of your vehicle on a wet road shortly after buying new tires?

When a car hydroplanes or a tire blows out, the police report usually blames the driver. They cite “driving too fast for conditions” or “failure to maintain control.”

But at Nigh Goldenberg, we know that many of these accidents are actually caused by negligent service centers or defective manufacturing. If a tire shop installed your new tires on the wrong axle, or if a manufacturer sold a tire with rusting belts, the accident was not your fault—and you may have a significant claim.

The “New on Rear” Rule: A Deadly Service Center Mistake

One of the most common—and dangerous—errors tire shops make involves where they place new tires.

If you only purchased two new tires, the shop must install them on the rear axle.

Why Is This Critical?

• The Physics: New tires have deep tread, while old tires have worn tread. If new tires are put on the front, the front of the car will grip the road while the rear slides. This causes oversteer.
• The Result: In an oversteer situation on a wet road, the rear of the car swings out (fishtailing), making the vehicle spin out of control. This often leads to the car crossing the center line and being T-boned.
• The Industry Standard: Major tire manufacturers and retailers (like Michelin, Bridgestone, and Walmart) have specific policies stating new tires must go on the rear to prevent hydroplaning. If a shop put your new tires on the front, they violated industry safety standards.

Tread Separation: When the Tire Itself is Defective

We also investigate cases where the tire itself falls apart. This is often called a “de-tread” or “tread separation” event.

While a “blowout” involves the tire popping, a tread separation is different: the steel belts inside the tire rust or separate, causing the tread to come off like a banana peel while you are driving.

Common Signs of a Manufacturing Defect:

• Imported Tires: Many defective tire cases involve low-cost tires imported from countries with lax quality control standards.
• Rusting Belts: If moisture gets into the tire during manufacturing, the steel belts can rust and separate from the rubber weeks or months later.
• The “Flapping” Effect: When the tread separates, it can wrap around the axle or destroy the wheel well, making steering nearly impossible and causing a rollover or wreck.

Evidence We Need: Get Pictures of All 4 Tires

In tire defect cases, the physical evidence tells the whole story. If you have been in a wreck caused by a loss of control or tire failure, here is what we need to look for immediately:

1. Placement of Tires: We need to verify which tires have the deepest tread and where they were installed on the vehicle.
2. The Debris: If the tire tread peeled off, those pieces of rubber on the highway are critical evidence. They show the rusting steel belts that prove the defect.
3. Photos of All 4 Tires: Even if only one tire failed, we need photos of all four to compare wear patterns and installation positions.

Don’t Let Them Blame the Rain

If you or a loved one were injured in a crash caused by hydroplaning or a sudden tire failure, do not assume it was just “bad weather.”

If a shop puts your new tires on the front, or if the tire was built to fail, you have rights. Nigh Goldenberg works with industry experts to analyze tire placement and manufacturing flaws.

Contact us today to secure the vehicle and the tires before they are disposed of.