NHTSA Complaint #10151805 — 2002 BMW M3

I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN I HEARD A NOISE. AS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER, I REALIZED IT MUST BE A FLAT TIRE AS THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO PULL IN ONE DIRECTION. AS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. I PULL OVER TO FIND THAT THE TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE WAS A CONTINENTAL CONTISPORT CONTACT 255, 40ZR 18, ON A 2002 BMW M3. THE TIRE APPEARS TO HAVE SIMPLY BLOWN OUT DUE TO THE SEPARATION. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE DEFECTIVE WORKMANSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY THE TIRE DEALER THAT THIS IS "COMMON" FOR LOW-PROFILE TYPE TIRES. I DO NOT THINK THIS AN ACCEPTABLE EXPLANATION, AS THE TIRE WAS NOT UNDERPRESSURIZED, BARE AND/OR DAMAGED. I BELIEVE THIS BLOW OUT WAS DUE TO A TIRE DEFECT (TIRE SEPARATION). THE ONLY TIRE I COULD FIND TO REPLACE IT WAS ANOTHER BRAND. I WILL NOT PUT CONTINENTALS ON MY CAR IN THE FUTURE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ON THEM SINCE I DO ALOT OF FREEWAY DRIVING, AND I WONDER WHEN ONE OF THE OTHER TIRES WILL SEPARATE AND BLOW OUT. *NM