NHTSA Complaint #10395692 — 2008 ACURA RDX

YOKOHAMA AVID TRZ S316 31631 TIRES P255/55R-18 97T BSW WITH 13,000 MILES ON 2008 ACURA RDX. TIRES PURCHASED 10-30-2010 ON 4-12-2011, WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 60MPH, EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE ON RIGHT REAR TIRE. PULLED OFF OF FREEWAY AND REMOVED TIRE. COULD NOT FIND ANY CAUSE FOR LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. TOOK WHEEL TO AIR SUPPLY AND RE-PRESSURIZED TIRE TO 35 PSI. MADE CLOSE EXAMINATION TO FIND CAUSE OF PRESSURE LOSS AND DISCOVERED NO PUNCTURE, NO OBJECT IN TIRE, NO LEAKS. A BUBBLE/BLISTER WAS OBSERVED ON INSIDE TIRE NEXT TO RIM . CARRIED FULLY PRESSURIZED TIRE TO DEALER (DISCOUNT TIRE, ARLINGTON, TX) POINTED OUT BLISTER TO TECH, HE BLAMED ROAD HAZARD, SAYS PROBABLY HIT A POTHOLE. WHILE THE TIRE WAS BEING REPLACED, I QUESTIONED THE COUNTERMAN AS TO WHY THE SUDDEN LOSS OF PRESSURE AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE TIRE HAD A LARGE PUNCTURE. I ASKED TO SEE IT AND SURE ENOUGH, A 1/8 TO 1/4 INCH PUNCTURE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE! ANOTHER TECH ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERED THAT HE HAD HEARD AIR HISSING FROM THE TIRE WHEN HE TOOK IT OUT OF MY TRUNK! WHY WOULD A TIRE DEALER DISCOUNT THE INSIDE WALL BLISTER/BUBBLE AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF TIRE FAILURE AND THEN PUNCTURE THE TIRE ON PURPOSE TO CLAIM AS THE CAUSE OF TIRE FAILURE? *TR