NHTSA Complaint #10167101 — 2002 LEXUS IS

I HAVE HAD THREE SETS OF COOPER ZEON 2XS 215/45ZR17. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH ALL THREE SETS. I WAS TRAVELING LONG DISTANCE WHEN MY REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE CAME APART AND ROLLED AWAY WHILE I WAS ON THE ON RAMP FOR I24 WHICH IS A VERY BUSY MAJOR HIGHWAY. I WAS PROBABLY GOING ABOUT 35 MPH AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY $1250 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR NOT INCLUDING REPLACING MY TIRE WHICH I WILL NEVER BUY THESE TYPE OF TIRES EVER AGAIN. ALSO, THIS DELAYED MY TRIP TO VISIT MY GRANDMOTHER WHO WAS DYING IN THE HOSPITAL AT THE TIME. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL TIRE COMPANY WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THIS MOST RECENT SET OF COOPER ZEON 2XS TIRES AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP ME DUE TO THE FACT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THEY REFERRED ME TO COOPER TIRES 800 # WHERE THE LADY STATED THE COMPANY THAT HANDLED CLAIMS FOR THEM WOULD BE CONTACTING ME TO OBTAIN MY TIRE AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE ACCIDENT. THIS COMPANY, CRAWFORD CLAIMS, CONTACTED ME ABOUT A WEEK OR SO LATER TO INFORM ME OF THE PROCESS. THEY SENT A PACKET OF INFORMATION INCLUDING A UPS LABEL TO MAIL THE TIRE TO COOPER TIRES LABORATORY FOR ANALYSIS AND A FORM FOR ME TO COMPLETE ALONG WITH OBTAINING QUOTES FOR THE DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE AND PHOTOS. AFTER ALL THIS OF COURSE MY CLAIM WAS DENIED STATING THERE WAS A CUT IN TIRE WHICH CAUSED IT TO LOSE AIR PRESSURE AND COME APART. I AM NOT SURE HOW THIS COULD BE DETERMINED SINCE THEIR WAS VIRTUALLY NOTHING LEFT OF THE TIRE EXCEPT FOR THE BAND THAT FITS AROUND MY WHEEL RIM. AT THIS POINT I HAVE TURNED IN THE CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE FOR REPAIRS WHICH I HAVE A $500 DEDUCTIBLE AND THE TIRE IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY AUTO INSURANCE. I AM ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE OTHER THREE TIRES WHEN I CAN AFFORD TO AS I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH THE REMAINING 3 TIRES ON MY CAR. I HAD REQUESTED MY DEFECTIVE TIRE BE RETURNED TO ME UPON CONCLUSION OF MY CLAIM AND I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE TIRE. *NM