Can I sue the tire manufacturer after a blowout crash?

Yes, if the tire failed due to a manufacturing or design defect rather than normal wear or lack of maintenance. This is a product liability claim, separate from (and sometimes in addition to) a negligence claim against the trucking company for failing to inspect or replace a worn tire.

What federal rule governs commercial truck tire condition?

49 CFR § 393.75 sets minimum tread depth and condition requirements for commercial vehicle tires and prohibits certain visibly damaged or defective tires from being used. Violations can support a negligence claim against the carrier.

How fast do I need to act to preserve the evidence after a tire blowout crash?

Immediately. Trucking companies are not required to keep a failed tire indefinitely, and it is common for the tire to be discarded or the vehicle repaired within days. An attorney can send a spoliation/preservation letter right away to legally require the carrier to preserve the tire and maintenance records.

Tire Blowout Caused an 18-Wheeler Accident? Here's Who Can Be Liable in Texas

A tire blowout on an 18-wheeler is frequently the result of under-inflation, worn tread, an overloaded trailer, or a defective retread — not random chance. Federal regulation 49 CFR § 393.75 requires commercial vehicles to maintain minimum tread depth and prohibits certain damaged or defective tires from being on the road. If a blowout caused your crash, the trucking company, a maintenance contractor, or a tire manufacturer may be liable. Call (956) 686-4357 for a free consultation.

When a commercial truck tire fails at highway speed, the results are often catastrophic — the truck can jackknife, the trailer can swing into adjacent lanes, or the driver can lose control entirely. In South Texas, extreme summer heat adds another real risk factor: heat dramatically accelerates tire degradation, and an already-worn or under-inflated tire is far more likely to fail on a hot McAllen or RGV highway in July than in a milder climate.

What Causes Commercial Tire Blowouts

Under-inflation — the single largest cause of commercial tire failure; a tire running low on air flexes more, builds heat, and separates
Worn tread or dry rot — federal rules require adequate tread depth on steering axle tires specifically
Overloading — a trailer loaded beyond its rated capacity puts more stress on every tire
Defective retreads — retread tires are common in commercial trucking and, when improperly manufactured or applied, can separate at speed

Who Can Be Liable

Because federal law (49 CFR § 393.75) requires carriers to inspect tires as part of routine vehicle maintenance, a blowout caused by a tire that should have been caught in inspection can support a negligence claim against the trucking company. If the tire itself was defectively manufactured, the tire maker may face a separate product liability claim. If a third-party maintenance shop serviced the vehicle, that shop may share liability too — which is why preserving the physical tire and the carrier’s maintenance logs immediately after a crash is critical.

What to Do After a Tire-Blowout Crash

Get medical attention and request a police report
If safe, photograph the failed tire, the debris field, and the DOT number on the trailer/tractor
Do not let the trucking company’s insurer take possession of or dispose of the tire before it can be independently inspected
Call a truck accident lawyer quickly — carriers routinely dispose of failed tires and overwrite maintenance logs on a rolling schedule

Chris Sanchez investigates commercial vehicle failures throughout McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley, including tire, brake, and maintenance-related 18-wheeler crashes. See our 18-wheeler accident practice page or our full guide to choosing a McAllen personal injury attorney. Free consultation, no fee unless we win.