2002 Toyota Tundra Tires & Wheels Problems

I purchased 4 new Michelin P245/70 R16 from Costco 12/5/2011with 31250 miles. I am a career auto mechanic for 39 years at an independent auto shop (retired, due to disability, 9/2011). I noticed sidewall cracking within about 2 years, but dismissed it because I have never heard/seen an air pressure loss due to sidewall cracking. The cracking worsened over the years, but the air pressure was even for all 4. Fast forward to 2020, I noticed my RF tire very low, looked for punctures, none found while submerged in water. November 2022 the RF tire was totally flat (parked). I found the sidewall had failed. This was a first for me in my experience. I certainly do not trust the remaining tires. I found a recall on the same brand/model but not my size. I have only 13350 miles on these tires. Tread is very good. I don't drive this truck often, but I maintain my vehicles well. Air pressure has been maintained at 40PSI, 4PSI under the max. pressure. In my opinion this is an obvious case of a defect in materials. I have not contacted Michelin yet.

WHILE DRIVING, I HAD MY SPARE TIRE FAIL OFF THE CAR DUE TO TUNDRA SPARE TIRE LIFT PLATE ROT. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS CONDITION AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED FOR THE BALL JOINT RECALL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-65 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

BELOW YOU WILL READ MY COMPLAINT TO MICHELIN ABOUT THE QUALITY. THE SIDEWALL BLEW COMPLETELY OFF THE RIM WHILE TRAVELING AT A LEGAL SPEED OF 70 MPH. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH A PREMIUM TIRE MADE BY THE ABOVE COMPANY. IT ONLY HAD A PUNCTURE WHICH CAUSED IT TO LOSE AIR. THIS WAS VERIFIED BY THE DEALER OF DISCOUNT TIRE IN SANTA FE. HE DID TELL ME THAT NOW TIRES FAIL IMMEDIATELY WHEN THEY LOSE PRESSURE AND BLOW APART. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN! YOU SHOULD AT LEAST BE ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN TO EXAMINE THE TIRE. WITH THIS HAPPENING, THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM REPLACING THE TIRE AS A FAILURE AND GET AWAY WITH SELLING YOU A NEW TIRE PRO RATED!! HOW CONVENIENT!! THESE TIRES WILL KILL SOMEONE IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY. SEE BELOW MY RESPONSE TO MICHELIN AND DISCOUNT TIRE. IT HAD HALF IT'S TREAD LEFT!! OK.............SO I AM UNDER THE 6 YEAR LIMIT AND THE TIRE DID HAVE A PUNCTURE AS TOLD TO ME BY THE SELLING MANAGER. THE FACT THAT THE TIRE BLEW APART SIGNIFIES TO ME THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE. I HAVE HAD MANY FLATS IN MY 66 YEARS AND NEVER SAW A TIRE COME APART LIKE THIS ONE. BY THE WAY, IT WAS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF THE TIRE FOR YOU TO SEE AND I WILL CONTACT THE DEALER TO SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY. I CAN TELL YOU THIS..............IF THIS IS THE BEST EXPLANATION YOU HAVE FOR A PREMIUM TIRE, I WILL NOT PUT ANOTHER SET OF YOU TIRES ON ANY OF MY VEHICLES. I WILL ALSO DO MY BEST TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF YOUR POLICIES. I WOULD EXPECT MORE FROM A COMPANY THAT I HAVE HAD A LONG STANDING RELATIONSHIP. TOO BAD...........I SEE IT AS A SIGN OF THE TIMES!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT WAS ROTATING HIS B.F.GOODRICH TIRES AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT RIGHT TIRE HAD A FAULTY VALVE. THE CORRECT TIRE LINE (P265-70R16) WAS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE DROP DOWN MENU. NO OTHER TIRE OR MILEAGE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. SPOKE WITH CONSUMER 10/16/07 , NEED TO RESEND COMPLAINT FORM. *LJ

TUNDRA 2002 V6 VIBRATED BADLY AT 45 MPH. WHEN CHECKING, FOUND 3 BROKEN STUDS IN THE FRONT WHEELS, 2 FROM THE DRIVER SIDE AND 1 FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. WITH SOME ON-LINE RESEARCH, A TSB FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND YEAR HAS ISSUED BACK IN 2003. YET, OWNERS OF THIS TUNDRA MODEL HAD NEVER BEEN MADE AWARE OF IT. WHILE MAKING A CALL TO TOYOTA CORPORATION, A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THERE IS AN UPGRADE BRAKE SYSTEM-CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS, AND OTHER PARTS RELATED TO THE FRONT BRAKE-AVAILABLE FOR FREE OF CHARGE FOR TUNDRAS THAT HAVE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN TAKING THIS PROBLEM TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, NO ONE SEEMED TO TAKE ANY ACTION. 3 MONTHS LATER, THEY STILL DIDN'T FIX MY CAR. BRAKE HISTORY-SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKES AND ROTORS BEING WORN OUT AND WARPED FAST HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP THE LOCAL DEALER. EVERY TIME A COMPLAINT WAS MADE, THE ANSWER WAS THAT BRAKE IS NOT COVERED BY THE 3-YEAR/36K WARRANTY. WHEN THE STUDS BROKE OFF, DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T DOCUMENT ANY OF MY COMPLAINTS DUE TO THE FACTS THAT I NEVER ASKED THEM TO REPAIR MY BRAKE. WOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVE TO RIP ME OFF BEFORE THEY DOCUMENT MY COMPLAINTS. IF OTHERS GOT THEIR BRAKE SYSTEM UPGRADED FOR FREE OF CHARGE, THEN WHY NOT ME? *NM

