A growing number of lawsuits link tire failures in large "Class A" motor homes to serious and fatal accidents. Class A recreational vehicles usually seat up to six people with a kitchen, living area, bathroom and bedroom. They often contain ceramic floors, granite countertops and slide out sections that enlarge it when parked at a campground.

These heavy loads, together with weight shifting inside the RV, place too much pressure on tires that are inadequate for the load, resulting in sudden tire failures. RV manufacturers are accused of under rating the axel weight of their vehicles and equipping them with tires that cannot bear the load. The tire failures normally occur in the front end of the RV, which has only single tires on each side instead of doubles.

A front blow-out makes it almost impossible to steer. Additionally, due to the fact that many RVs are only used a month or two a year, the tires are often old, increasing the risk of tire separation. The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTA) is investigating tire failures in Class A motor homes.

The agency reported that as purchasers of Class A motor homes select an increasing number of features, such as slide-out galleys and bedrooms, the weight of the vehicles increase resulting in higher axel and tire loads. The agency has recommended that RV manufacturers install larger tires and upgrade other load-carrying components, or increase the specified inflation pressures for tires.

An Alabama family was returning home from a vacation at Disney World in their 2001 Monaco Diplomat RV when the treads came off the left front tire. The RV crossed over the median, cutting across two lanes of traffic, slamming into two embankments and hitting a sign before finally stopping at a rest area. The owner was paralyzed. His wife and daughter-in-law both suffered broken backs. His son had a broken hip.

The owner died seven months later in the hospital of complications from injuries sustained in the crash. The owner's family is suing Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Monaco Coach Corporation alleging that the RV's tires were defective and unreasonably dangerous. The case is scheduled for trial in September of 2007.