NHTSA Complaint #10241955 — 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

THE TIRES IN QUESTION WHERE PURCHASE IN JULY 2007. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE SINCE INSTALLATION 2200. TRAVELING WEST ON I80/94 IN NORTHERN INDIANA 3 MILES THIS SIDE OF ILLINOIS STATE LINE. I NOTICE AFTER PASSING EXIT 3/CLINE AVENUE, THAT THE ROAD WAY STARTED TO SOUND LIKE A "BUCK BOARD" ROAD SURFACE. SINCE I WAS IN THE FAR LANE I STARTED TO MOVE OVER TO EXIT ONTO KENNEDY AVE OFF RAMP AND DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT AND STEPPED OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON . I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE "LEFT REAR TIRE" ON MY CORVETTE SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING FLAT. I SAW A SERVICE STATION UP THE STREET SO I DECIDED TO SEE IF I COULD DRIVE TO IT AND SEE IF ANYONE MIGHT BE ABLE TO OFFER US ASSISTANCE. AS IT WAS THEY COULDN'T. I LOOKED AT THE TIRE AGAIN AND FELT THERE WAS ENOUGH AIR IN THE TIRE TO GET US TO A DEALERSHIP OR TIRE STORE. WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE AT THE INTERSECTION UPON EXITING THE SERVICE STATION WE HEARD A LOUD "BANG". I DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT ACROSS FROM THE SERVICE STATION AND PARKED THE CAR. IT WAS NOW AROUND 5:00PM. THE YOUNG WAS JUST GETTING OFF WORK FROM HIS JOB WITH "BERTS TOWING, INC". THE HAD HIM TOW THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP 'BILL JACOBS" IN THE JOILIET IL. THE DEALERSHIP GOT THE CAR INTO THEIR BODY SHOP AND "NOTICE" THAT THE "INSIDE" SIDE WALL HAD SEPARATED' WHICH CASED THE TIRE TO CRACK THE WHEEL. FOR HE NEXT THREE WEEKS THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO GET A REPLACEMENT WHEEL, BUT COULDN'T FIND ONE SO WE PURCHASED A WHEEL SO I COULD MOVED THE CAR THE BILL AT THIS POINT WAS AROUND $950.00 DOLLARS PLUS IT WOULD COST AN ADDITIONAL $1212.00 FOR A NEW WHEEL FROM GM FOR A TOTAL AROUND $2150.00. I CONTACTED BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE ON SEPTEMBER 8TH WITH THEIR CLAIM REPORT NO. 842571. YESTERDAY I RECEIVED A LETTER REF. NO. 919077 THEY REJECTED THE CLAIM DO TO "THIS TIRE WAS OPERATED FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME WITH INSUFFICIENT AIR PRESSURE. WAS I SUPPOSE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR