The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "defective tires" ...
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Tread Secrets
In this story, KNXV created a database of lawsuits against Cooper Tires relating to accidents caused by tire tread separation by obtaining internal documents from an inside source at Cooper. The documents reveal that Cooper knew of the tire defects but chose not to remedy them in order to save money. The story led to legal action by Cooper against KNXV to prevent rebroadcast and uncover the inside source of documents.
Tags: computer assisted reporting; automobiles; accidents; tread separation; Cooper Tires; product liability; wrongful death; tires
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Firestone
CBS News reports on "new dimensions of the Firestone Tire/Ford fiasco, as the first lawsuits were heard in court and new allegations involving other Firestone tires surfaced." The series exposes legal tricks Firestone used to delay trials and frustrate victims, and sheds light on some recently discovered problems with Firestone rescue vehicle tires. The major finding is that there is a pattern of cover-ups in regard to the tire blowouts both in Firestone and Ford. The investigative team has conducted off-the-record interviews with Firestone employees who confirm information on continuing flaws in production.
Tags: TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; consumer affairs; defective tires; road accidents; whistleblowers; SUVs; deaths; drivers; Ford Bronco; courts; lawyers; cars
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Firestone Follow-Up
KIRO-TV reveals "the resale of used, recalled Firestone tires." Through hidden camera investigation the report exposes "tire stores putting potentially dangerous tires back on the road" and "customers cheating Firestone by swapping old tires for new ones." The reporters find that "spare tires on some new Ford trucks were identical to all the recalled tires."
Tags: TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; safety; defects; Consumer Protection Act; black market
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Failing Tires Carry Fatal Consequences
The Chicago Sun-Times was the first newspaper to cover the tread separation on Firestone radial tires. The story was first broken by a Houston-area television station. The defective Firestone tires did not become a national story until USA Today picked it up in early August. The Chicago Sun-Times also was the first to document similar problems in other tiremakers, "revealing that General Tire misled investigators about the extent of problems with their tires."
Tags: Firestone Tires; tread separation; General Tires; Ford Explorers
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The recall of Firestone tires used on Ford Explorers
On Aug. 1, USA Today alerted the nation to a problem a Houston, Texas television discovered months earlier: the treads on Firestone tires had peeled apart on 90 Ford Explorers killing four people. USA Today's national coverage of the problem contributed to Firestone's eventual recall of the defective tires.
Tags: Firestone tires; Ford Explorers; national exposure; recall; automobiles; cars; accidents; tread; peeling; tires; blow-outs; danger; autos; safety and regulation; tires; NHTSA; CAR
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Wrong Turns
Brill's Content reveals that a television station in Houston, KPRC, a NBC affiliate, broke the story on the Firestone tire defects in 1996. Edwards tries to explain why this story was not picked up by the national media at that time.
Tags: Firestone tires; automobilies; media; Houston; KPRC; deaths