NHTSA Complaint #10225206 — 2001 CHEVROLET VAN

GSA ISSUED VEHICLE. 15 PAX VANS ARE FITTED WITH EITHER THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX OR GOODYEAR TIRES. DURING TWO DIFFERENT TRIPS TO NORFOLK, VA WITH TWO DIFFERENT VANS, WE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATIONS. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WITH THE LONE STEELTEX ON THE VEHICLE. THE OTHER TIRES WERE THE GOODYEAR BRAND. THE SECOND INCIDENT INVOLVED A 15 PAX VAN FITTED WITH FOUR STEELTEX TIRES. ONE HAD THE TREAD SEPARATE AND WHEN WE PULLED TO THE SIDE I-95, WE NOTICED THE OTHER THREE WERE SEPARATING AS WELL. THE TREAD SEPARATION OF THE LEFT REAR ON THIS VAN RESULTED IN THE RUPTURING OF THE REAR COOLANT LINE FROM THE SECTION OF TREAD IMPACTING THE LINE. BOTH VANS WERE CHEVROLET. *TR