Tire problems reported by Nitto Tires and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revolve around potential cracking issues. Nitto Tires has issued consumer advisories and technical bulletins on various situations in which tires might crack, such as certain tires' cracking in below-freezing temperatures. In 2010, two Nitto tire recalls resulted from potential cracking issues. One recall was a result of tires' failure to comply with a federal safety standard that could cause the tire to crack, and the other resulted from a manufacturing defect that could lead to potentially dangerous cracks in the sidewall of the tire.
In April 2010, Nitto and the NHTSA recalled 1140 Dune Grappler Desert Terrain S116 tires, size 265/50R20 111T, for failure to comply with the endurance test requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standards for "new pneumatic radial tires for light vehicles." Failure to comply with this standard might cause tires to form cracks in the upper sidewall. A sudden loss of air from this type of crack might lead to a crash. Nitto began notifying consumers of this recall on April 19, 2010, that tires affected by the recall could be replaced free of charge.
In February 2010, certain Nitto Terra Grappler All Terrain tires, size 305/50R20 120S, were recalled for a production defect that left a wrinkle in the tires' upper sidewall. This manufacturing defect could lead to a crack in the sidewall, which could result in a potentially deadly crash if left undetected. According to the NHTSA, Nitto began notifying consumers of the recall on February 23, 2010, with instructions on how to get the potentially affected tires replaced at no cost.
In February 2010, Nitto Tires issued a consumer advisory regarding proper cold-weather handling of all NT555R, NT555RII and NT01 tires. If these tires are exposed to temperatures under 15 degrees Fahrenehit, they will lose rubber compound flexibility. This can lead to cracking, which can result in a potentially dangerous accident. To minimize damage, Nitto Tires advises that consumers not drive cars with these tires in conditions below 15 degrees Fahrenheit and check tires for signs of cracking. Before mounting or dismounting, Nitto advises to store these tires for a minimum of 24 hours in a temperature-controlled environment of 68 degrees Fahrenheit and to remove these tires from the vehicle and deflate to half the normal air pressure during prolonged periods of non-use or storage.
