Michelin Abandons Its Pax Run-Flat Tire System
This is an update on the class actions this and other law firms have filed against Michelin and Honda concerning the "PAX" run-flat tires on the 2005-2007 Honda Odyssey Touring minivans and certain Acura RL models.
The cases involve Michelin's "PAX" run-flat tire system consisting of a special tire, support ring, wheel and tire presssure monitoring system. The PAX Systems have proven to be a disaster for consumers--the tires wear prematurely and replacements, which only available from Honda and Michelin dealers, are very expensive costing as much as $300 per tire. Many owners had a great deal of difficulty even finding a Honda or Michelin dealer that had the special equipment needed to replace a PAX tire.
In November 2007, Michelin announced it was throwing in the towel on the PAX System. According to a report in the trade presss, Michelin said it was ending research on PAX "because there is no big market development." Of course, this is a euphemistic way of saying the PAX system has been a failure.
The federal class actions have now been reassigned to a federal judge in the District of Maryland. A separate California state court action is pending in the Alameda County Superior Court on behalf of California owners.
