Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is recalling more than 24,000 tires sold under the Cooper and Mastercraft brands, as well as tires produced for Big O Tires and Les Schwab Tire Centers.
Cooper says the 24,459 tires may have a ply cord distortion which could lead to a parting of the lower sidewall compounds extending to the cord material — and that could lead to tire failure. Driving at high speeds may cause the condition to occur, and Cooper says it should be avoided until the tires have been inspected and replaced if they fall under the specified tire identification numbers.
The recall covers certain size 235/65R18 Cooper Discoverer SRX, Evolution H/T, Discoverer HTP, Adventurer H/T CUV, Big O Big Foot A/S, Les Schwab Back Country QS3 Touring HT and Mastercraft Courser HSX Tour tires.
Here are the specifics:
| Brand | Tire line | Tire size | Production dates |
| Big O | Big Foot A/S | 235/65R18 | 07/22/2018-09/08/2018 |
| Cooper | Adventurer H/T CUV | 235/65R18 | 07/29/2018-10/20/2018 |
| Cooper | Discover SRX | 235/65R18 | 09/23/2018-10/20/2018 |
| Cooper | Discoverer HTP | 235/65R18 | 08/19/2018-10/20/2018 |
| Cooper | Evolution H/T | 235/65R18 | 07/22/2018-10/20/2018 |
| Les Schwab | Back Country QS3 Touring HT | 235/65R18 | 09/16/2018-10/20/2018 |
| Mastercraft | Courser HSX Tour | 235/65R18 | 07/22/2018-09/08/2018 |
Cooper says it discovered the defect while analyzing warranty data. In May 2019 the company found an increased rate of return for the subject tires during the first quarter of 2019. Cooper searched its internal inventories and found five of the subject tires and began an internal review of the returned tires at its Findlay Regional Inspection Point.
Over a 12-day period in May 2019 Cooper conducted visual inspections and internal testing on the tires found in its warehouse, and on the returned tires. The sample tires were produced during weeks 3118, 3518, 3818 and 4118. Cooper says the tires all completed internal endurance testing without failure, the inspected tires exhibited a flex related anomaly in the lower sidewall bead area. An analysis of cut tires revealed ply cord distortion. One tire exhibited a parting of the lower sidewall bead area compounds that extended to the cord material.
Cooper has notified owners, and dealers will replace tires free of charge. The recall began June 14, 2019. Owners may contact Cooper Tire customer service at 1-800-854-6288. Cooper Tire's number for this recall is 172.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