CONSUMER STATED TIRE PRESSURE STICKER PROVIDED WRONG INFORMATION. IT INDICATED THE FOLLOWING: 26 PSI AT THE FRONT TIRES, AND 29 PSI ON THE REAR TIRES. AT 26 PSI THE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER ALREADY REPLACED TWO FRONT TIRES. *AK

THE TWO FRONT TIRES WORE PREMATURELY. AS A RESULT THERE WERE CRACKS ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT A BLOWOUT WILL OCCUR. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

I WAS ROTATING THE TIRES AND TIGHTENING THE LUG NUTS WHEN SIX BROKE. MY TORQUE WRENCH WAS SET AT 80 POUNDS, BELOW THE 82 RECOMMENDATION. TWO LUG NUTS ON THE RIGHT REAR ON ONE ON THE RIGHT FRONT WOULD NOT TIGHTEN AND JUST KEPT TURNING. EVENTUALLY EACH OF THE LUG NUTS FELL OFF, BREAKING THE STUD. THE STUDS DID NOT "SNAP" LIKE A CLEAN BREAK. THE LUGS THAT BROKE WERE POSSIBLY NOT HARDENED OR WERE MADE FROM SOME VERY SOFT METAL. THE LEFT SIDE PRODUCED SIMILAR RESULTS ON THE LEFT REAR. THE LEFT FRONT SECURED ALL SIX LUG NUTS PROPERLY WITH THE 80 # TORQUE SETTING. ON THE LEFT REAR, THREE OF THE STUDS, ALL ADJACENT TO ONE ANOTHER BROKE JUST LIKE THE THREE DID ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I HAVE BEEN CHANGING TIRES FOR 35 YEARS AND HAVE ONLY BROKEN ONE STUD PREVIOUSLY. EIGHTY FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE IS NOT VERY MUCH TO BREAK OFF A STUD. CHEVROLET CURRENTLY SETS LUG NUTS AT 145 FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE. I FEEL SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE LUG STUDS ON THIS VEHICLE, OR AT LEAST THE SIX THAT MERELY BROKE. THIRTY OF THE LUG STUDS HELD AND TIGHTENED ACCORDING TO PROCEDURES. HOWEVER, THE SIX THAT BROKE DID SO BEFORE EVER CAUSING THE TORQUE WRENCH TO REACH A MERE 80 FOOT POUNDS, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY TWO POUNDS UNDER THE RECOMMENDED SETTING. IN LOOKING AT THE STEEL STUD WHERE IT TWISTED APART, THE METAL HAS THE APPEARANCE OF CAST POT METAL, NOT COLD HARD STEEL. SO FAR, I HAVE RECEIVED NO HELP FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER. THEY SAY, "YOU CAUSED THEM TO BREAK, IT IS NOT OUR FAULT. WE CHANGE TIRES ALL DAY WITH OUR AIR IMPACT WRENCHES AND WE ARE NOT BREAKING THEM." A "DIGITORQUE" TORQUE WRENCH IS MUCH MORE ACCURATE THAN AN IMPACT WRENCH. THAT IS WHY I OWN ONE BECAUSE I REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SETTING NUTS AND LUGS AT THE RIGHT SETTING. FOR THESE REASONS, I FEEL THAT SOME LUG NUT STUDS THAT MAY HAVE NOT BEEN HARDENED, ETC., WERE INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE SINCE THEY BROKE OFF UNDER VERY LITTLE PRESSURE.

CONSUMER STATES WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE TIRE WILL NOT CHANNEL WATER OUT CORRECTLY, SO TIRES CAN STAY ON THE ROAD. THEY ARE EXPERIENCING SEVERE HYDROPLANE. CONTACTED DEALER/MANUFACTURER, THEY WERE OF NO HELP TO CONSUMER. SIZE P275/55 R18. DOT# B715FMWX1902.ORGINAL TIRES.*JB

RIMS ON VEHICLE ARE BENT, MATERIAL SEEMS TO BE TOO SOFT. *AK THE PROBLEM ALREADY HAS GONE TO THE BEARINGS AND ROTORS. *SCC

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEEL WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE STARTED TO RUST. CONTACTED DEALER AND CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REACH A DEAL ON NEW ALLOY WHEELS. NLM *TT

CONSUMER NOTICED THE RIGHT FRONT BRIDGESTONE ,#P265/70R16, DOT#7X72PDD3301, TIRE HAD A CRACK, THE TIRE HAD ONLY BEEN USED FOR THREE MONTHS, HAD CONTACTED DEALER, BUT FIRESTONE NOR TOYOTA WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE TIRE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TIRE. TOYOTA, TUNDRA, 2002. *AK *YD