This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Chevrolet Silverado tires problems
severe 35 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
35
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
2crashes
1injury
What stands out
Of the 15 model years of Chevrolet Silverado we track for tires problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 35.
Owners have filed 35 tires complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering tires on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This warranty administration bulletin provide policy information new tire warranty program and global warranty management submission information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗P245/70R17 GENERAL AMERITRAC TIRE WEAR VIBRATION. UPDATED 12/13/07. UPDATED 1/30/08. UPDATED 5/25/11.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗20 INCH WHEELS AND TIRES AVAILABLE THROUGH GMSPO.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2005 Silverados describe tire failures across multiple failure modes. Blowouts occur frequently, sometimes with no warning: sidewall ruptures at highway speeds, tread separations, and complete structural failures reported on Bridgestone Dueller A/T, General Ameri-Trac, BF Goodrich, Michelin, Firestone, and off-brand tires. Many blowouts happen at surprisingly low mileage—2,500 to 40,000 miles—causing loss of vehicle control, property damage (rims, fenders, suspension), and repair costs up to $4,500.
Premature tread wear is widespread: tires reported bald or nearly bald at 10,000–31,000 miles despite rotation and balancing. Owners cite uneven wear patterns, hydroplaning risk, and rough ride. Belt slip and ply separation precede failures with abnormal vibration. Out-of-round tires installed at dealership cause shimmy and rough handling.
Wrong tire specifications—car tires instead of light-truck tires, or 16-inch mixed with 17-inch—lead to blowouts and warranty denials. Rubber deterioration (chipping, cracking, chunks falling off) occurs without road hazards. One spare tire became trapped under the vehicle and required professional extraction.
Warranty coverage is inconsistent: some dealers honor claims; others refuse, citing wrong tire type or denying manufacturer involvement. Tire retailers refuse service recalls if tires weren't purchased from them. Manufacturers contacted offer limited remedies.
Same Chevrolet Silverado tires reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Blowouts and Sidewall Failures
Tires blow out suddenly during highway driving, often with no prior warning signs. Failures occur at the sidewall, tread separation, or complete structural failure. Several occur at relatively low speeds and on newer tires.
When: Most occurring between 2,500–40,000 miles; some at 78,000+ miles. Multiple failures reported in 2005–2014 timeframe, with 2023–2024 reports of newer tire failures.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden blowout with hissing sound; Rear vehicle sway or loss of control; Tread separation from carcass; Sidewall rupture; Loud noise followed by complete tire failure; No prior warning lights or vibration in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement required. Reports mention $3,000–$4,500 in collateral vehicle damage (rim, fender, suspension). One Bridgestone Dueller A/T replacement at 2,500 miles; BF Goodrich and Michelin tires also replaced.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA recall 12T-019 cited for BF Goodrich tires; some authorized dealers refused to honor warranty if tire not purchased from them. Firestone initially denied replacement/compensation. General Motors and tire manufacturers contacted but often offered no free remedy.
Premature and Uneven Tread Wear
Tires wear out rapidly and unevenly, becoming unsafe before typical mileage expectations. Some owners report aggressive tread loss, bald spots, and hydroplaning risk despite rotation and balancing.
When: 10,000–31,000 miles; one report at 16,900 miles described tires as 'almost bald.' Issues reported 2005–2014.
Symptoms owners cite: Visible uneven wear across tread surface; Bald spots at 10,000–31,000 miles; Hydroplaning tendency even on dry roads; Tread withering rapidly after rotation and balancing; Rough ride feel, vibration at speeds over 80 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replaced tires but sometimes with incorrect types (car tires instead of light-truck tires). Road Force balancing performed but did not resolve issues. One owner replaced all four tires at personal cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs cited. Dealers and GM representatives refused to acknowledge premature wear as defect.
Belt Separation and Ply Separation
Internal tire structure fails, with belts slipping or plies separating from the carcass. Owners report abnormal vibration that precedes visible damage.
When: Reported in 2014 (June and August); one BF Goodrich failure at 138,000 miles vehicle mileage. Belt slip detected after highway driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Strong vibration during highway driving; Abnormal noise from tire area; Steering wheel vibration; Ply separation diagnosed by technician
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacements required. Firestone tires from same batch recommended for replacement. New tires installed (non-Firestone in one case due to availability).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Firestone initially denied replacement/compensation. Tire shop contacted Firestone but denial persisted.
Out-of-Round Tires and Shimmy
Tires installed at dealership are out of round or otherwise defective, causing vehicle shimmy and rough ride. Partial replacements do not resolve issue.
When: Reported within first 5,000 miles of vehicle ownership (April 2005 report with 4,685 miles).
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shimmy or shaking; Rough ride feel; Persistent vibration after tire rotation and balancing; Inability to feel road details normally
Repairs/costs cited: GM dealer replaced two of four tires but owner indicates all four should have been replaced. Road Force balancing attempted without success.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM dealer performed warranty replacements but incompletely.
Wrong Tire Type Installed
Retailers or dealerships install incorrect tire specifications—car tires instead of light-truck tires, or 16-inch tires mixed with 17-inch—creating safety and warranty issues.
When: July 2023 purchase (Walmart); vehicle had 2005 model year.
Symptoms owners cite: Tire blowout after installation of incorrect type; Warranty denial due to tire specification mismatch; Vehicle handling and braking concerns with mixed tire sizes
Repairs/costs cited: Walmart Riverton refused warranty replacement, citing wrong tire type. Laramie Walmart tire manager refused to replace, claiming customer fault. One customer faced $1,200 out-of-pocket replacement cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tire retailers denied warranty coverage, citing wrong specifications purchased. GM states mixing tire sizes can cause loss of control; dealership contradicted this with internal bulletin.
Rubber Deterioration and Degradation
Tire rubber separates, chips, cracks, or falls off the tire structure without normal wear or road hazard damage. Appears as structural failure within the rubber compound itself.
When: Reports from 2005–2012; some on relatively new tires.
Symptoms owners cite: Rubber chunks falling off tire; Visible chipping and cracking in tread; Holes appearing in tire surface; Rubber separation from sidewall area
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement necessary. Bridgestone/Firestone tires notably mentioned. Dealers sometimes quoted replacement costs rather than warranty coverage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers told owners 'too bad,' refused warranty claims. Firestone representatives unreachable in some cases.
Spare Tire Stuck in Well
Spare tire becomes trapped and cannot be lowered from underneath the vehicle, preventing emergency tire access.
When: Reported at 32,000 miles; one incident in 2013.
Symptoms owners cite: Secondary latch cannot be released; Multiple attempts to free tire unsuccessful; Requires professional intervention to detach
Repairs/costs cited: Two Chevy dealers attempted release over 2 days before successfully freeing tire.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no repair performed by dealership.
Synthesized from 35 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had tires trouble with your 2005 Chevrolet Silverado?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the tires problem on the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a meaningful issue. 35 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $150.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Across the 24 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most tires failures cluster between 15,800 and 98,188 miles, with the median around 54,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,800; a quarter make it past 98,188. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $150 for tires repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Chevrolet/Silverado.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.