NHTSA Complaint #10595700 — 2011 KEYSTONE OUTBACK

POWER KING TOWMAX STR235/80R16 DOT 83B5 GPB DATE CODE 1410 TRAILER TIRE BLOWOUT. WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 15 MPH, OUR FIFTH-WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER'S RIGHT REAR TIRE MADE A LOUD BANG AS IF IT POPPED, THE ENTIRE TREAD AND STEEL BELT PORTION OF THE TIRE BEGAN TO COME OFF AS IF PEELED, AND THE TREAD BEGAN TO CUT UP THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRAILER AS IT SPUN AROUND WITH THE TIRE. THE CIRCULATING TREAD TORE THROUGH THE WEATHER BARRIER, TORE OUT THE INSULATION, BENT SUPPORTS FOR THE DECKING AND SKIRTING, BENT PROPANE LINES, AND BEAT THE PLYWOOD DECKING ABOVE THE WHEELS. THE TREAD/BELT REMAINED BARELY ATTACHED TO THE REST OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS STILL HOLDING SOME AIR AND WAS HISSING FROM A LEAK THAT WAS NOT READILY VISIBLE. THE TIRE HAD ABOUT 4273 MILES ON IT. THE TIRE PRESSURE AND LUG NUT TORQUE HAD BEEN MAINTAINED BEFORE EVERY TRIP, THE BRAKES AND ALIGNMENT HAD BEEN CHECKED IN THE FALL, AND A TRIP HAD BEEN MADE IN THE FALL AFTER THE BRAKE AND ALIGNMENT WORK WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE RIM WAS NOT HOT, THERE WAS NO APPARENT MECHANICAL ISSUE WITH THE TRAILER, AND THERE WAS NO OBJECT IN THE ROAD THAT COULD CAUSE A BLOWOUT. THE WHEEL WAS SWAPPED OUT FOR THE SPARE, WHICH HAD ALSO HAD THE AIR PRESSURE CHECKED PRIOR TO THE TRIP, AND THE LUG NUT TORQUE WAS SET IN THE PROCESS OF MOUNTING THE SPARE. *TR