NHTSA Complaint #10250249 — 2006 KZRV SPORTSMEN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KZRV SPORTSMEN. THE VEHICLE HAS FREESTAR TIRES (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE SCALPING AND WERE NOT WEARING SMOOTHLY. THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. FIRESTONE MOUNTED AND BALANCED THE VEHICLE WITH NANKANG TIRES. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD A BULGE BETWEEN THE TREAD AND THE SIDEWALL. THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE TIRE. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, BOTH NANKANG TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DROP. A LOCAL TIRE SHOP REPLACED THE TIRES WITH ONE BF GOODWRENCH TIRE AND ONE SPARE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT DEFECTIVE; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED AGAIN. THE TIRE LINE, SIZE, AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,800. UPDATED 12/17/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/18/08.*JB