NHTSA Complaint #10145136 — 1993 VOLVO 940

IN JANUARY 2002 WE PURCHASED A SET OF 4 DUNLOP WINTER SPORT M2 SNOW TIRES 205/55R16 FOR A VOLVO 940 TURBO SEDAN. WE HAVE HAD 3 SIDEWALL FAILURES OF THESE SNOW TIRES RUNNING ONLY 5700 MILES, WITH 2 ACTIVE BLOWOUTS & 1 LARGE SIDEWALL BLISTER. TIRES WERE USED ONLY IN WINTER. THERE IS HARDLY ANY WEAR ON THE TREADS. THE FIRST TIRE FAILED 13APR02 AT 3000 MI (DOT CODE 3400), ITS REPLACEMENT 12JAN04 AFTER 500 MI (DOT CODE 3702), & THE LATEST FAILED 1DEC05 AT 5700 MILES (DOT CODE 3400).. A DUNLOP-GOODYEAR INSPECTOR @ CONDUIT TIRE, BROOKLYN, STATED THIS WAS SIMPLY ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED WITHOUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HE REFUSED ANY DAMAGE RESPONSIBILITY. HE ALSO STATED HE DISLIKES ALL SNOW TIRES & REFUSES TO SELL ANY. A WARRANTY WOULD DO US LITTLE GOOD, AS IT EXPIRES AFTER 3 YEARS, REGARDLESS OF HOW LITTLE USE THE TIRES GOT.. WE DRIVE IN THE NY CITY METRO AREA, A HOME TO POTHOLES. HOWEVER, OVER 35 YEARS OF DRIVING ON THESE SAME ROADS, WE HAVE WORN THROUGH MANY SUMMER & SNOW TIRES, WITH NO SIDEWALL FAILURES, EXCEPT FOR THESE DUNLOP WINTER SPORT M2 TIRES. PREVIOUSLY WE DROVE KLABEAR & BLIZZARD SNOW TIRES WITH NO PROBLEMS, & WE HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH VARIOUS DUNLOP SPORT SUMMER/ALL WEATHER TIRES THAT PROVIDED EXCELLENT RIDE & WEAR WITH NO FAILURES. OUR SUMMER TIRES ARE DUNLOP SP SPORT 5000 205/55WR16, WITH 3 TIMES THE MILES USED AS THE SNOW TIRES, ON THE SAME ROADS, SAME CAR.. THERE IS NO REASON WHY 3 WINTER SPORT TIRES SHOULD FAIL AFTER A VERY SHORT DISTANCE, WHEN DRIVEN ON EXACTLY THE SAME ROADS IN THE SAME WAY AS OTHER BRANDS, OVER MUCH LONGER DISTANCES, THAT NEVER FAILED. WE HAVE SELECTED A BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK LM-25 SNOW TIRE TO REPLACE THE DUNLOP WINTER SPORT. AFTER THESE 3 FAILURES, WE WILL NEVER USE A DUNLOP SNOW TIRE AGAIN.. WE URGE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE A MAJOR SYSTEMIC DEFECT IN DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE IN THESE DUNLOP WINTER SPORT M2 SNOW TIRES IN THE 205/55R16 SIZE. *JB