NHTSA Complaint #10787124 — 2015 FOREST RIVER BLUE RIDGE

ON OCT 22 WE WERE EAST BOUND ON TEXAS 287 ABOUT 10 WEST OF QUANAH, TX WHEN THE RT REAR GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRE ST235/80 R 16 CATASTROPHICALLY BLEW OUT CAUSING $2783.00 OF DAMAGE TO THE BODY PANELS AND SLIDE MOLDING OF OUR BLUE RIDGE 3125 5TH WHEEL. THE DAY WAS COOL AND SOMEWHAT RAINY AND THE BLACKTOP WAS QUITE SMOOTH WITH NO CHUCKHOLES PRIOR TO BLOWOUT. I'D HEARD STORIES ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR E RATED GOODYEAR MARATHON TIRES, SO I CHECKED TIRE PRESSURES THAT MORNING AND THIS TIRE WAS LOWER THAN THE 80 PSI COLD I MEASURED IN THE OTHER 3 TIRES ON OUR 5TH WHEEL. WE SPENT THE NITE IN DALHART AND I PRESSURED UP THAT TIRE IN DALHART TO 80 PSI COLD AS THE OTHER 3 WERE OK. I LOOK FOR TIRE BULGES AND UNUSUAL LOOKING TREAD AND SAW NOTHING LEADING UP TO THE TREAD/STEEL BELT SEPARATION LEADING TO THE SUDDEN BLOWOUT. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND SPARE WITH A MICHELIN 235/85 R16 TIRE THAT MY DEALER RECOMMENDED I SWITCH TO. DISCOUNT TIRE PUT THEM ON FOR ME WITH THEIR LIFETIME WARRANTY INCLUDED IN THE PURCHASE. I'M GOING TO PURSUE THIS AS FAR AS I CAN. IF THAT TIRE HAD BLOWN UP IN MY FACE WHILE PRESSURING IT UP.... WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME WHEN SOMEONE MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN STEEL BELTS SUDDENLY EXPLODE WITH THAT PERSON RIGHT BESIDE THE TIRE!!