NHTSA Complaint #10466843 — 1994 CHEVROLET C1500

DRIVING EASTBOUND I-10 IN REDLANDS, CA ABOUT 0930, I BEGAN TO FEEL A SLIGHT PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. I THOUGHT A BALANCING WEIGHT MIGHT HAVE FALLEN OFF. I WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MPH IN THE #3 LANE AND BEGAN TO MOVE IN TO THE #2 LANE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AT 6TH ST TO CHECK THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE FRONT LEFT TIRE TIRE WENT OVER THE PROTRUDING REFLECTIVE MARKERS BETWEEN THE #3 AND #2 LANE, I THOUGHT A FRONT TIRE HAD BLOWN. THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL FOLLOWED BY LOUD BANGING. I REGAINED CONTROL AND PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS NOT FLAT, BUT THE TIRE TREAD HAD SHREDDED. ABOUT 2/3RDS OF THE TIRE TREAD WAS MISSING (STILL ON THE FREEWAY) AND THE OTHER 1/3RD WAS STILL ON THE TIRE. THE REMAINING TREAD ON THE TIRE APPEARS TO BE IN A PATTERN POSSIBLY FROM THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. THE INNER METAL FENDER WELL WAS TORN HALF WAY OFF ALONG WITH BODY DAMAGE TO THE FENDERS LOWER FRONT AND REAR OF THE WHEEL WELL. PAINT DAMAGE EXTENDED TO THE EXTERIOR FENDER OVER THE WHEEL WELL. AFTER INSPECTING THE OTHER FRONT (LIKE) TIRE ALSO PURCHASED THE SAME DAY/PLACE APPEARS TO HAVE A CRACK FORMING IN THE RUBBER ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDE WALL. I WILL BE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE THESE BACK TO PEP BOYS TOMORROW MORNING. THESE TIRES I MAY HAVE PURCHASED IN 2008 OR 2009. (CAN'T FIND RECEIPT) BUT HAD ONLY ABOUT 20,000 MILES OR SO ON THEM. THEY STILL APPEAR TO HAVE ABOUT 80% OF GOOD TREAD LEFT. *TR