NHTSA Complaint #10129991 — 2002 GMC SIERRA

I HAVE A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500 EXTENDED CAB TRUCK WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WHICH CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. ABOUT 12:15 AM I WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND ON I-70 JUST WEST OF JUNCTION CITY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND FROM THE REAR OF MY TRUCK, AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. AT THIS POINT IT WAS ABOUT 85F, BUT FOR A GOOD PART OF THE DAY I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN 100+F HEAT (SINCE ABOUT 5 PM, WITH A BREAK IN DRIVING FROM ABOUT 8:30 PM TO 10:30 PM). I PULLED OVER, AND FOUND THAT THE TREADS FROM MY LEFT REAR TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. I PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON AND DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME (ABOUT 150 MILES). RIGHT NOW MY TIRE IS IN 3 PIECES: 2 SIDEWALLS STILL ON THE RIM, AND THE TREAD IS A SEPARATE PIECE, STILL IN A COMPLETE CIRCLE. FORTUNATELY I THINK THE DAMAGE IS LIMITED TO THE TIRE (WHICH MEANS I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES), AND POSSIBLY THE RIM OF THE ONE TIRE. RIGHT NOW I HAVE ALL THE PARTS, AND WILL TRY AND KEEP THEM WHEN I HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED.