2002 Buick Lesabre

On May 2, 2026, I received a letter by mail from Kumho Tires regarding a set of tires that I purchased, in December 2023; DOT # 2222 and 2223, size, 225/60 R16 98T. In their letter they state that tires with DOT #'s ranging from 0421-0523 were recalled. They go on to state the following: tires ranging with DOT #'s 0421-0523 were "non compliant" and "it is possible that an affected tire could fail in a manner that may lead to a loss of control that could increase the risk of a crash without warning". They then concluded by stating I was entitled to a full refund given that I responded to their letter in 180 days, which I did. However, despite various attempts to contact Kumho tires, I have been unsuccessful in obtaining a refund from them or Tire Choice, which is the company I received the tires from, directly.

ON AUGUST 30,2015 I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE TREADING ON MY TIRE CAME COMPLETELY OFF WHILE I WAS GOING 70 MILES PER HOUR IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SOMEHOW I MANAGED TO KEEP CALM AND NOT PANIC AND I MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE EMERGENCY PULL OFF WITHOUT SPINNING OUT OR CRASHING OR MAKING CONTACT WITH THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC I HAD JUST PURCHASED MY VEHICLE ON 8/28/2015 AND THE VEHICLE INSPECTION WAS DATED FOR 8/28/2015 AS WELL. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIRE WAS A BAD TIRE I CONTACTED THE STATE POLICE AND AFTER AN INVESTIGATION THEY TOLD ME THAT MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR BRAND TIRE AND THEY STATED THAT AN RECALL WOULD NEED TO BE ISSUED. I'M WRITING THIS BECAUSE THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE IF I HAD NOT REMAINED CLAM OR KEPT CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE I WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE AND TIRE TO BE INVESTIGATED/RECALLED BECAUSE I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE WHILE DRIVING I HAVE FLASHBACKS OF THIS INCIDENT AND HAVE PROBLEMS SWITCHING LANES CROSSINGS INTERSECTIONS AND THINGS THAT WAS NORMAL FOR ME PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE TREADING FROM THE TIRE WENT UNDER MY CAR WHILE DRIVING SO MY CAR WAS TOTALED OUT DUE TO THIS INCIDENT. AMERICAN GENERAL TIRE SIZE 21570R15 DOT NUMBER A3M344H4399

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK LESABRE EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN HARMONY TIRES, TIRE SIZE P225/60R/16. THE CONTACT STATED THE SIDEWALLS ON THE DRIVERS REAR AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WERE BREAKING AWAY FROM THE TIRE. DURING A STATE INSPECTION, THE INSPECTOR CONFIRMED THAT THE TIRES WERE SEPARATING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,331. UPDATED 09/07/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TREAD ON THE TIRE IS 7/32", BUT WHEN IT WAS FIRST PURCHASED, THE TREAD WAS 9/32". UPDATED 09/09/11*JB

BEFORE LEAVING TO COLLEGE STATION TO GO VISIT OUR DAUGHTER WE STOPPED AT DISCOUNT TIER TO HAVE THE TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED. DURING THE CHECK THE TECH NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A VERY NOTICEABLE BULGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES WALLS WERE BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. HE CALLED IT A TIRE DEFECT AND HIS RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED IN ORDER TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I DID PAY FOR A NEW TIRE AND HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE THEN DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS ON THE OTHER 3 TIRES. I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR 3 NEW TIRES. WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY TAHOE SINCE THEN. *JB

BEGAN WITH A VIBRATION IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. WHEN I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP THE FIRST THING WE NOTICED WAS THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY OUT OF ROUND, LARGE BUBBLE ON INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF TIRE, TREADS WERE WARPED, BELTS SEPARATED. I AM VERY LUCKY THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE TIRES HAVE 39K MILES ON THEM. *JB

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED COMPLAINTS REGARDING REPUBLIC TIRES. MY INVOICE SAYS 98H S2ULT HP4 RAD G ROAD HAZARD PROTECT (PRO-RATED R 225/60R1. I DO NOT KNOW IF THESE ARE THE PROPER NUMBERS. 5/30/05 WE REQUESTED A HIGH QUALITY GOODYEAR TIRE THAT WOULD PERFORM WELL ON ALL THE RAIN IN FLORIDA AND BE THE BEST AGAINST HYDRO PLANING. THE ALLIED TIRE STORE SOLD US REPUBLIC TIRES AND SAID THEY WERE A BETTER GRADE THAN GOODYEAR. I WAS IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITHIN WEEKS OF PURCHASING MY NEW TIRES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING REPUBLIC TIRES. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING ON REPUBLIC TIRES IN CONSUMERS REPORTS, ETC.

I HAVE A PROBLEM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF I COULD GET ANY ASSISTANCE OR ADVICE AS WHO I MIGHT CONTACT TO HELP SEE IF I CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I PURCHASED TWO TIRES FROM BIG O TIRES-OCEANSIDE, 499 COLLEGE BLVD, OCEANSIDE, CA 92057 -760-940-1100. I WAS TOLD THAT THESE WERE VERY GOOD TIRES WITH LOW NOISE. ? 50,000 MILE RATED TIRE. I HAD THEM INSTALLED THESE TWO NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT OF MY CAR, WHICH REPLACED THE ORIGINAL FACTORY TIRES. I DRIVE 500-1000 MILES PER WEEK. AFTER MY FIRST WEEK THE NOISE WAS LIKE HAVING A MOTORCYCLE IN MY CAR AND I HAD EXTREME VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IN THE SEAT OF MY CAR, ALONG WITH INCREDIBLE SHAKING, WHEN I BRAKED. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO BIG O, AND COMPLAINED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. THEY SAID MY ROTORS WERE WARPED SO I PAID TO HAVE THEM TURNED AND SAID THAT IT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEMS. I WAS OUT ON THE ROAD TRAVELING THE NEXT WEEK, ANOTHER 800 MILES AND THE NOISE SEEM TO GET WORSE. THE SHAKING HAD BEEN REDUCED, HOWEVER THERE STILL REMAINED MORE VIBRATION THAN I HAD WITH THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT WERE JUST ABOUT TO WEAR OUT. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 2,000 PLUS MILES ON THESE TIRES AND THE NOISE IS UNBELIEVABLE LOUD, STARTING AT 20-MILES PER HOUR. I TOOK MY ISSUE TO BIG O; THEY SAID THAT I COULD BUY SOME NEW TIRES (I REQUESTED BRIDGESTONE) PAY FOR MOUNTING THE NEW TIRES, WHICH WOULD ADD ABOUT ANOTHER $80. EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT LIKE THIS IDEA, I AGREED TO SPEND THE ADDITIONAL MONEY. I GET THERE ON SATURDAY MORNING 10/3 AND I AM TOLD THEY WILL ONLY ALLOW 50% ON THE TIRES THEY HAD SOLD ME. I STARTED MY ISSUE WITH THEM FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WITH THEIR SO CALLED SOLUTIONS AND IT ENDS UP COSTING ME MORE MONEY EACH TIME. THE OWNER HAS NOT CALLED ME BACK. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE IN HELPING RESOLVE MY ISSUE. WHICH BIG O TIRES MY BE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS TO MY CAR AS WELL. *LA