This paper investigates the causes of a tyre failure that occurred on 21 March 1998. The investigation has shown that faults in the cast steel from which the tyre was formed were translated into flaws in the tyre which cracked through hydrogen embrittlement. The crack created within the tyre generated associated fatigue cracks and these led to the complete rupture of the tyre. Recommendations are made to improve specifications and quality processes to ensure that, in the future, such imperfections are found before tyres are fitted to vehicles.
