NHTSA Complaint #11526187 — 2020 FOREST RIVER FLAGSTAFF

Subject Castle Rock Radial ST 205/75/R14 tire was running 10 degrees F. hotter (around 110 F) than the three sibling tires after about 30 minutes of travel. This had been the case for an earlier trip of approximately 275 interstate miles. All of these tires are original equipment and similarly used and maintained. The tire eventually exploded (see uploaded pics). Subsequent inspection shows a bubble had formed between layers of the tread portion of the tire. The failed tire is available for inspection. Tire pressure before traveling in the morning was 65 p.s.i. (this is consistently maintained when in use). The load/speed ratings of these tires are D105/101L or 2039 lbs/75 m.p.h. Our running speed is typically 65 m.p.h. or less. The trailer weighs approximately 5600 pounds as loaded. Likely due to a combination of this safety margin in both weight and speed along with a weight distributing hitch with a stabilizer bar, we did not lose control of the vehicle when the tire failed. We were able to pull onto the emergency apron of the interstate immediately and replace the failed tire with a spare tire (not the original spare). The original matching spare with zero miles of use on the road suffered a similar fate (bubble/tire layer separation) in 2022 (NHTSA Reference No. 11490675). The failed tire was taken to a nearby tire center where it was inspected and replaced with a new tire. Subsequent to this trip, the remaining three (3) OEM Castle Rock tires have been replaced due to their high failure rate (40% to date for us).