NHTSA Complaint #10043627 — 1995 FORD TAURUS

THE TREAD ON A COOPER LIFE LINER CLASSIC II TIRE #P20565R15 SEPARATED AND FLEW APART FROM A '95 FORD TAURUS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN BY THE OWNER'S DAUGHTER AT 55 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. A NEW SET OF FOUR OF THESE TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE ON OCT 12, 1999 AT 37,182 MILES. THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,850 MILES. THE TIRES WERE RATED FOR 60,000 MILES AND HAD BEEN ROTATED ON A REGULAR BASIS. BODY DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE AROUND THE WHEEL WELL AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR WAS CRACKED. THE ESTIMATED DAMAGE IS $550. FORTUNATELY NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLES OCCURRED. THE DRIVER DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS HURLED INTO THE FAST LANE AND MISSED HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT BY THE OWNER'S DAUGHTER AND NO PROBLEMS OR EXCESSIVE WEAR WERE VISUALLY NOTICEABLE. *AK