NHTSA Complaint #10060764 — 1997 WINNEBAGO MINNIE WINNIE

WE HAVE A 1997 MINNIE WINNIE MOTORHOME WITH FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL TIRES R4S LT225/75R16 M/S. ONE OF THE REAR DUALLY TIRES BLEW ON A TRIP WITH LESS THAN 18,000 MILES. WE REPLACED THE TIRE AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL WE TOOK ANOTHER TRIP AND ONE OF THE DUALLY TIRES ON THE OTHER SIDE BLEW OUT CAUSING SOME DAMAGE. I DO HAVE PICTURES OF THE SECOND BLOWOUT, NOT SURE ON THE FIRST. WE WERE NOT ON THE ROAD LONG WHEN THE SECOND BLOWOUT OCCURED AND HAD INSPECTED, AND CHECKED THE PRESSURE BEFORE OUR DEPARTURE. NOW THE FRONT TIRES ON THE VEHICLEHAVE AREAS IN MID SECTION OF THE TIRES WHERE THERE ARE DIPS. A FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD US IT LOOKS LIKE "CUPPING" AND PROBABLY CAUSED FROM BEING OUT OF BALANCE. A GOODYEAR TIRE DEALER TOLD US THE TREAD IS SEPARATING FROM THE BELT. WE FEEL ALL THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE DEFECTIVE. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE! WE ARE LUCKY THE FRONT DID NOT BLOW OR PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FATALITIES INVOLVED. WE WILL SUBMIT WHAT IS LEFT OF THE SECOND TIRE TO FIRESTONE AT OUR OWN EXPENSE FOR THEIR REVIEW OF OUR CLAIM. THEY CERTAINLY DON'T MAKE IT EASY. (THE FIRST BLOWOUT WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WE PURCHASED REPLACEMENT TIRE FROM. *AK