NHTSA Complaint #10503573 — 2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTC

WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE (2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON HERITAGE SOFTAIL CLASSIC) AT 57 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT WITH NO ADVERSE ROAD CONDITIONS, THE REAR TIRE BLEW, THE RIDER FOUGHT TO KEEP THE BIKE UPRIGHT TO SLOW DOWN FOR 3-5 SECONDS, THEN LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED TO PROPER INFLATION 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE BLOWOUT AND ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE RIDER SUFFERED A BRAIN CONCLUSION WITH MINOR HEMORRHAGING, A BROKEN COLLARBONE, AND BROKEN BONES IN THE RIGHT FOOT. THE TIRE, WHICH WAS NEW ON THE BIKE AND PURCHASED TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, HAD ONLY BEEN RIDDEN FOR 1400 MILES. THE TIRE, BRIDGESTONE EXEDRA G702, APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE, HAVING COME APART AT WHERE IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MOLDED TOGETHER BETWEEN THE WHITE SIDEWALL AND THE TREAD. NO PUNCTURES OR ROAD HAZARD CUTS OR BLEMISHES COULD BE FOUND ON THE TIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY, PROGRESSIVE, PLANS TO HIRE AN INDEPENDENT TIRE SAFETY EXPERT TO EVALUATE THE TIRE. *TR