NHTSA Complaint #11063491 — 1998 FORD F-250

SAILUN IS NOT A CURRENTLY A VALID CHOICE AS A TIRE BRAND NAME:, NOR IS TARRAMAX H/T A VALID CHOICE AS A TIRE LINE:, WHY I HAVE SUBMITTED THIS REPORT UNDER THE UNKNOWNCATEGORY FOR BOTH OF THESE CELL INPUTS. PURCHASED (4) NEW SAILUN, TARRAMAX H/T, LT265/75R-16 TIRES (IN JANUARY 2016). AFTER APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES OF USE, STARTED EXPERIENCING AN UNUSUAL VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER MANY HOURS OF TROUBLESHOOTING THE VIBRATION PROBLEM, IT WAS FINALLY REVEALED AT ANOTHER TIRE CENTER (USING A HUNTER ROAD FORCE TEST/BALANCING MACHINE...AT AN EXTRA COST) THAT 3 OF THE 4 TIRES WERE ACTUALLY DEFECTIVE (RED (75 LBS, 73 LBS AND 43 LBS) CONDITION, REPLACE TIRE) AND THE 4TH TIRE USABLE (YELLOW (15 LBS) CONDITION, SLIGHTLY OUT OF ROUND, BUT ARE STILL USABLE...FOR HOW LONG, IS ANYONE GUESS). ROAD FORCE TESTING REVEALED THAT THE INTERNAL BELTS HAD SEPARATED AND ARE THE CAUSE FOR THE OUT OF ROUND TIRE CONDITION. THIS IS WHY THE VIBRATION HAS GOTTEN SIGNIFICANTLY WORST OVER THE PAST MONTH...MORE BELT SEPARATION WITH EACH USE. ACCORDING TO THE TIRE EXPERT TECHNICIAN AT DISCOUNT TIRES, "THE TIRES ARE EGG SHAPED RATHER THAN ROUND LIKE A DOUGHNUT AND THIS CONDITION IS WHAT IS CAUSING THE VIBRATIONS EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES ARE SHOWING BALANCED ON OTHER BALANCING MACHINES AT OTHER SHOPS. OTHER BUYERS HAVE COMPLAINED ON-LINE ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT I SUSPECT THEY HAVE NOT OFFICIALLY REPORTED THESE PROBLEMS TO THE NHTSA. TBCBRANDS CUSTOMER SERVICE IS CLAIMING THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY REPORTED PROBLEMS AND THAT IF THERE WERE ANY ISSUES, THE NHTSA WOULD HAVE REPORTS OF THIS. TIRES WERE IMPORTED BY TBCBRANDS OR TBC CORPORATION AND A PRIMARILY SOLD BY LES SCHWAB TIRE STORES. DRIVER'S REAR; DOT 535TLE50 1615, MADE IN CHINA (DEFECTIVE, 73 LBS) PASSENGER'S REAR; DOT 535TLE50 1815, MADE IN CHINA (DEFECTIVE, 43 LBS) DRIVE'S FRONT; DOT YJ5TLEV2 2815, MADE IN VIETNAM (YELLOW, CURRENTLY AT 15 LBS) PASSENGER'S FRONT; DOT 535TLE50 1615, MADE IN CHINA (DEFECTIVE, 75 LBS)