14:32 25-12-2025

Jury orders Michelin to pay $220M over LTX M/S2 tire failure

A New Mexico jury held Michelin liable for a fatal Ford Excursion crash, awarding $220M over an LTX M/S2 tire failure. What it says about tire age, design, and risk.

A high-profile verdict on safety and quality: a New Mexico jury has ordered Michelin North America to pay $220 million in a lawsuit over a fatal crash that plaintiffs said was triggered by a tire failure on a Ford Excursion. Case materials state the incident occurred in 2021 in Gaines County, Texas, when the full-size SUV suffered a front-left tire blowout, crossed into oncoming traffic, and collided with a heavy vehicle towing a trailer. Three members of the vehicle owner’s family were killed.

The dispute centered on the Michelin LTX M/S2 all-season tire. Plaintiffs argued the issue originated at the factory and manifested as a tread separation tied to several factors. Their list included weak adhesion between steel belts, inadequate belt-edge protection, aspects of the belt construction, a shortage of antioxidants, and a mismatch between belt width and the tread. They also cited production anomalies such as layer shifts, improper splices, and uneven wire placement.

Michelin, according to reports, maintained the tire may have had prior damage. The jury did not accept that argument and assigned 100% of the responsibility to the manufacturer. The company is likely to seek a review on appeal.

One detail that matters for owners of high-mileage vehicles: the tire in question was produced around June 2014, making it about seven years old and showing roughly 100,000 km at the time of the crash. On paper, that still fits common service-life guidelines, yet the case underscores how age and usage history elevate risk—especially on heavy SUVs—leaving little margin for error.