P 205/55R16 Front side tire has developed cracks/cuts along side wall. Bought tires recently from NTB-National Tire & Battery in Forest City, NC. I don't know how safe is to drive like this?

- Rutherfordton, NC, USA

Extreme cracking of tire sidewall, adjacent to the bead area of hankook optimo H725A. Size: 205/55R16 91H. Dot 1 grp dy H 0211 this tire was original equipment on a new 2011 VW Jetta sportwagon tdi. It had never been taken off the rim and was used during non-winter months only, with approximately 35,000 miles of use. The defect is on the inner sidewall and was discovered when the winter wheels/tires were being put on the car. It is fortunate that this extreme cracking did not cause a high speed catastrophic incident.

- Sherman, CT, USA

On April 19, 2013, tire pressure was low on the front passenger side. Upon checking the tire a large crack was notice on the inside wall of the tire. The tire was replaced at owner's expense of $177.01 with an odometer reading of 27293 on a 2011 VW Jetta tdi. On January 4, 2014, the owner noticed a large crack on the driver side front tire's sidewall. The owner called the dealership and no recalls were currently in place. The owner submitted a request for hankook to pay for reimbursement of all tire replacements as the owner feels the vehicle is not safe to drive with a potential tire blowout and loss of vehicle control.

- Shreve, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta equipped with hankook optimo H725A tires, size 205/55/R16H. The contact stated that while checking the air pressure on the tires, he noticed that the sidewall on both the front driver and passenger side tires exhibited several cracks. The tires were not replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage of the tire and the vehicle was 31,000.

- Santa Clara, CA, USA

Noticed large cracks in sidewall of hankook optimo H725A dot 1gpr dy H 0711 205/55 R16 91H - 2011 Volkswagen Jetta 45,000 miles. Had tire replaced at own expense. 9-12-2013 53,000 noticed 2 other tires now with the same large cracks in sidewall.

- Katy, TX, USA

On a trip to St. Charles, mo on 28 Mar 2013, after we parked, my son noticed severe sidewall breaks on the left front tire. He said it looked like the tire was about to blow. I thought that he was joking, but looked any way. Wow. I have never seen such severe condition on any tire, nor had I ever even heard of such a condition. There were numerous short breaks and long breaks inches long all around the outside of the sidewall. The breaks went all the way in with metal belts showing. We had just finished driving 200 miles on the interstate to get to St charles. I honestly don't know how we made it without a blowout and crash. I went immediately, and slowly, to the nearest tire dealer and purchased two new tires. I asked them to save the other tire so I might use as a possible spare since the tires had plenty of tread left. They put the "good" tire in the trunk for me. I later looked at the "good" tire and found that the inside sidewall was even worse than the "bad" tire! I feel very fortunate that these oe tires didn't cause a terrible accident. The other oe tires look ok but I will be replacing quickly. These tires are hankook optimo H725A tires.

- Lebanon, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta equipped with hankook optimo H725A tires, line size 205/55R/16H. The contact stated that while having a tire rotation performed on the vehicle at a local tire shop, the technician advised him that all four tires were cracked and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not provide further assistance since the tires were not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 50,000.

- Cape Coral , FL, USA

Palisades VW in NY striped my car of all original part and they are telling me that the car comes with old winter tires. I have tried to resolve this with them and they laughed in my face and told me to go and talk to the people that sold me car. My nephew changed my tire he said that I still am going to need a new one because he thought I a donut but I told him I have a full tire that it was not a donut and when he was done he told it wasn't. it was a full tire but again I figured maybe I was did not pay attention or I really did not see a full tire. When I got a flat on October 7th I did not want to bring my car back to palisade VW because they did not do a good job so I went back to where I got my car and they called and asked if I had my tires changed because the tires are not the one the car came with. I have never changed my tires and I did notice that they where different from when I got the car. Not only that but palisade mechanic stole my gas had a full tank both times and I got my car back with less then A1/4. please please I am begging for help I am a waitress I do not have the money for this I can't even afford to get apt please help me I am begging you. I need this car to be safe because I live with my niece and I baby sit her kid in exchange for room and board. These people saw the car seat and did not care if I crashed my car and killed the baby or any one else for that matter. Again I am begging for your help.

- New City, NY, USA

I have a 2011 VW Jetta with hankook optimo tires and noticed today after filling up the tires with air that the sidewalls on the tires were coming apart.

- Ca, CA, USA

The contact owns 2011 Volkswagen Jetta with hankook optimo H725A tires, line size: 205/55R/16. The contact mentioned that while at a tire shop for unrelated repairs, the technician noticed that the interior side walls of three of the tires started to rupture in and around the circumference. The contact stated that one of the tires was the front driver side but was unaware of the location of the other two tires affected. The tires were replaced. The dealer was made aware of failure. The approximate failure mileage was 34,500. Updated 09/06/12

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

As I'm driving along the interstate going 60 mph my tire pressure light comes on a mile later the steering wheel jerks out of my hand and I can hear the tire flapping. Luckily I was able to pull over to the side without an accident. I take the tire to the dealer where I bought the car five months (August) ago and they said there is nothing they can do but sell me another tire. The dealer also refused to give me the number to contact Continental directly about the tire. So far nothing has been done about the tire.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

Event leading to failure: Sunny mid-day, driving on the highway I heard a sound as if my tire had burst, and momentarily lost control of the vehicle. Did not crash. Failure and details: Once I halted the car, I inspected my passenger-side front tire, and though it was flat, there were no signs of rupture or perforation. I proceeded to change it, and, having removed it, I noticed a crack in the inner lumen. The crack was an arc of approximately 6 inches. Action to correct the failure: A spare tire was set in place and the car has been taken to the dealer. Further details: Dealer claims that the damage was user induced, but I was driving on the highway and there were no bumps, debris, nor did I crash. I fear this could happen to others. I had previously taken the car to the dealer because the low tire pressure light was on, but I was told that it was normal and that the sensor had to be rest.

- Hialeah, FL, USA

The turanza EL400 02 tires came standard on my new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. The tires have a vibration at 40-40 mph. Dealer says it is the tires. The vibration gets better with driving, but never completely goes away. Vibration is at its worst after the car has been sitting for several hours took the car tothe dealer on 2 separate service calls, they re balanced and rotated the tires for me. This was no help took the car to Firestone to no avail, the manager says that there's no way there can be a vibration from the tire at that speed. I assure you there is. I am very disappointed with Firestone disconcern with my safety.

- Cordova, TN, USA

I was driving on the san mateo bridge at approx 65 mph, while on the bridge my tpm alarm came on then immediately after the backend of the car started to swerve. I pulled over asap and as I came to a stop the tread portion of my rear tire came bouncing past me. After getting out of the car, I saw my car sitting on the rim. Later inspection of the tire and sidewalls showed no other damage except that the tire appeared to come apart right along the edge of the tire where the tread meets the sidewall. In comparison to the other tires, the style or model of tire has a sidewall groove in the mold. It appears that the tire failed along this groove on both sides of the tire. No other puncture marks or other sidewall trauma was present. Along this same groove on the other tires, the rubber appears to have imperfections, little bubbles and voids in the rubber that appear as if the rubber did not fully fill the mold for the tire. I still have the tire and sidewalls for inspection & pictures that can me emailed.

- Castro Valley, CA, USA