1996 Dodge RAM 1500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500 EQUIPPED WITH SIGMA STAMPEDE RADIAL AT/S TIRES, SIZE 265/75R16. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEEL TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES WAS TORN APART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE TIRES WERE NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

THE REAR LEFT TIRE ON OUR PICKUP TRUCK BLEW THE TREAD LAYER OFF DOWN TO THE CORE OF THE TIRE. THE PICKUP HAD ABS BRAKES, BUT WITHOUT THE TREAD ON THE TIRE, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY LOST, AND THE TRUCK WENT HEADFIRST INTO A CONCRETE HIGHWAY DIVIDER CAUSING THE TRUCK TO BE TOTALED AND INJURIES TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED AWAY AND THE TIRE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO OBTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING ORIGIN. THE TIRES WERE 255/15 GOODYEAR RADIALS. WE DO HAVE A PHOTO OF THE TIRE, HOWEVER, AFTER TOWING THE EXPLODED TREAD IS GONE AND ONLY THE CORE REMAINS.

NOTHING LEADING UP TO EVENT EITHER INCIDENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SECONDS BEFORE TIRE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE BECAUSE BOLTS WERE SHEARED OFF, THERE WAS A SLIGHT VIBRATION. FIRST INCIDENT IN 1999, BOLTS SHEARED OFF FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 25 MPH, NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO TRUCK, REPAIRED AND HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS UNTIL 2005 WHEN TRAVELING 65 MPH BOLTS AGAIN SHEARED OFF FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE, AGAIN VIBRATIONS ABOUT A MINUTE BEFORE TIRE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. THIS TIME THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, FORTUNATELY NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED TO THOSE IN VEHICLE OR OTHERS. CURRENTLY TRUCK IS IN FOR REPAIR, AGAIN USING CERTIFIED CHRYSLER PARTS, AND THEY ARE NEW AND INSTALLED CORRECTLY. WILL NEED AUTOBODY REPAIR THIS TIME DUE TO OTHER DAMAGE SUSTAINED TO VEHICLE. NEW TIRES WERE PUT ON CORRECTLY ABOUT 4000 MILES AGO WITH NO PROBLEMS TO THIS POINT EITHER. *NM

WHILE DRIVING I-4 (EAST) HEADING TOWARDS DAYTONA, MY TRUCK SUDDENLY HAD EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND WITHIN 5 MINUTES, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE FLEW UP INTO THE WHEEL WELL AND TORE UP THE QUARTER PANEL FORWARD AND BEHIND THE WHEEL, TORE OFF THE MUDFLAP, AND BROKE OFF THE FENDER FLARE. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE TRUCK TO A STOP WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE OR HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE TRUCK WAS CUSTOMIZED AS I HAD BOUGHT IT IN 1997 AND THE CUSTOMIZATION HAS NEVER INTERFERED WITH THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS A PICTURE OF THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND ALSO A PICTURE OF WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE TIRE. UNFORTUNATELY, I REPLACED THE TIRES (ALL FOUR) BEFORE I KNEW THAT BRIDGESTONE WAS THE SAME MANUFACTURER AS FIRESTONE. THE TIRES COULD NOT BE RECOVERED FROM THE STORE THAT REPLACED THEM. THE REASON I REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES IS BECAUSE I DID NOT TRUST BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T ANYMORE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: 265/75R16)