Motorcycle Accident Allegedly Caused by New Tires

Case Overview

This case involves a motorcycle accident. The plaintiff, a forty-three-year-old female, purchased a new motorcycle. She had been riding for over twenty years. Also, she had the dealership place new tires on the motorcycle. The new tires were installed, but had a layer of wax on them for protection, as is commonplace with new tires. When leaving the dealership, she drove for eleven and a half miles, and on a slight turn, the motorcycle slid out from under her, which caused the plaintiff to fall and sustain serious injuries to her arms and head. The plaintiff brought suit against the tire manufacturer, stating that the tires were defective. An expert in tire failure analysis was sought to opine on the issue.

Questions to the Automotive expert and their responses

Is this a normal occurrence in a motorcycle with new tires?

There are two aspects of this case that need to be discussed: the status of the wheels and the status of the roadway. Regarding the wheels, most new tires have a layer of wax on them for preservation. Relevant literature suggests that any rider should spend seventy-five to one hundred miles 'breaking in' tires. Still, reasonable caution should ensure that the rider is safe with the tires, and unless there are significantly elevated speeds, the motorcycle should not slide out with the force that it did in this case. Still, tires, even when new, should not give out like they did in this case. I would like to examine the specifics of the tires and model of the bike because, based on the facts presented, it appears that something was abnormal with them.

About the expert

This expert has been a motorcycle riding safety coach for nearly a decade, in charge of class sizes of up to 24. His statewide accreditation in motorcycle safety makes him qualified to perform this review.