DETROIT (AP) - U.S. safety regulators are investigating reports that some Michelin heavy truck tires can fail and cause crashes.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has six complaints and a police report about seven crashes involving the 2014 model of Michelin XZA tires.
The agency said in documents posted Friday that about 10,000 of the 22.5-inch diameter tires are in use.
Documents say the tires could fail catastrophically when used on the front steering axle. No injuries were reported in the crashes.
Five reports came from the same fleet. All reports involved auto-hauling tractor-trailers.
The agency said it opened the probe to figure out how often the problem happens and how many tires it affects. It could seek a recall.
Michelin, part of the France-based manufacturer, said in a statement that it is cooperating with the NHTSA investigation.