NHTSA Complaint #10162825 — 1998 GULF STREAM ULTRA

2 INCIDENTS SUNDAY JULY 2ND. I355 NORTHBOUND. RIGHT OUTER TIRE BLEW. PULLED OFF AT KIRCHOFF. CHECKED TIRE SECURED VEHICLE AND DROVE TO WOODFIELD MALL TO SEARS AND PURCHASED NEW TIRE. CALLED INSURANCE COMPANY DAMAGE FROM THE EXPLODING TIRE $2800.00 PLUS. 2 PEOPLE IN RV AND 4 DOGS. NO INJURIES. FRIDAY JULY 14TH. I88 WESTBOUND. LEFT INNER TIRE BLEW. PULLED OVER SECURED VEHICLE. WE WERE AT THE PEACE ROAD EXIT. TOOK SAME DROVE TO TIRE STORE THEY DID NOT HAVE A TIRE PROCEEDED ANOTHER 2 MILES TO FARM AND FLEET. PURCHASED 2 NEW TIRES. NOW HAVE ALL 4 NEW TIRES ON RV. CALLED INSURANCE COMPANY ESTIMATE PENDING AT THIS TIME. 3 PEOPLE IN RV AND 5 DOGS. NO INJURIES. THE TIRES THAT EXPLODED ARE FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4S, DOT #VD1L1XD367, SIZE 225-75R16, MILES ON TIRES 33,300. WE HAVE THE DAMAGED TIRES. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE TREAD OF THESE TIRES SEPARATED LEAVING THE STEEL BELT EXPOSED. BOTH SERVICE FACILITIES, SEARS AND FARM AND FLEET INDICATED THAT THIS WAS AN UNUSUAL WAY FOR A TIRE TO COME APART. THE VEHICLE IS A 1998 FORD GULFSTREAM ULTRA [XXX]. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH THE RV. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT WE STILL HAVE 2 OF THESE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE RV (FRONT TIRES) WE ARE OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED THAT THESE 2 WILL ALSO EXPLODE. CURRENTLY WE ARE NOT DRIVING THE RV AS IT IS IN THE SHOP AWAITING THE 2ND ESTIMATE. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND AN INSPECTOR OUT AND VIEW THE RV AND THE DAMAGED TIRES. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)