NHTSA Complaint #731550 — 1989 FORD BRONCO

I NOTICED ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE TIRE BLEWOUT THAT WHILE WE WERE IDDLING THROUGH THE LOCAL WALMART PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND I NOTICED A BLISTER ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE IN THE TREAD SECTION. I CHECKED THE OTHER TIRES AND IT APPEARED THAT TWO OTHER TIRES LOOKED AND FELT OUT OF ROUND. AT THAT TIME I ORDERED OVER THE INTERNET FROM TIRERACK.COM A COMPLETE SET OF WHEELS AND TIRES (265/70R17). WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THIS WAS THE SECOND SET OF FIRESTONE FIREHAWKS 31X10.50R15LT M/S ON THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST SET WAS REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 66,000 MILES AND SEEMED TO PROFROM ACCEPTABLE. THE SECOND SET WHICH WAS THE PROBLEM SET, HAD ROUGHLY 36,000 MILES ON THEM. IN THINKING BACK ABOUT THE ROCKING MOTION AT IDLE SPEED, THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED MANY MONTHS AGO. INITIALLY I THOUGHT THE TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE AND WOULD HAVE THEM RE-BALANCED AT EITHER A FIRESTONE OR EXPERT TIRE STORE. THE ROCKING MOTION AT THAT TIME WAS HARDLY NOTICABLE, PROGRESSING AT A VERY SLOW PACE UNTIL THIS AUGUST. BEING AWARE OF PROPER INFLATION AND SERVICEING OF TIRES BOTH SETS OF THE FIRESTONE FIREHAWKS WERE MAINTAINED AT 35 PSI (RATED AT 50 PSI MAX.). SINCE IT IS A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION IS AT THE VERY LEAST DONE ANNUALLY.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VD60 TIRE SIZE: 31X10.50 )