NHTSA Complaint #10052559 — 1994 BUICK ROADMASTER

I PURCHASED 4 NEW GOODYEAR TIRES APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO. WHILE DRIVING ON FLORIDA TPK ON 1/4/04 I COULD HEAR A THUMPING SOUND FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. I GOT OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT TO LOOK AT TIRE AND I COULD SEE THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. WE STAYED AT A LOCAL HOTEL THAT NIGHT AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO A NEARBY GOODYEAR DEALER. HE CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A TREAD SEPARATION AND REPLACED THE TIRE AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE. HE SAID THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN SUCH A THING ON THIS BRAND, INTEGRITY P225/70R15. I DON'T HAVE THE DOT NUMBE, BUT THE DEALER DOES. GOODYEAR AUTO SERVICE CENTER 30100 S DIXIE HWY HOMESTEAD, FL 33030. THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE PURCHASED AT POMPANO TIRE AND AUTO, POMPANO BEACH, FL. WHILE WE ARE DISAPPOINTED THAT GOODYEAR DID NOT REPLACE THE TIRE AT NO COST, WE JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY DENIED ANY LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT IN THIS TIRE. IF I DID NOT PULL OFF THE ROAD WHEN I HEARD THE NOISE, THE TIRE WOULD HAVE BLOWN AT HIGH SPEED AND WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE. WHEN I CHALLANGED GOODYEAR THEY RESPONDED WITH THEY DON'T FULLY REPLACE TIRES ACCORDING TO THEIR GUARENTEE. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS BY GOODYEAR IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER TIRE MODELS. SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN OR THAT THEY RECALL THIS MODEL. I'VE INCLOSED PICTURES AND A COPY OF THE INVOICE FROM THE DEALER. I HAD TO REPLACE THE OTHER FRON TIRE ALSO TO HAVE THE SAME TREAD WEAR ON THE FRONT BUT ARE FEARFULL THAT ONE OF THE OTHER TIRE MIGHT DEVELOP THE SAME PROBLEM. MY BEEF IS WITH GOODYEAR, NOT THE LOCAL DEALER. HE DID THE BEST HE COULD BASSED ON GOODYEARS POLICY.*AK