NHTSA Complaint #10252263 — 1999 FORD F-350 SD

ON 9/23/2008 I ORDERED AND RECEIVED 4 DAYTON (E) RATED 265/75R/16 TIRES FROM H&F TIRE IN LANCASTER, PA. THEY ARE MADE BY FIRESTONE/ BRIDGESTONE. I MOUNTED, BALANCED, AND INSTALLED THEM ON A CUSTOMERS F350 SUPERCAB WORK TRUCK. ON 9/25 I ORDERED 4 MORE OF THE SAME TIRES FOR THE SAME CUSTOMERS OTHER WORK TRUCK. ON 9/26 THERE WAS A RIM AND TIRE LEFT AT MY FRONT DOOR THAT HAD A LARGE BULGE ON THE SIDEWALL. IT WAS ONE OF THE TIRES THAT I INSTALLED 2 DAYS PRIOR. I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT. I INSTALLED BRAKES AND THE NEW TIRES ON THE SECOND TRUCK. THE OWNER (AMISH) HIS TWO CHILDREN AND A DRIVER PICKED UP THE TRUCK THE FOLLOWING DAY. I WAS CALLED WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF THEIR DEPARTURE AND TOLD A TIRE HAD JUST "BLEW UP". I GRABBED THE REPLACEMENT TIRE FROM THE 1ST TRUCK AND RAN TO ASSIST THEM. I WAS SHOCKED AT WHAT I SAW. THE TIRE EXPLODED AND NEARLY TORE IN HALF. THEY WERE SHOOK UP, BUT NOT INJURED AS THE DRIVER GOT THE TRUCK INTO A DRIVEWAY SAFELY. I WAS QUESTIONED BUT COULD GIVE NO ANSWERS. 2 DAYS LATER ANOTHER TIRE BULGED AND WENT DOWN. H&F STATED IT WAS INSTALL DAMAGE. I ASKED THEM TO SHOW ME HOW? ON 9/30 2 REPLACEMENT TIRE WERE SENT. WHY WOULD THEY CONTINUE TO SENT TIRES IF I AM DAMAGING THEM? I CHECKED OUT THE TIRES BEFORE MOUNTING AND 1 TIRE CLEARLY HAS DEFECTS IN THE CORD AREA CONSISTENT WITH WHERE THE TIRES ARE COMING APART. 1 REP FROM H&F AND 2 FROM FIRESTONE CAME AND ACKNOWLEDGED, CIRCLED, AND PHOTOGRAPHED THE AREAS AND WANTED TO TAKE THE TIRE. I REFUSED TO GIVE IT UP. THEY HAVE THE OTHER 3. I WAS BILLED FOR 12TIRES AND A FINANCE CHARGE FOR NOT PAYING LAST MONTH. I PAID THE BILL AND DEMANDED THE OTHER TIRES BACK. THE TIRE I HAVE WAS NEVER MOUNTED AT THIS SHOP. THE TIRES ARE EITHER MANUFACTURING RELATED OR THESE TIRE WERE MOUNTED,DISMOUNTED, AND SOLD AS NEW WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS NOT THE CASE. I WILL TAKE A LIE DETECT TEST STATING I AM NOT DAMAGING THESE TIRES. THE QUESTION IS, WHY ISN'T ANYONE CONCERNED ABOUT THE 8 TIRES ON MY CUSTOMERS 10,000 LB TRUCKS. *TR