NHTSA Complaint #10565031 — 1999 ACURA INTEGRA

FIVE MONTHS (3000 MI) AFTER I PURCHASED A YOKOHAMA ENVIGOR TIRE FOR MY 1999 ACURA I HAD A FLAT TIRE. UPON INSPECTION I NOTICED A 1/4 INCH RUBBER SEPARATION ON THE INSIDE WHEEL WELL. IT DID NOT GO THROUGH THE TIRE WALL AND WAS NOT A SLASH MARK AS IT WAS IRREGULAR AND JAGGED. IT ALSO DID NOT PIERCE THE INTERIOR MESH LINING . THE CAR HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING (I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 45 YEARS). THE TIRE WENT FLAT (FORTUNATELY IT DID NOT HAPPEN THE DAY BEFORE WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON A FREEWAY. DESPITE THE OBVIOUSLY FAULTY TIRE CONSTRUCTION I WAS TOLD IT WAS CAUSED BY A ROAD HAZARD BY A YOKOHAMA REPRESENTATIVE. WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE ABSOLUTELY NO ABRASIONS NEARBY ON THE TIRE AND THAT THE OPENING WAS IRREGULAR UNLIKE ANY METAL ROAD MATERIAL MIGHT CAUSE THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID ONLY TREAD BOTTOM IRREGULARITIES WERE CONSIDERED IMPERFECTIONS. THE DOT SHOULD MAKE MANUFACTURERS INCLUDE NON REPAIRABLE SIDEWALL DEFECTS AS IMPERFECTIONS AND HAVE AN IMPARTIAL REPRESENTATIVE ENTITY ABLE TO EXAMINE EVIDENCE IN SUCH CASES NOT JUST THE HIGHLY PARTIAL MANUFACTURERS. *TR