NHTSA Complaint #10195058 — 1991 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

PEP BOYS FUTURA PLUS TOURING SE P215/70R/15WW. PART#WK14CPU754. PURCHASED SET OF 4 ON 4/28/2004 AT HAMPTON, VIRGINIA PEP BOYS. BELT SEPARATION AFTER 18,000 MILES. HALF THE WIDTH OF THE TIRE FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES CIRCUMFERENCE BULGED OUT APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH. HAPPENED WHILE SETTING IN DRIVEWAY. SERVICE ADVISOR AT DEALER WHERE PURCHASED INITIALLY DENIED IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE, THEN SAID THAT IS WHAT HE HAD BEEN TOLD TO SAY BY MANAGEMENT. MANAGER THEN OFFERED TO PRORATE AND REPLACE WITH SAME TIRE, THAT HAS NOW BEEN REBADGED AS A DEFINITY TIRE, AT A PRICE THAT IT WAS ALREADY BEING SOLD AT IN SETS OF 4. APPARENTLY HE ASSUMED I WAS IGNORANT. NOW RUNNING ON SPARE AND GOING TO BUY A SET OF MICHELIN X ONES AT COSTCO SINCE MY EXPERIENCE SEEMS TO INDICATE THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS IT AND IS STONEWALLING. *TR