2004 Chrysler Crossfire

DEAR SIR OR MADAM: MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA WHEN SHE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE ON HER REAR, PASSENGER TIRE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AS SOON AS THE FAILURE HAPPENED. THE FAILURE WAS VERY ODD. THE RUBBER COMPLETELY SEPARATED AROUND THE RIM. A CIRCLE APPROXIMATELY 30MM REMAINED ON THE RIM. ALL OF THE RUBBER COMPLETELY SEPARATED MAKING A PERFECT CUT 360 DEG. AROUND THE FRONT FACE OF THE TIRE. AFTER PERUSING THE INTERNET, I WAS UNABLE TO FIND A SIMILAR FAILURE MODE. THUS, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER TIRES ON THE CAR.

I PURCHASED KUMHO SPT TREAD PATTERNED TIRES FOR MY 2004 CROSSFIRE AS REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE TIRES FAILED WITH LESS THAN 22,000 MILES. THE RADIAL TREAD BEGAN TO SHOW AND THE CAR BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE ANYTIME RAIN OCCURRED. I COMPLAINED TO THE COMPANY AND THERE WAS NO CONCERN ON THEIR PART HOWEVER I AM CONCERNED FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WHO BUY THESE TIRES. THE ARE KUMHO TIRES 225/40R18 AND 255/35R19 I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE TIRES. *TR

I AM FINDING IT HARD TO SHED LIGHT ON SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVING POORLY MANUFACTURED TIRES. I HAVE BEEN CORRESPONDING WITH CONTINENTAL TIRE NORTH AMERICA REGARDING THEIR GENERAL BRANDED TIRES THAT I PURCHASED ON MARCH 19, 2009. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES SINCE THEN AND HAVE TRIED IN VAIN TO HAVE THE TIRE INSTALLERS REPLACE THEM. I THEN ESCALATED IT IN FEBRUARY WITH CONTINENTAL AND THEY HAVE BEEN LACKADAISICAL WITH THEIR APPROACH TO THIS ISSUE. THE TIRES ARE OF POOR BUILT QUALITY, UNRELIABLE, EXTREMELY NOISY AND THE RIDE QUALITY IS TERRIBLE. I EMAILED THEM SEVERAL TIMES POINTING TO THE FACT THE THESE TIRES SOUND AND FEEL UNSAFE, IT SWAYS MY VEHICLE ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY AND AFTER INSPECTION BY A REPUTABLE TIRE DEALER AT CONTINENTAL'S REQUEST IT SHOWED THAT THE TIRES ARE POOR TIRES AND MY VEHICLE HAS NO MECHANICAL FAULT THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE POOR RIDE QUALITY. CONTINENTAL'S ONLY RESPONSE IS TO PROVIDE ONLY 50 % OF THE FRONT TIRES ALONE AND NOTHING FOR THE REARS. IN OTHER WORDS THEY DON'T CARE IF I ALREADY SPENT 700 BUCKS ON THEIR CRAPPY TIRES THEY WANT ME TO PAY MORE TO REPLACE THEM. I AM JUST AN AVERAGE CONSUMER TRYING TO HOLD BIG COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A LEGITIMATE COMPLAINT. I HAVE PROVIDED FOR CONTINENTAL THE COUNTLESS NEGATIVE REVIEWS OF THEIR TIRES THAT POINT TO THE SAME ISSUE OF INSTABILITY ON THE ROADWAY, POOR BUILD QUALITY AND LOUD ROAD NOISE. I HAVE HAD TO RIDE MY MOTORCYCLE ON MOST OCCASIONS BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH THOSE TIRES. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 CROSSFIRE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND REAR TIRE EXCHANGE (SOLD WITH MICHELIN SPORTS AND HAD TO PURCHASE CONTINENTAL ALL SEASON FOR MIDWEST WINTER DRIVING) THAT I HAD THREE BENT RIMS ON THE VEHICLE. THE BENT RIMS WERE TWO ON FRONT AND ONE REAR. THE DAMAGE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER TECH WAS PROBABLY DUE TO "POTHOLES". MY ISSUE IS 1) WHAT CONSTITUTES NORMAL DRIVING? POTHOLES ARE A NORMAL FACTOR IN LIFE WITH THE US ROAD SYSTEM. 2) THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BENT WHEEL WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE LOW PROFILE TIRES USED ON CROSSFIRE AND SEBRING PRODUCTS. I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY REPORTS ON THIS, SO AM USING THIS MECHANISM TO FILE FORMAL PRODUCT REPORT ON WHEEL RELIABILITY AND SAFETY. I TRAVEL 45 MILES ONE WAY ON INTERSTATE DRIVING. WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITH BENT WHEELS AT 70 MPH? THE WHEELS COST $ 400+ FOR THE FRONT AND $ 500 PLUS FOR THE REAR. DOES THE CONSUMER HAVE TO CONTINUALLY PAY FOR POOR DESIGN? *JB