NHTSA Complaint #10039490 — 2001 CHEVROLET PICKUP

DURING A JULY TRIP FROM GLENDALE ,CA TO THE EASTERN SIERRAS AT 4HRS INTO THE TRIP THE LEFT REAR TIRE DELAMINATED ON MY CHEVROLET 1500HD. I WAS CARRYING A LANCE LIGHT CAMPER ON THE TRUCK. THE WEIGHT WAS WITHIN LIMITS OF BOTH TIRE AND TRUCK. THE TIRES WERE INFLATED TO 80 COLD PSI PRIOR ON THE DAY OF THE TRIP. THE TEMPRATURE WAS 108 DEG F. MY SPEED AT THE TIME WAS 67 MPH. IN AUGUST, ON ANOTHER TRIP TO THE EASTERN SIERRAS, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE DELAMINATED AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME LOCATION UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS.LUCKY FOR ME THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S LT245/75R16 RATED E WEIGHT. THE TIRES HAD 17,700 MILE AT THE TIME OF SEPERATION. THE BISHOP FIRESTONE STORE REPLACED THE FIRST TIRE UNDER THE LIMITED WARRANTY, MY COST $69.00 FOR TREAD WEAR. I'M CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND. SO FAR THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ONE TIRE I BROUGHT TO THEM AND REFUND MY $ 69.00 FEE FROM FIRESTONE. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON THE STATUS OF THESE TIRES AND WHAT RECOURSE OF ACTION I HAVE BEFORE A TRAGETY OCCURS.