NHTSA Complaint #10080831 — 2004 FOREST RIVER FORESTER

PURCHASE A NEW '04 SANDPIPER 5TH WHEEL IN AUG '03. MADE TWO LOCAL TRIPS THAT PUT APPROXIMATELY 1500 MILES ON THE TIRES/UNIT. KEEP ALL THE WHEELS COVERED WHILE IN STORAGE. CHECKED FOR PROPER INFLATION PRIOR TO LEAVING ON A TRIP FROM S. CA THAT WOULD GO THROUGH TETONS, YELLOWSTONE, RUSHMORE, THEN BACK DOWN THROUGH COLORADO AND 4 CORNERS. THE FIRST TIRE BLEW OUT WEST OF STURGIS. LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON THE TIRES. THE TIRE BLEW WITH SUCH FORCE THAT I SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RIG. INSPECTED REMAINING TIRES AND PLACED SPARE ON RIG. JUST N. OF FT COLLINS, CO THE SECOND TIRE BLEW. HAD JUST INSPECTED AND CHECKED FOR PROPER TIRE INFLATION LESS THAN 100 MILES BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW. IT APPEARED THAT THE TREAD SIMPLY PEELED AWAY FROM THE TIRE. CARLISLE REPLACED ALL TIRES AFTER I EXPRESSED CONCERNS IN REGARDS TO PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH LIABILITIES. ESTIMATED REPAIRS TO RIG ARE APPROXIMATELY $1900. CARLISLE REQUIRED WE SHIP THE TIRES TO THEM. HOWEVER, I HAVE PHOTOS OF TIRES AND DAMAGE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. COPIES OF SAME WHERE EMAILED TO CARLISLE TIRES. THESE WERE LOAD RANGE E RADIAL TRAIL SIZE LT235/85R16, WHICH WERE MADE IN CHINA. *LA