NHTSA Complaint #10471651 — 1980 SUNLINE SOLARIS

THIS COMPLIANT IS FOR A TANDEM AXLE TRAILER TIRE FAILURE USED ON TRAVEL TRAILER CAMPER. THERE ARE THREE TIRES FAILURES WITH THE SET OF FOUR ON MY TRAVEL TRAILER. THIS REPORT IS FOR THE FIRST TIRE. THE TIRE IN QUESTION IS A DENMAN ST225/75R15 LOAD RANGE D. TYPE: ST EXPRESS RADIAL DOT CODE: 4FEH M5M 1908 TIRE INSTALLED: 4-5-2009 FIRST TIRE FAILURE OBSERVED ON 4-21-2012 MILES USED UNTIL FAILURE NOTICED, 10,164 MILES TOWING SPEED: 55 TO MAX OF 60 MPH AS STANDARD TOWING SPEED ON HIGHWAY. AIR PRESSURE OF 65 PSI CHECKED AT THE START OF EACH CAMPING TRIP. TIRE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE TIRE WAS MOUNTED IN THE LEFT REAR POSITION. I HAVE CERTIFIED SCALED WEIGHT SLIP THAT CAN BE PROVIDED OF THE CAMPER AFTER THE FAILURE. THE REAR AXLE LOAD IS 4,040# ON BOTH REAR TIRES. THE TOTAL RATED CAPACITY OF THE REAR TIRES ARE: 2,540 X 2 = 5,080# AT 65 PSI COLD PRESSURE. CAMPER VIN [XXX] CAMPER MANUFACTURE: SUNLINE COACH COMPANY, DENVER, PA MODEL TRAVEL TRAILER: SOLARIS SR, T310SR, GVWR: 10,000# GAWR: 10,000# I AM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THESE TIRES WHICH REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THIS CAMPER. THE SIZE, LOAD RANGE AND INFLATION PRESSURE MATCH THE OEM TIRE PLACARD. I HAVE PICTURES AND CAN SEND IF NEEDED. THE TIRE HAD A TREAD BULGE INCREASING THE OD OF THE TIRE IN AN APPROX. 180 DEGREES OF THE TIRE AND WAS FOUND DURING CAMPER AXLE MAINTENANCE. THE TIRES WAS REMOVED FROM SERVICE UPON FINDING ON 4-21-2012 BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE OCCURRED DURING TRAVEL AND TO PREVENT CAMPER DAMAGE. THE TIRE WAS SENT TO A TIRE ENGINEER AND SECTIONED FOR ANALYSIS. NAME CAN BE PROVIDED IF NEEDED. I HAVE PICTURES THAT CAN BE PROVIDED TO MATCH WITH THE ENGINEERS REPORT ALONG WITH HIS NAME AND ADDRESS. THE REPORT DECLARED THE TIRE FAILED DUE TO DETACHMENT. THE FAILED TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TIRE OF THE SAME SIZE AND LOAD RANGE, HOWEVER A DIFFERENT BRAND. I HAVE ALL PICTURES AND REMAINS OF THE TIRE IF NEEDED FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. CONTACT ME FOR MORE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF