NHTSA Complaint #728862 — 1988 DODGE RAM

ON AUGUST 6, 2000, TRAVELING NORTH ON I-75 NEAR BELLVIEW FORIDA I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THE TREAD TORE AWAY FROM THE TIRE CASING WHILE TRAVELING AT A RATE OF 75 MPH LEAVING THE TIRE STILL INFLATED WITH THE STEEL BELTS SHOWING. THE VEHICLE RAN OVER THE SEPARATED TREAD THROWING THE MATERIAL INTO THE UNDERBODY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TAILPIPE /MUFFLER ASSEMBLY. THE FORCE OF THE INCIDENT CAUSED THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO JUMP UPWARDS APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET CAUSING A UNCONTROLLED SKID INTO THE LEFT LANE SLIGHTLY ONTO THE LEFT PAVEMENT EDGE AND THEN BACK INTO RIGHT LANE AND CONTINUED OFF THE LEFT EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT. AS THE WHEEL TWISTED DURING THE SKIDDING I EITHER SPRAINED OR BROKE MY RIGHT WRIST . THE ACCIDENT CAUSED NO DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLES OR PROPERTY AND A LETTER DESCRIBING THE ACCIDENT WAS HAND DELIVERED TO OLSON TIRE, COUNTRYSIDE OFFICE, CLEARWATER FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE'S OTHER TIRES ARE THE SAME MAKE AND SIZE BUT ARE MADE IN CANADA AND NOT BEARING THE DOT VDHL CODE, EACH TIRE HAS APPROXIMATELY TWO THIRDS REMAING TREAD AS COMPARED TO NEW AND ALL TIRES WERE INFLATED PROPLERLY. I VISITED THE OLSON STORE TWICE MAKING AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE TIRE INSPECTED EXLAINING THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS AVAILABLE TO SEE, HOWEVER THE EMPLOYEE DECLINED TO LOOK AT THE TIRE INSTRUCTING ME TO BRING IT BACK WHEN NEW TIRES WERE AVAILABLE. HE WAS NOT IMPRESSED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED AND MAY BE A SAFETY HAZARD WITH EXHAUST FUMES , NEITHER DID HE ADVISE WHAT INFORMATION MIGHT BE NEEDED REGARDING THE WRIST INJURY.THE TIRE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AND I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS TO THE EXHAUST AND HAVE SCHEDULED A PHYSICIAN OFFICE VISIT TO EXAMINE AND XRAY WRIST IF REQUIRED.( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PY157 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )