NHTSA Complaint #700863 — 1995 UNKNOWN UNKNOWN

THIS MOTORHOME CAME FROM DAMON WITH LT215-R85-16 LOAD RANGE E TIRES. THESE TIRES (ALL LT215 LOAD RANGE E) ARE RATED AT A SINGLE AXLE MAXIMUM OF 2680 POUNDS EACH. THIS DAMON MOTORHOME, EMPTY, IN FRONT WEIGHTS 2700 POUNDS ON ONE SIDE AND 2750 ON THE OTHER. THUS, THE TIRES IN FRONT ARE RUNNING OVER THEIR MAXIMUM CARRYING CAPACITY, EVEN WITHOUT DRIVER, PASSENGER, AND NORMAL LOADING. THE REAR DULLIES ARE RUNNING AT ABOUT 100 POUNDS LESS THAN MAXIMUM, WITH AN EMPTY COACH. THEY TOO WILL BE RUNNING "OVER-MAX" WITH ANY NORMAL LOAD, AND CERTAINLY OVER-MAX WITH THE VEHICLE LOADED NEAR ITS GVWR. IN BOTH CASES, THIS IS AN UNSAFE, AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN REPORTED TO DAMON CORP ON 11/23/98, THEY SAID IT IS A FORD PROBLEM. I CAN'T CHANGE TO BIGGER AND HIGHER CAPACITY RATED TIRES, BECAUSE THE REAR DULLIES WOULD HAVE NO SEPARATION, CAUSING AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY ISSUE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT215-R85- )