1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR TIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEPARATED. THERE WAS A VIBRATION AND A LOUD NOISE SECONDS PRIOR TO THE TIRE SEPARATION. ALSO, THE TRUCK SKIDDED SIDEWAYS, HOWEVER CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS REGAINED AND IT WAS PULLED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE VENDOR OF THE TIRE TO CHECK THE PRESSURE AND ROTATE THE 4 TIRES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED 3 SEPARATE INCIDENTS OF TIRE SEPARATION ON THE SAME TYPE OF TIRE. BOTH SERVICE AND TIRE DEALERS WERE NOTIFIED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THE TIRES SHOULD BE INFLATED TO 35 PSI. TIRE MANUFACTURER: CONTINENTAL TIRE NORTH AMERICA, INC. BRAND: AMERITRAC SUV. SIZE: P265/70R16

TOTAL FAILURE OF A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT SIZED 235/75/R15 WITH DOT SERIAL NUMBER 8XHL1RY1201 DUE TO 1 INCH SIZED ROCK THROUGH THE TREAD, NOT THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE(S) HAVE MORE THAN ADEQUATE TREAD ON ALL 4 WHEELS AND ARE ON A 1998 CHEVROLET C1500 SILVERADO PICKUP. THE TIRES ARE ALL THE SAME BUT THE SERIAL NUMBERS ARE QUITE DIFFERENT. THESE TIRES WERE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASE USED FROM A MISSISSIPPI FORD DEALERSHIP. WHEN TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE DEALER THE SERVICE MAN STATED THAT THE TIRE IS RUINED AND IT NOT PART OF A RECALL WHICH ANOTHER TIRE STORE SAID IT WAS. IS THIS A RECALLED TIRE AND IS THERE ANY RECOURSE I CAN TAKE. THE FIRESTONE DEALER STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO PUT A DIFFERENT MODEL OF TIRE ON THE VEHICLE (THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE ANYMORE) AND THAT I REALLY SHOULD REPLACE ALL 4. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE 4 TIRES FOR ONE THAT FAILED BY A ROCK WHEN THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TRUCK/SUV/4WD TIRES. *JB

FOUR KELLY SPRINGFIELD NAVIGATOR GOLD 108SXL WS WERE PURCHASED ON MAY 31, 2001 AT FLYNNS TIRE IN KENT, OHIO. ON JULY 3, 2002 I HAD THE TIRES ROTATED AND THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT DONE. ON JULY 15, 2002 I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND HEARD A POP AND THOUGHT I MAY HAVE STRUCK SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. I LOOKED BUT SAW NOTHING IN THE ROAD. I WENT TO MY DESTINATION. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY VAN THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS FLAT. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK OUT TO FIX MY TIRE AND WHILE HE WAS RETRIEVING THE SPARE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE HE TOLD ME THE REAR RIGHT TIRE WAS DAMAGED WITH A BUBBLE PROTRUDING FROM A TEAR IN THE SIDE WALL EXACTLY LIKE THE FRONT TIRE. BOTH ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE NOT VISIBLE TO US. I DROVE THE ONE MILE TO FLYNNS TIRES AND REPORTED THAT BOTH TIRES WERE DAMAGED BUT HEARD A POP . HE REMOVED THE TIRE FROM THE REAR AND MADE NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND MY CHARGE WAS 98.79 FOR TWO NEW TIRES. THE TIRES WERE RETAINED BY FLYNNS TIRES. ON JULY 24,2002 WE TOOK A TRIP TO TENN. AND ON THE WAY HEARD A POP .IN TENN. WE FOUND THE REAR TIRE FLAT BUT STILL ONE OF THE ORIGINAL BECAUSE THE NEW TIRES WERE PLACED ON THE FRONT OF THE VAN. EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT THERE I COULD DESCRIBE TO MY HUSBAND EXACTLY WHAT THE TIRE WOULD LOOK LIKE WHEN IT WAS REMOVED. THE TIRE WAS REMOVED AND THE SPARE PUT ON AND THE TIRE HAD THE FOUR INCH TEAR IN THE SIDEWALL WITH THE RUBBER BUBBLE PROTRUDING FROM IT. WE HAD TO LOCATE A DEALER WHO SERVICED KELLY SPRINGFIELD IN TENN. THE TECHNICIAN REPORTED TO MY HUSBAND THAT IT WAS TIRE FAILURE AND AFTER CONTACTING GOODYEAR/KELLY SPRINGFIELD THE TWO TIRES WERE REPLACED THAT REMAINED FROM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE. THE COMPANY WOULD NOT GIVE ME FULL CREDIT FOR THE TIRES AND GAVE ME A TWO TIRES WITH LESS MILEAGE OVER THE LIFE OF THE TIRES. SO NOT ONLY DID I RECEIVE A DOWN GRADE IN THE TIRES BUT I HAD TO PAY ANOTHER 50.10 TOWARDS THE REPLACEMENT TIRES AND ALSO PAY FOR THE BALANCING OF THE TIRES. MY BILL WAS 98.68. TS

IN FEBRUARY OF 2002 THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS REPLACED FOR RADIAL PULL. ON SUNDAY 6/2 THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS REPLACE FOR TIRE SEPARATION. ON WEDNESDAY 6/5 BOTH REAR TIRES FAILED DUE TO TIRE SEPARATION AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE MILAGE FOR FOUR FAILURES WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000 PLUS OR MINUS 250 MILES. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VAN AND THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. I BELIEVE THAT FOUR DIFFERENT TIRE FAILURES ON THE SAME VEHICLE INDICATES A SERIOUS QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE WITH ALL THE TIRES FROM THAT MANUFACTURING LOT.*AK