NHTSA Complaint #10096405 — 2002 HOLIDAY RAMBLER ALUMASCAPE

WHILE TOWING MY 2002 HOLIDAY RAMBLER ALUMASCAPE 5TH WHEEL TRAILER I EXPERIENCED TWO CATASTOPHIC TIRE FAILURES WITHIN THE PAST 3 MONTHS. THE TRAILER IS A MODEL 30RLD WITH A DRY WEIGHT OF ABOUT 9600LBS. THE TIRES ARE GOODYEAR WRANGLER HT LT RADIALS, SIZE LT225/75R16, LOAD RANGE E. THE DOT INFORMATION IS: G18R DOT MKIL MMHV 16/01. THEY WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRE THAT CAME EQUIPPED WITH MY RV, AND CURRENTLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES ON THEM. I RELIGIOUSLY MAINTAIN 80PSI IN THE TIRES. ON AUGUST 5TH, 2004, AT 2000 MILES ON THE TIRES, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL TREAD SEPARATION AND IMMEDIATE DEFLATION ON I 15 NORTH OF LAS VEGAS NV. THE TREAD WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE OF THE TRAILER, AND THE CASING WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. THE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 105 DEGREES, AND I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 25, 2004 ON I 40 WEST OF NEEDLES, CA. THE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 70 DEGREES. THE TREAD CAME LOSE ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE CASING AND I AGAIN EXPERIENCED IMMEDIATE DEFLATION. ON BOTH OCCASIONS PIECES OF THE TREAD SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED THE SIDE OF MY TRAILER. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE GOODYEAR TIRE CO.*AK