Kumho Solus TA11 Tire Recall
There are moments on the road that change everything. One second you are in control of your vehicle, and the next you are not. When a tire fails at highway speed, the window between a close call and a fatal crash can be measured in inches. For drivers riding on certain Kumho Solus TA11 tires, that risk is now officially documented — and The Lyon Firm wants to make sure anyone who has already paid that price knows their legal rights.
Kumho Tire Co., Inc. has announced a recall of its Solus TA11 tires in size 225/60R16 due to a tread separation defect. According to the recall notice, the tread on these tires may separate during use, creating a significant risk of losing vehicle control and causing a crash. This is not a theoretical hazard. Tread separation on a moving vehicle is one of the most dangerous tire failures a driver can experience, and it is the kind of defect that should never reach the road in the first place.
At The Lyon Firm, we are investigating claims on behalf of drivers and passengers who were injured in accidents connected to this defect. If you or someone in your family was hurt, this article explains what happened, what the law provides, and how to protect yourself starting today.
WHICH KUMHO TIRES ARE BEING RECALLED?
Kumho Tire Co., Inc., referred to in the official notice as KTCI, is recalling specific units of the Solus TA11 tire in size 225/60R16. The company has acknowledged that the tread on these tires may separate, causing these products to fall out of compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 139, which governs new pneumatic radial tires for light vehicles. That federal standard exists precisely to ensure that tires sold in the United States can withstand the demands of ordinary road use without catastrophic structural failure.
KTCI has stated it will respond to the recall by either refunding the original tire purchase price or replacing the affected tires at no cost to the owner. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed beginning May 3, 2026.
You can verify whether your tires are included in this recall and review the official NHTSA recall record at https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/recalls. If you have not received a notification letter and believe you may have the affected tire size, do not wait for the letter to arrive. Check the database now.
WHY TREAD SEPARATION IS SO DANGEROUS
Understanding why this recall matters requires understanding what tread separation actually does to a vehicle in motion. A tire is a carefully engineered structure. The tread is bonded to an internal carcass through a manufacturing process that, when done correctly, produces a unified and stable product. When that bond is defective, heat and stress from normal driving can cause the tread to peel away from the body of the tire.
When this happens at low speeds, a driver may be able to maintain some control. When it happens at highway speeds, the outcome is often violent and sudden. The vehicle can pull sharply to one side. The structural collapse of the tire can cause the rim to contact the pavement. On SUVs, crossovers, and heavier passenger vehicles, the type of vehicle most commonly fitted with a 225/60R16 tire. the combination of height and weight dramatically increases the risk of a full rollover.
Victims of tread separation accidents typically suffer some of the most severe injuries seen in personal injury litigation: traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal bleeding, and in a significant number of cases, death. Surviving family members are left to navigate not only grief but financial devastation. Medical bills accumulate. Paychecks stop coming. And in many cases, the family does not immediately know that a defective tire was the root cause of everything that followed.
THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK: HOW PRODUCT LIABILITY WORKS
Strict liability is the foundation of most product defect cases. Under this doctrine, a manufacturer can be held responsible for injuries caused by a defective product without the injured party needing to prove that the company was careless. The existence of the defect and its role in causing the injury are what matter. The Kumho recall notice itself is significant here — it is an official acknowledgment that these tires may not meet federal safety standards.
Negligence claims examine what Kumho knew during the design, testing, and manufacturing process. Internal quality control data, consumer complaint records, communications with regulators, and engineering assessments can all become evidence in these cases. The NHTSA‘s enforcement division tracks defect investigations and manufacturer compliance history.
Victims of defective tire accidents may be entitled to recover a broad range of compensation. Economic damages cover the concrete financial losses: emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, future medical care, lost income during recovery, and reduced earning capacity if the injuries are permanent. In wrongful death cases, recoverable damages may include funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
Non-economic damages address the human dimension of the loss. In cases where a manufacturer’s conduct is found to be especially reckless, punitive damages may also be available as a way of signaling to the industry that cutting corners on safety carries real consequences.
CRITICAL STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR CLAIM RIGHT NOW
If you were in an accident that may be connected to a Kumho Solus TA11 tire, the actions you take in the coming days matter enormously.
Preserve the tire. Do not allow anyone to dispose of, destroy, or return the failed tire. It is physical evidence. The same applies to all remaining tires on the vehicle. If a mechanic, insurer, or towing operator wants to discard it, refuse in writing and document that refusal.
Seek medical attention immediately if you have not already. Even injuries that feel manageable in the hours after an accident can reveal their true severity over days and weeks. A documented medical record is essential to any legal claim.
Product liability claims are governed by statutes of limitations that vary by state, typically ranging from two to four years from the date of the injury. Some states apply a discovery rule that may adjust this window depending on when the defect was known or reasonably discoverable. Missing the filing deadline does not weaken your case — it ends it. If you believe you have a claim, the time to act is now.
THE LYON FIRM IS INVESTIGATING CASES NOW
The Lyon Firm represents people who have been seriously harmed by defective products, and we understand the weight of what our clients are carrying when they come to us. We take cases on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no upfront legal fees and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
If you were injured in an accident involving a Kumho Solus TA11 tire, or if you lost a family member in such a crash, we want to hear from you. The sooner we connect, the sooner we can begin preserving evidence and building your case.