2001 Honda S2000

THIS STORY REFERS TO THE REAR, RIGHT TIRE OF A 2001 HONDA S2000. I HAD REPLACED THE REAR TIRES LESS THAN TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE050A POLE POSITION TIRES. I DROVE 120 MILES FROM SW RICHMOND, VA TO ANNANDALE, VA. THE PRIMARY HIGHWAYS I TRAVELED DURING THE TRIP INCLUDED I95 N AND I495 INNER LOOP; AND THE CONDITIONS ON I95 N WERE WINDY THE ENTIRE TRIP. I FREQUENTLY HAD TO SWERVE TO COUNTER LARGE WIND GUSTS. A FEW MINUTES AFTER EXITING I95 TO I495 (INNER LOOP) I SMELLED BURNING RUBBER, THEN NOTICED MY REAR TIRE WAS SMOKING LIKE CRAZY. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND MANAGED TO AVOID ONCOMING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC (VERY DANGEROUS). MY CAR ALSO STARTED TO SPIN OUT, BECAUSE BY THEN THE REAR, RIGHT TIRE HAD COLLAPSED WHILE BURNING; BUT I SOMEHOW MANAGED TO SAFELY STOP THE CAR. TWO FIRESTONE DEALERS CLAIM THAT A ROAD HAZARD PUNCTURED THE TIRE, WHICH IN TURN LEAKED, COLLAPSED AND STARTED TO CATCH FIRE. NEITHER DEALER COULD DETERMINE THE LOCATION OR CAUSE OF THE PUNCTURE. THIS INCIDENT SEEMS ODD TO ME, BECAUSE I FELT NO INDICATION OF A FLAT TIRE UNTIL SMOKE BEGAN TO FORM. FOLLOWING TWO PREVIOUS TIRE PUNCTURES (ON THE LAST SET OF TIRES, ONCE AT EACH REAR TIRE), I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING, AND BEFORE THEY CAUSED A PROBLEM. THE REAR, RIGHT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY RUINED, BECAUSE IT STARTED TO SMOLDER AFTER COLLAPSING, SO I REPLACED THE ORIGINAL, TWO-WEEK-OLD TIRE WITH A BRAND NEW IDENTICAL REPLACEMENT. TO THIS DAY I DON'T FEEL FIRESTONE ADEQUATELY INVESTIGATED WHAT CAUSED THE TIRE TO PUNCTURE, AND I WONDER IF A ROAD HAZARD REALLY CAUSED IT. *JB

THE TIRES THAT COME ON HONDA S 2000 AUTOMOBILES ARE OFTEN EXHIBITING A TREAD WEAR LIFE OF ONLY 6,000 MILES OR SO, BEFORE THE TREAD BECOMES UNSAFE IN WET WEATHER. AT 10,000 MILES, WEAR IS OFTEN SO THE STEEL BELTS SHOW THROUGH. NEITHER HONDA OR BRIDGESTONE (THE TIRE MAKER) IS TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. ALL OF THESE CARS ARE EFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM, SO THE CAUSE SEEMS TO BE FROM ONE OR MORE BATCHES OF DEFECTIVE TIRES. IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW MANY INJURIES, DAMAGE, OR FATALITIES HAVE RESULTED. HOWEVER, IT IS BEYOND DISPUTE THAT "BALD" TIRES, AND THOSE WITH THE STEEL BELTS IN CONTACT WITH THE ROAD, CONSTITUTE A PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD THAT YOUR AGENCY SHOULD INVESTIGATE. *NLM