NHTSA Complaint #10419758 — 1998 JAYCO JAYCO

PULLING PALOMINO 25 FOOT TANDEM AXLE TRAVEL TRAILER ON COLORADO STATE HIGHWAY 160 NEAR ALAMOSA AT ABOUT 2PM WITH OUTDOOR TEMPS AROUND 95 DEGREES F. TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED NIGHT BEFORE TO BE AT 50 PSI COLD. HIGHWAY NEAR THE AREA WAS NEAR FLAT BLACKTOP IN GOOD CONDITION. I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WERE FEW CURVES IN THE ROAD AND LITTLE BRAKING LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING IN THE ROAD LEADING TO THE PROBLEM. I FELT A VIRBRATION AND SAW THE TIRE PARTS FLYING IN THE AIR IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER WHEEL WELL AND WHEEL WELL TRIM. ALL 4 TIRES ON THE TRAILER WHERE CARLISLE RADIAL TRAIL SIZE ST175/80R13. SIDEWALL READS DOT 3E JU. APPROXIMATE AGE OF TIRE WAS 3 YEARS OLD WITH APPROXIMATE MILEAGE OF 4000 MILES AT FAILURE. THERE WAS NO APPARENT TREADWARE. TIRE WAS INSPECTED BY MICHIGAN DISCOUNT TIRE STORE AND BALANCED 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. TWO OTHER TIRES HAD EXCESS CRACKING AND WHERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT APPROXIMATELY 5000 POUNDS. THE FAILED TIRE WAS REPLACED AT DISCOUNT TIRE IN PUEBLO COLORADO AT FULL COST TO ME. I DID NOT KEEP THE FAILED TIRE. NOTE THE MANUFACTURE MODEL IS PALOMINO BY VANGAURD INDUSTRIES OF MICHIGAN. (MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AVAILABLE ON YOUR PICK LIST). *KB