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 ↗2006 Chevrolet Silverado tires problems
moderate 34 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
34
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
What stands out
Owners have filed 34 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.
Among the 15 model years of Chevrolet Silverado in our records for tires problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
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 2006 Chevrolet Silverados report tire failures across numerous brands—Michelin, Uniroyal, Goodyear, Firestone, Federal, Cooper, Bridgestone, Nitto, BF Goodrich, and others. The most common failure is tread separation at highway speeds (55–75 mph), sometimes with minimal warning. One owner experienced a tire explosion while changing it after a bubble grew from 1 inch to 3 inches in an hour and a half. Another reported tread separation at 17,000 miles on a correctly inflated tire while towing.
Sidewall bubbles and bulges appear frequently, starting small and growing over time; tire shops have refused to remount tires due to catastrophic failure risk. Sidewall cracking and deterioration occur in a defined band around the entire tire, sometimes visible inside and out. Valve stem failures cause sudden deflation without visible damage.
Early tread wear patterns show center wear on all four tires despite proper inflation, and tread pieces separate on all four tires simultaneously in some cases. One owner noted tires that supposedly had a 60,000-mile lifespan failed at 16,000 miles. Poor traction and unexpected sliding on dry pavement appear with certain replacement brands. Tire shops and dealers often blame wear and tear or "nature of the beast" rather than acknowledge defects. Manufacturer responses range from partial claim reimbursement to complete denial of design defects.
Same Chevrolet Silverado tires reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Tread Separation
Tread separates from tire casing at highway speeds, causing sudden blowouts or complete tire failures. Occurs across multiple tire brands and can happen with relatively low mileage.
When: Typically 5,000–100,000+ miles; some instances under 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden blowout at highway speed (55–75 mph); Tread chunks missing or separating; Steering wheel vibration when separation occurs; Delamination visible before failure; Tire deterioration around sidewall above lettering
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement required; Michelin paid partial repair damages in one case after tread separation claim; other owners replaced tires at own expense
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Michelin found no design defect and paid partial claim; other manufacturers' responses not documented
Sidewall Bubbles and Bulges
Bubbles or bulges form on tire sidewalls, starting small and growing over time. Can expand to 3+ inches and pose risk of catastrophic failure.
When: Varies from discovery while parked to 9,100–103,000 miles on tire
Symptoms owners cite: Visible bubble on sidewall (1 inch growing to 3 inches); Multiple bubbles on same sidewall (up to four observed); Secondary bubbles on inside of tire; Smaller bubbles felt inside tire; Bubbles along tire bead
Repairs/costs cited: Tire shop refused to remount tire due to catastrophic failure risk; owners replaced tires out of pocket
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Goodyear offered $80 discount on replacement; others did not respond or were not contacted
Sidewall Deterioration and Cracking
Rubber sidewalls crack and deteriorate in a defined band around the entire tire, sometimes visible on both outer and inner surfaces. Can lead to blowouts.
When: Early in tire life; one case at 16,000 miles despite 60,000-mile rated lifespan
Symptoms owners cite: Visible cracks below tread on sidewall; Deterioration around entire tire sidewall above lettering; 0.5-inch slit forming in sidewall; Thread separation visible; Rubber cracking in defined area completely around tire
Repairs/costs cited: Firestone sidewall blowout at 16,000 miles; Federal Mogul cracking noted at 8,000 miles; Federal Couragia cracks growing at 10,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Firestone manufacturer stated they had never seen the failure mode; no other manufacturer responses documented
Valve Stem Failure
Valve stems crack or rupture without warning, causing sudden tire deflation. Multiple stem failures reported on same vehicle over time.
When: March 2007, March 2009, and other instances with timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Tire goes flat without visible damage; Valve stem ruptures or cracks; Immediate loss of air pressure; Failure occurs while driving or parked
Repairs/costs cited: Valve stems replaced; one owner noted it was an inside dually tire that prevented loss of control at 50 mph
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tire company stated valve stems were cracking but could not explain why; no other responses documented
Sidewall Blowout
Sidewall gives way suddenly at highway speeds, causing complete tire failure. Occurs with minimal warning and can result in loss of vehicle control.
When: Varies from 2,700 miles to 70,000+ mph; one case at 16,000 miles on new tire
Symptoms owners cite: Sidewall separates or bursts; Sudden loss of tire pressure; Vehicle vibration or pulling; Debris scattered from tire
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement necessary; new Michelin tire failed completely within days of installation; one owner noted tire debris damaged vehicle body panels and tool boxes
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Michelin claim for 07/15/2010 blowout resulted in no defect finding; damage partially reimbursed
Tire Out-of-Round and Loping
Tires develop out-of-round shape with irregular tread wear pattern causing vibration. Problem persists despite repeated rebalancing.
When: Early in vehicle ownership; one case at 1,800 miles on new vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Severe vibration at speeds over 30 mph; Vibration persists despite multiple rebalancing attempts; Out-of-round tire shape confirmed by tire dealer; Loping (bouncing) motion noticeable; Steering wheel vibration
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple rebalancing attempts failed; local tire dealer identified tires as out of round; dealer attempted to blame break-in period
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevrolet dealer blamed tires and suggested break-in period; no manufacturer support documented
Poor Traction and Sliding
Tires lose traction on dry pavement and dirt-free roads, causing vehicle to slide even at low speeds. ABS systems activate repeatedly.
When: Occurs within 2 months of tire purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Sliding on dry pavement near complete stop; ABS activation on clean, dry surfaces; Unexpected loss of grip; Unsafe deceleration behavior
Repairs/costs cited: Owner considered disabling ABS but noted sliding would persist; local dealer attributed problem to tires
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nitto manufacturer received complaint email but never responded
Center Tread Wear
Abnormal wear pattern develops in center of all four tires despite proper inflation and regular pressure checks.
When: After tires were purchased new at 25,000 vehicle miles; current mileage 42,000
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive wear in center of all four tires; Unnatural wear pattern despite proper maintenance; Wear continues despite regular pressure monitoring
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; contact referenced NHTSA campaign 04T018000 (tires tread/belt)
Tire Sidewall Deterioration (Rubber Degradation)
Sidewall rubber deteriorates and peels, exposing white interior. Occurs on multiple tires on same vehicle.
When: At approximately 72,000 vehicle miles; second set of tires also failed at 169,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: All four tire sidewalls deteriorating; White rubber exposed beneath deteriorated layer; Pattern repeated on replacement tires
Repairs/costs cited: Walmart (retailer) confirmed tires required replacement; owner had to replace both sets
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Continental manufacturer not made aware of issue by owner
Tread Piece Loss
Pieces of tread separate and go missing from tires, reducing traction and creating safety hazard.
When: Early in tire life; one case at approximately 5,000 miles on Hankook tires
Symptoms owners cite: Tread pieces missing on all four tires; Poor traction observed while driving; Multiple tread separations over 5-month period
Repairs/costs cited: All tires replaced; dealer stated defective tires would be resold; General Ameritrac tires reported blowing out at less than 20,000 miles
Synthesized from 34 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 2006 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 2006 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 34 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $150 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Across the 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most tires failures cluster between 7,968 and 109,000 miles, with the median around 44,085. A quarter of owners report trouble before 7,968; a quarter make it past 109,000. 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/2006/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.