NHTSA Complaint #10595705 — 2011 KEYSTONE OUTBACK

POWER KING TOWMAX STR235/80R16 DOT 83B5 GPB DATE CODE 1410 TRAILER TIRE BLOWOUT. WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 55 MPH AND LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER A BLOWOUT OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL OF TIRE, 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 CAME OFF AS IF PEELED, AND CONTINUED THE DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRAILER THAT THE FIRST BLOWOUT BEGAN. THE TREAD/BELT PORTION SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE AND TORE MORE OF THE WEATHER BARRIER, TORE OUT MORE INSULATION, FURTHER BENT SUPPORTS FOR THE DECKING AND SKIRTING, PINCHED PROPANE LINES NEARLY CLOSED, BEAT THE PLYWOOD DECKING ABOVE THE WHEELS, TWISTED THE METAL SKIRTING ABOVE AND BEHIND THE WHEELS, TORE OFF THE FENDER, AND DAMAGED THE SLIDE-OUT'S FIBERGLASS TRIM. THE TIRE HAD BEEN THE SPARE, HAD NEVER BEEN USED PRIOR TO THE BLOWOUT LESS THAN AN HOUR EARLIER, HAD BEEN COVERED WHILE NOT IN USE, AND LOOKED NEW PRIOR TO USE. THE SPARE'S TIRE PRESSURE HAD BEEN CHECK PRIOR TO THE TRIP, THE LUG NUT TORQUE HAD BEEN SET WHEN MOUNTED AFTER THE PRIOR BLOWOUT, 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 SPARE'S TREAD AND THE PRIOR BLOWOUT'S TREAD SHOWED NO SIGNS OF UNEVEN WEAR AND NEITHER TIRE SHOWED ANY VISIBLE SIGN OF A PROBLEM. NEITHER TIRE HAD VISIBLE SIGNS OF DRY ROT. THE FIRST BLOWOUT FORCED US TO CHANGE THE TIRE ON A BUSY TWO-LANE HIGHWAY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PULL OFF. THIS BLOWOUT, LESS THAN AN HOUR LATER, FORCED US TO PULL OFF ON A NARROW SHOULDER WITH HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC FAILING TO CHANGE TO THE LEFT LANE AND INSTEAD FORCIBLY ROCKING THE TRAILER AND TRUCK WHILE ZOOMING BY. *TR