NHTSA Complaint #10256300 — 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

THE BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/L400 (NOT H/L 683 OR 684 II AS LISTED IN THE CHOICES FOR THIS TIRE ON THIS WEB SITE!!!!!) TIRES ON OUR 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ARE TERRIBLY UNSAFE IN ALL CONDITIONS OTHER THAN DRY ROADS. THEY HYDROPLANE IN THE RAIN, THE REAR END SLIDES IN ALL TYPES OF SNOWY CONDITIONS, CAUSING THE STABILITY CONTROL TO KICK IN AND COMPENSATE, AND THEY REQUIRE FREQUENT TOPPING OFF OF THE AIR PRESSURE, MORE SO THAN ANY TIRE ON ANY VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED. THIS TIRE IS GETTING TERRIBLE REVIEWS ON TIRERACK.COM FROM CURRENT OWNERS OF MAZDA CX-9S AND HIGHLANDERS, AND THERE ISN'T ANOTHER TIRE ON THE MARKET IN THE SIZE I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE IT. IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. OUR CAR IS A V6 POWERED 4X4 SUV WE BOUGHT BRAND NEW 10 MONTHS AGO. IT HAS NEVER DRIVEN WELL IN SNOW, AND DESPITE THE FULL-TIME 4-WHEEL DRIVE, THE VEHICLE BEHAVES LIKE A REAR-DRIVE TRUCK WITH SUMMER TIRES. THE CAR SEVERELY FISHTAILS AND SLIDES SIDEWAYS, WITH THE STABILITY CONTROL FULLY CUTTING POWER AND APPLYING CERTAIN BRAKES IN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT COURSE. THIS HAPPENS AT EVERY TURN AND INTERSECTION. IT'S NOT ONLY EMBARRASSING, IT'S ALSO WREAKING HAVOC ON MY FUEL ECONOMY AS I DO SO MUCH SLIPPING IN THESE TIRES, AND I FEAR I WILL BE GOING OFF THE ROAD OR SLIDING INTO SOMEONE'S PROPERTY OR VEHICLE SOME DAY WITHOUT WARNING. *TR