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 Trailblazer tires problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
1crash
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Chevrolet Trailblazer we track for tires problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 12.
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 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 ↗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 ↗This service bulletin provides information for accurate tire pressures that ensure the safe handling and appropriate ride characteristics of GM cars and trucks.
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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Continental ContiTrac tires (P245/65R17) are the dominant complaint across this cluster. Multiple owners report tread separating from the sidewalls during highway driving at 65–72 mph—sometimes with two failures within a week on the same vehicle. Owners describe hearing a thumping sound, seeing rubber flying into the air, and finding the tire completely separated, leaving only steel belts intact. One failure at 47,000 miles caused vehicle swerving; another sent a vehicle into a median barrier after a blowout. One owner replaced four Continental tires that failed and received only a $50 credit from the manufacturer.
One owner reported all four Michelin Latitude Tour tires cracking significantly on the sidewalls near the tread at just 25,000 miles—well short of the 65,000-mile warranty.
Spare tire systems also surface repeatedly: the underside-mounted winch becomes difficult to operate and rusts after minimal use, with GM claiming this is normal wear caused by salt exposure. A separate incident involved the cable holding the spare tire rusting and failing during highway travel, causing the tire to swing loose. GM declined warranty coverage in both cases.
Failure modes owners describe
Continental ContiTrac Tread Separation
Tread separates from tire sidewalls, typically at highway speeds, leaving only steel belts. Affects multiple Continental ContiTrac models (245/65R17, DOT A38T variants). Some consumers report multiple tires failing within the same week.
When: 47,000 miles reported; failures occur during highway driving at 65–72 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Thumping sound before failure; Rubber flying into air; Tread completely separated from sidewalls; Vehicle swerving or jerking slightly; Sudden loss of control
Repairs/costs cited: One owner paid $500 for two replacement tires in Utah. Continental offered $50 credit toward first replacement. Multiple owners report needing full tire replacement; damage to bumper, quarter panel, and interior trim reported in some cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Continental offered $50 credit on one case. No broad recall mentioned in narratives.
Michelin Latitude Tour Sidewall Cracking
Significant cracking on sidewall near tread circumference on all four Michelin Latitude Tour tires (P245/65R17). Cracks range from superficial to deep and wide. Occurred early in tire life despite 65,000-mile warranty.
When: Only 25,000 miles on tires; tires were 2 years old
Symptoms owners cite: Significant cracking all around tire circumference on sidewall; Deep and wide cracks visible
Repairs/costs cited: All four tires required replacement well before warranty limit (25,000 of 65,000 miles).
Spare Tire Winch Corrosion and Mechanical Failure
Spare tire winch (underside-mounted) becomes difficult to operate after minimal use. Winch deteriorates rapidly, allegedly due to rust from salt exposure in certain climates. Secondary release mechanism is not intuitive. GM attributes failure to normal wear and rust caused by environmental factors.
When: First use revealed difficulty; design prone to rust in salt states
Symptoms owners cite: Difficult to lower tire on first use; Winch deemed defective after one operation; Rust on winch components; Spare tire unable to snug up properly to underside of body
Repairs/costs cited: One owner claimed dealership confirmed winch needed replacement. Owner paid out of pocket after warranty expiration.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM denied warranty coverage, claiming normal wear and tear and environmental rust. Manual contains loophole GM used to deny responsibility.
Spare Tire Mounting Cable Rust and Cable Failure
Cable holding underside-mounted spare tire rusts and fails while vehicle is in motion on highway. Tire swings from mounting point, creating hazard.
When: Occurred during highway driving; timing/mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Spare tire swinging from mounting point; Cable rusted; Cable gave way
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM declined responsibility; vehicle was out of warranty.
Synthesized from 12 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 Trailblazer?
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 Trailblazer?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $150.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, tires issues most often appear around 47,550 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/Trailblazer.
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.