NHTSA Complaint #727140 — 1997 FORD EXPLORER

TIRE SEPARATED WITH STEEL BELTING CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO QUARTER PANEL. DRIVER IS MILITARY AND IS TRAINED TO INSPECT TIRES BEFORE DRIVING VEHICLE AS HE DRIVES ON U.S. AIR FORCE RUNWAYS ON A REGULAR BASIS. HE HAD INSPECTED TIRES APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PRIOR TO INCIDENT. DRIVER MAINTAINED CONTROL OF VEHICLE THUS PREVENTING WORSE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND BODILY INJURY TO HIMSELF AND PASSENGER. THIRTEEN DAYS PRIOR, TO INCIDENT, CAR WAS SERVICED WITH NO VERBAL MENTION OF TIRE PROBLEM. SERVICE REPORT READS LEFT AND RIGHT REAR TIRES EACH HAD 7/32 TIRE TREAD AND WEAR PATTERN GOOD. TIRES PRESSURE AT 26 PSI. IN REVIEWING PURCHASE CONTRACT DETERMINED STANDARD EQUIPMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN P225/7OR155L BSW A/S TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VDHLIPY436 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )