NHTSA Complaint #10195379 — 1996 FORD TAURUS

ON 6/13/2006 I PURCHASED A SET OF FOUR NEW P205-65R-15 WYNSTAR TIRES FROM A LOCAL TIRE STORE AND HAD THEM INSTALLED. IN LESS THAN 3 MONTHS, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WITH LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 35-40 MPH, IN THE RAIN. THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE UPPER 50'S F. I PUT THE SPARE ON AND RETURNED THE TIRE TO THE RETAILER ON 9/5/06 FOR WARRANTY. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE OF THE SAME BRAND. ON 5-23-2007 THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT AGAIN, BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE RETAILER FOR REPAIR, THEY TRIED TO PATCH IT, BUT IT DID NOT WORK, SO THEY PUT A TUBE IN IT. A TUBE SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY IN A NEW TIRE. IT IS COMPENSATING FOR SOME TYPE OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT. NOW ON 7-5-2007, ANOTHER TIRE IS FLAT, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE TIRES. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THE PREVIOUS TIRES WERE 5 YEARS OLD, WITH 70,000 MILES AND NEVER WERE OFF OF THE RIM FOR REPAIR. I HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT IS DRIVEN TO THE SAME PLACES AS THIS VEHICLE, (DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRES) AND IT DOES NOT EXPERIENCE ANY TIRE FAILURES. BOTH VEHICLES ARE PARKED IN THE SAME DRIVEWAY. THE RETAILER IS OF NO HELP, HE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THESE TIRES. THE FACTS SEEM TO TELL A DIFFERENT STORY. *AK