NHTSA Complaint #10158360 — 2005 DODGE SRT-4

MY 2005 DODGE NEON WITH 11K MILES WAS PURCHASED EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO NEW BY ME. THE CAR CAME EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH G-FORCE T/A KDW 225/45ZR16 TIRES. IN MODERATELY HEAVY TRAFFIC ON RT 495N IN HAVERHILL, MA THIS AFTERNOON, COMMUTING HOME FROM MY BUSINESS, THE CAR STARTED SHUDDERING AND SHIMMYING ON THE RIGHT HAND FRONT SIDE. THINKING I HAD A FLAT, I PULLED OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND EXAMINED THE TIRE. WHILE STILL INFLATED, THE TIRE BEAD HAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE ITSELF AS IF ALMOST DELAMINATING. THERE WAS NO OBSERVABLE DAMAGE TO THE RIM, TIRE OR ANY FOREIGN OBJECT PENETRATIONS. I CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE HOT AND IT WAS 38 PSI, (NOW 34.5 PSI COLD), WELL WITHIN MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATION. HAD THIS TIRE DEFLATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, I WOULD HAVE LIKELY BEEN INJURED IF NOT KILLED AND INCURRED SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE. I BELIEVE THIS TIRE HAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE THAT I CAN SUBMIT. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT BFG AND THEIR WEBSITE WAS UNABLE TO PROCESS MY COMPLAINT DUE TO A "SERVER" ERROR. *NM