NHTSA Complaint #10137342 — 1997 MAZDA 626

BRAND NEW SET OF 4 TIRES, FR440 (DOT NO.HYRC4FB4703) P195/65R14 PURCHASED FROM FIRESTONE IN MAY 2005. CHECKED AIR AND ADJUSTED AFTER 100 MILES AS ADVISED, AND MONTHLY THEREAFTER. JULY 13TH, 3000 MILES LATER, FRONT DRIVER-SIDE TIRE BLEW, WHILE DOING 70 MPH AT 6AM (NOT HOT ENOUGH FOR TIRES TO BE TOO HOT, ONLY ON ROAD FOR APPROX. 7 MINUTES WHEN IT HAPPENED). GOLF BALL SIZE HOLES IN A PATTERN BLOWN OUT HALF WAY AROUND THE TIRE ON THE SIDEWALL, AND CAN SEE THE PATTERN CONTINUING THE REST OF THE WAY. FIRESTONE REPLACED TIRE FOR $9 DUE TO MY ROAD HAZARD PURCHASE, BUT WOULDN'T COVER THE COST TO GET A NEW WHEEL, CONTROL ARM, SWAY BAR, AXLE, STRUT & STRUT MOUNT. $500 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY 97 MAZDA 626LX; COULD'VE BEEN MORE, BUT A FRIEND, MY BOYFRIEND & MYSELF DID ALL OF THE WORK. A SHOP WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE COSTLY. FIRESTONE TENNESSEE OFFICE "INVESTIGATED" AND BLAMED IT ON: "OUR INSPECTION SHOWED DEFORMATION AND RIM FLANGE GROOVING...WE DID OBSERVE SIGNS THAT THE TIRE HAS BEEN OPERATED FOR AN UNKOWN PERIOD OF TIME IN AN OVER-DEFLECTED STATE CAUSING THE DETACHMENT YOU EXPERIENCED." THE FIRST SHOP WE TOOK IT TO AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT ADVISED US THAT IT WAS A FAULTY TIRE AND EVEN THOUGH THEY'D SELL US A NEW TIRE, TO TAKE IT BACK TO WHERE WE PURCHASED IT AS THE SELLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE; THAT IF IT WAS THEIR TIRE, THEY'D REPLACE THE TIRE, WHEEL & PAY FOR ANY OTHER DAMAGE AS A RESULT. WISHED I HAD BOUGHT MY TIRES FROM THEM. *NM