NHTSA Complaint #10979976 — 2011 KEYSTONE COUGAR

THE SPARE TIRE HAS A COVER AND THE TRAILER HAS ALWAYS BEEN STORED IN A TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED GARAGE. THE TIRE WAS INSTALLED ON THE TRAILER (IN THE RIGHT REAR POSITION) FOR THE FIRST TIME, PRESSURE CHECKED (65 PSI), AND DRIVEN 25-30 MILES ON I-25 AT 60-62 MPH BEFORE SUFFERING A CATASTROPHIC BLOW-OUT (ACCOMPANIED BY A VERY LARGE "BANG"). THE ENTIRE TREAD AREA PEELED OFF THE TIRE AND A LARGE HOLE REMAINED IN THE TREAD AREA OF THE CARCASS WITH JAGGED STEEL BELT CORDS PROTRUDING. WHILE GETTING THE TRAILER STOPPED, THE FLAILING TIRE (VISIBLE IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR) REPEATEDLY STRUCK THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER. THE WHEEL MOLDING ON THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER ABOVE THE WHEELS WAS TORN OFF AND DISINTEGRATED. THE ALUMINUM PANEL ABOVE THE WHEELS WAS BADLY DAMAGED AND COMPACTED INTO THE AREA BEHIND THE WHEEL AND IN FRONT OF THE ACCESS STEPS. THE STEPS AND MAIN ACCESS DOOR WERE ALSO DAMAGED. THE UNDERBODY AREA WAS DAMAGED IN THAT THE BELLY COVERING AND INSULATION WERE SHREDDED. THIS TIRE WAS A POWER KING TOWMAX STR SIZE ST225/75R15 IDENTIFIED BY DOT 83B4GPB1010.