NHTSA Complaint #730649 — 1996 FORD F-150

MY WIFE AND I WENT TO GEORGIA ON VACATION FROM TEXAS. IN MISSISSIPPI WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AROUND 5-6 PM SHE HAD A TIRE SEPARATION IN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR. SHE WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE TRUCK UNDER CONTROL AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BUT THE TIRE DID NOT LOSE THE AIR. THIS IS PROBABLY WHY SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE TRUCK. THE TREAD SLUNG AROUND THE WHEEL WELL AND BEAT UP THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL CAUSING SOME VISIBLE DAMAGE. THE TRUCK HAS STILL NOT BEEN REPAIRED. I INSTALLED THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE AND CALLED IT A NIGHT AND GOT US A ROOM. WHEN I ARRIVED IN GA. I WENT TO NUMEROUS TIRE DEALERS TO TRY TO FIND A MATCHING TIRE TO REPLACE BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE WAS OUT OF PRODUCTION BUT IF I LOOKED AROUND I MIGHT FIND ONE. I FINALLY DID FIND ON AT A FIRESTONE DEALER IN ATLANTA. WHEN I RETURNED TO TEXAS I IMMEDIATELY REMOVED THE REMAINING FIRESTONE TIRES BECAUSE I FELT THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT AND REPLACED THEM WITH 4 GOODYEAR TIRES. I STILL HAVE 2 OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES AND THE ONE I BOUGHT IN GA. I BELIEVE IN THE GARAGE. I DID THINK ABOUT CALLING SOMEONE DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK BUT THE FIRESTONE DEALER IN ATLANTA SAID THAT THE TIRE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND FIRESTONE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I THOUGHT MANY TIMES ABOUT MAKING A COMPLAINT BUT DID NOT KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT DOING SO UNTIL THE RECENT PRESS AND CONGRESSIONAL COVERAGE. I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW THAT MAYBE THERE ARE SOME OTHER MODELS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )