NHTSA Complaint #10668902 — 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

THIS INVOLVES AN OEM TIRE ON A 2012 CHEVROLET PICK UP TRUCK, SILVERADO 1500. I'M A RETIRED AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER. TIRE IS MADE BY GENERAL TIRE, SIZE P245/75R/17, DOT P583 BN1. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER AND ONLY DRIVER. THIS TIRE HAS NEVER RUN OVER ANYTHING BUT ROADWAY SURFACE. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE SIDEWALL PLIES BROKE INTERNALLY CAUSING THE TIRE TO DE-BEAD. I PULLED OVER TO INSPECT. TIRE WAS SMOKING FROM THE INSIDE. IT WAS FULLY READY TO CATCH FIRE. COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF SMOKE. I POURED MY ICE TEA DOWN THE INSIDE PART OF RIM AND BACKED TRUCK UP TO SLOSH ICE TEA AROUND INSIDE OF SMOKING TIRE. THERE ARE NO CUTS, STONE BRUISES, OR OTHER OUTSIDE INFLUENCES. THIS TIRE BROKE ITS SIDEWALL. YOU CAN BOTH SEE AND FEEL IT. TREAD AND CROWN AT SAME AREA ARE FINE. TIRE HAS 6/32" TREAD REMAINING. WHEN TIRE WAS REPLACED, THERE WERE HANDFULS OF SHREDDED RUBBER FOUND INSIDE THE TIRE BY TIRE SHOP. I KEPT THE TIRE IF ANY REP WANTS TO INSPECT IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS TIRE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY.. *TR