NHTSA Complaint #10366656 — 2008 ITASCA LATITUDE

DRIVER'S FRONT STEER TIRE BLOWOUT. THE BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON THE INSIDE SIDEWALL, NOT VISIBLE TO INSPECTION. TIRE IS PART OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A NEW 2008 ITASCA, LATITUDE (MANUFACTURER WINNEBAGO) 40 FOOT DIESEL MOTOR HOME PURCHASED 2/29/2008.. MOTOR HOME HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 8200 MILES. WE WERE TRAVELING ON I-95 FROM EXIT 29 IN GA TO EXIT 8 IN SC. DRIVING AT SPEED LIMIT, 65 AND 70 MPH IN HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC. THIS IS LESS THAN A 2 HOUR TRIP. APPROX. 1 PM ON 11/8/2010 I HAD JUST PULLED OFF OF I-95 AT EXIT 8 IN SC AND WAS PULLING INTO THE BP TRUCK STOP ON SC 278. FORTUNATELY, I HAD JUST SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 1MPH WHEN THE TIRE SUDDENLY EXPLODED. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE COACH WITHOUT INCIDENT AND THE TIRE WAS INTACT EXCEPT OF THE STAR PATTERNED HOLE ON THE INSIDE SIDEWALL. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE MOTOR HOME WAS NOT DAMAGED DUE TO THE SLOW SPEED. THE ISSUE IS THAT MY FAMILY AND I NARROWLY ESCAPED A CERTAIN TRAGIC ACCIDENT, POSSIBLY DEADLY, THAT WOULD HAVE BADLY INJURED ME, MY HUSBAND AND MOST LIKELY HAVE KILLED MY DOGS. AS THE DRIVER, I AM A 60 YEAR OLD WOMAN AND I DOUBT THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEED ONCE THE TIRE BLEW OUT. I HAVE HAD THE TIRE EXAMINED BY A QUALIFIED MICHELIN DEALER, SOS RADIAL TIRE SERVICE IN GARDEN CITY, GA 32418, AND THEY HAVE DEEMED IT TO BE A BLOWOUT NOT DUE TO UNDER-INFLATION, EXTERIOR DAMAGE OR PUNCTURE. THE TIRE WAS INFLATED TO 105 PSI AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. MAX RECOMMENDED INFLATION IS 110 PSI. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN PROTECTED FROM SUN WHEN PARKED AND HAVE BEEN DRIVEN AT LEAST EVERY 90 DAYS. I HAVE 7 OF THIS EXACT TIRE REMAINING ON THE COACH. *TR