NHTSA Complaint #10079099 — 1993 TOYOTA PREVIA

IN JANUARY 2004, THE STEEL BELT IN ONE OF OUR TIRES FRAYED THROUGH THE TIRE TREAD WHILE DRIVING. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED, AND THE COMPANY THAT SOLD IT TO US RETURNED IT TO THE MANUFACTURER WITH A REQUEST FOR EXPLANATION OF THE DEFECT. THERE WAS NO REPLY. IN JUNE 2004, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH ANOTHER TIRE FROM THE SAME SET. THE MECHANIC REPLACING THIS SECOND FAULTY TIRE POINTED OUT THAT A THIRD TIRE WAS BULGING, BECAUSE IT HAD THE SAME DEFECT, AND THE STEEL BELT WOULD SOON FRAY THROUGH THE TREAD IF NOT REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED NEW AS A SET OF 4 IN NOVEMBER 1999. THEY HAD ABOUT 37,000 MILES WEAR WHEN THE FIRST ONE HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND ABOUT 41,000 MILES WEAR WHEN THE NEXT TWO HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAND IS TOYO, P215/65R15 800 ULTRA 95T BL. THE DOT NUMBER FOR THE SECOND TIRE THAT FAILED IS CX KW 49 V 088. *AK