NHTSA Complaint #10088300 — 2003 THOR CALIFORNIA TAHOE

IN JUNE 2002 I BOUGHT NEW FROM THE FACTORY A THOR TAHOE TRANSPORT 33' FIFTH WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH MERIT ALL COUNTRY RADIALS SIZE, LT235/85R16 E. UP UNTIL THE FAILURE I HAD PUT ABOUT 3000 MILES ON THE TIRES, TYPICALLY TRAVELING ABOUT 150 MILES PER TRIP, ONE WAY. THE VEHICLE IS RATED AT 11400 GVW. I RUN ABOUT 10200 LBS TOTAL WEIGHT. ON AUGUST 14, 2004 I WAS RETURNING FROM A 131 MILE TRIP. AT ABOUT 1:30 P.M. AFTER TRAVELLING ABOUT 100 MILES, WHILE TRAVELLING AT 60 MPH ON I-17, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED NEAR THE TOWN OF NEW RIVER, NORTH OF PHOENIX. THE TIRE HELD AIR BUT THE ENTIRE TREAD PEELED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY AND REPLACE WITH A SPARE BEFORE CONTINUING. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE UNDERBELLY PROTECTIVE BLANKET AND THE SIDE SKIRT OF THE TRAILER. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED ALL THE TIRES AND HAVE THE FAILED TIRE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK