Michelin recalled 800,000 tires over tread separation — a defect built over two years

On 26 July 2012, Michelin's North American unit, Michelin Americas Small Tires, recalled approximately 800,000 light-truck tires in the U.S. market. They were sold under two of Michelin's brands, the BFGoodrich Commercial T/A A/S and the Uniroyal Laredo HD/H, in two 16-inch Load Range E sizes.

The defect was a separation at the tread belt. In its recall report to U.S. safety regulators, Michelin said the tires could lose tread, and in some cases lose air rapidly, presenting a risk to motor vehicle safety. A tread separation at speed can cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle.

The affected tires were not a single bad batch. The production periods Michelin reported to regulators ran from early 2010 into mid-2012 — roughly two and a half years of output. The flaw was built into the product across that whole window before the recall was filed.

Michelin reported no crashes or injuries, and the recall was voluntary. But for a company whose brand is built on safety, some 800,000 tires carrying a tread-separation risk are a reputational wound as well as a logistical one. The size of the recall was the measure of how long the defect had gone undetected.