Dangerous Motorcycle Tires

Reports continue to roll in about the sudden and catastrophic deflation of Goodyear Dunlop tires used on large touring and cruiser motorcycles. The tires, marked D402, are being blamed in a number of deaths and injuries being reported to Unsafemotorcycles.com. An attorney with a number of these cases has called on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to investigate these tires, which may need to be recalled. Among the victims so far is 52 year old active member of the local Harley Davidson Motorcycle Club from Butte, Montana.

The victim and his wife, were riding their 2003 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic to a son’s birthday party May 8, 2007, when the rear tire suddenly deflated. The husband, who was driving, lost control of the vehicle, which crashed, ejecting him and his wife some 140 feet. The husband suffered massive, fatal head injuries. The wife sustained serious, permanent injuries.

Both were active members of the Butte Harley Davidson motorcycle club; the husband was considered a mentor by many members, who looked up to him for his experience and safety advocacy, while his wife served as club secretary.

Twenty three people are known to have been killed or seriously injured in accidents involving these tires, according to www.unsafemotorcycles.com. “We believe this is the tip of the iceberg. The defect in these tires appears to be worsening as the tires age, leading to more instances of sudden deflation and serious injury,” says Billy Edwards, the attorney in the Gageby case.

At least two lawsuits have been filed recently involving the tires, one in Butte, MT, the other in Atlanta, GA. According to the suits, a defect in the bead seat area of the tire may be to blame.