NHTSA Complaint #10120480 — 1999 SAFARI CONTINENTAL

ON MAY 7, 2005, I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 SAFARI MOTORHOME WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH A 1999 FORD E-450 CHASSIS. I WAS ON I-64 AT BECKLEY, WV AND DRIVING APP. 55 MILES PER HOUR. FIVE OF THE 6 TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S BRAND AND ONE OF THEM HAD AN APPERENT TREAD SEPARATION, AND SUBSEQUENT BLOWOUT. I MANAGED TO GET KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL, MAINLY BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE BACK AND IT IS A DUAL WHEEL CHASSIS. THE TIRES HAVE 38,000 MILES AND ARE 6 YEARS OLD, BUT THE TREASD IS STILL GOOD. WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATION OCCURRED, IT TORN OFF MY FUEL FILLER TUBE WHICH LEADS TO THE GAS TANK, AND ALSO 4 BRACES WHICH HOLD THE BODY TO THE FRAME. IT ALSO CAUSED SOME DAMAGE TO THE BODY. THERE WAS NO WREACK, NOR ANY INJURIES, BUT WE WERE VERY LUCKY. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY. I HAVE 4 OTHER TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE THAT ARE THE SAME, AND NOW I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN DRIVING IT. IS THERE SOME TYPE OF RECALL SO THAT I CAN REPLACE THESE TIRES?