2001 Dodge Neon

I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WOULD MAKE A BRUSHING NOISE WHENEVER IT MOVED (WITH THE GAS OR WITHOUT THE GAS). I ASSUMED THAT IT WAS THE BRAKES, SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANICS TO HAVE IT TAKEN CARE OF. WHAT THEY DISCOVERED, HOWEVER, WAS THAT IT WAS NOT THE BRAKES CREATING THE NOISE, BUT THE TIRES AND THE RIMS. APPARENTLY, EITHER THE RIMS OR THE TIRES ARE THE WRONG SIZE CAUSING THEM TO RUB AGAINST ONE ANOTHER WHENEVER THE CAR MOVES AND MAKES THE TIRES FLEX. WHEN INVESTIGATING RECALLS, FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM FOR THE MODEL, JUST NOT FOR MY SPECIFIC CAR. APPARENTLY, IN CERTAIN CARS THE WRONG PLACARD WAS PLACED ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVERS DOOR INDICATING THE WRONG TIRE SIZE, THEREFORE CAUSING MECHANICS TO REPLACE THE TIRES WITH THE WRONG SIZE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS MY VEHICLE HAS, BUT A RECALL HAS YET TO BE ISSUED FOR IT.*AK

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW ON MAY 31, 2001. THE CAR CAME WITH 16 ALUMINUM RIMS AND THE GOODYEAR EAGLE LOW PROFILE TIRES. THIS WAS USED AS PART OF THE SALESMEN'S SPEAL TO GET ME TO BUY THE CAR. SINCE MAY, I HAVE HAD 6 OR MORE INSTANCE OF FLAT TIRES, SOME WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, SOME DRIVING ON SIDE STREETS AND SOME WHILE PARKED. THE DEALER HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM EACH TIME. THE FIRST TIME I HAD TO BUY A NEW TIRE AND RIM WHICH COST OVER $500. ALL OF THE OTHER TIMES THEY FOUND THE RIMS BENT AND SIMPLY USED A HAMMER TO BANG THEM BACK IN SHAPE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE SERVICE MGR, JIM MARTIN AND HE HIMSELF PERSONALLY BANGED THE RIM STRAIGHT ON 11/15. HE ALSO TOLD ME THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALUMINUM RIMS THAT ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND A POTHOLE OR EVEN A DRIVEWAY. THE LOW PROFILE TIRES, WHICH ARE NOT MUCH BIGGER THEN BICYCLE TIRES, ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE RIMS FROM BENDING IF I HIT A POTHOLE, SPEED BUMP, ETC. THE WORST PART IS I SPOKE TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. BECAUSE THE RIMS ARE 16 INCH, I CAN'T REPLACE THEM WITH STEEL RIMS BECAUSE STEEL RIMS DO NOT COME IN 16 INCH SIZES FOR A P195/50 TIRE. THE ONLY OPTION THEY GAVE ME IS TO GO TO A TIRE DEALER AND BUY NEW TIRES AND 15 INCH STEEL RIMS OR LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM. I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND FAMILY AND I THINK THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL SINCE IT SEEMS EVERY DEALER AND MECHANIC IN AMERICA KNOWS THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP. THANK YOU.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 83V TIRESIZE: P195/50R16)