NHTSA Complaint #732974 — 1996 FORD FORD TRUCK

THIS IS THE LETTER I E-MAILED TO FIRESTONE_CONSUMERS_AFFAIRS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2000. I HAVE HAD THREE OF MY SIX FIRESTONE TIRES FAIL WITH TREAD SEPARATION. THESE TIRES ARE NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL LIST. I DRIVE A 1996 27' GULFSTREAM CONQUEST 102 MOTOR HOME. I AM A BACHELOR: CONSEQUENTLY, I TRAVEL ALONE AND CARRY A RELATIVELY SMALL LOAD. ALL THREE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON ASPHALT ROADS. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 92 TO 95 DEGREES AND THE ROADS WERE SMOOTH, WITHOUT POTHOLES. MY INSTRUCTIONS ON THE DOORFRAME INDICATE MY REAR DUALS SHOULD BE INFLATED TO 80 PSI, THE FRONT TO 60 PSI. I PUT 80 PSI IN THE FRONT ALSO. THE FIRST FIRESTONE LT225/R75-16 M&S STEELTEX RADIAL R4S SEPARATED IN MOVILE, ALABAMA WITH ABOUT 8,000 MILES ON THE MOTOR HOME. THESE ARE ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES. I CAN'T FIND MY RECEIPT FOR THIS ONE AND THE ONLY INDICATION IS THAT I NOW HAVE A HERCULES TIRE WHERE I DID HAVE A FIRESTONE. THE SECOND FIRESTONE LT225/R75-16 M&S STEELTEX RADIAL R4S SEPARATED ITS TREAD NEAR FERMIE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA. THIS WAS THE LEFT INSIDE DUAL WITH ABOUT 27,000 MILES ON 08/04/2000. THE TREAD SEPARATED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT 4 MILES ON THE OUTSIDE DUAL AND REACH LARRY'S RADIATOR, MECHANICAL AND AUTO BODY, 6678 HWY #3 EAST, FERMIE, B.C., VOB 1MO, PHONE (250) 423-4111 OR (800) 866-8766. THE THIRD FIRESTONE LT225/R75-16 M&S STEELTEX RADIAL R4S SEPARATED ITS TREAD ABOUJT 3 MILES SOUTH OF THOMPSON FALLS, MONTANA ON 08/14/2000 WITH ABOUT 27,000 MILES ON THE ORIGINAL TIRES. THIS WAS THE RIGHT INSIDE DUAL. THE TREAD SEPARATED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT 3 MILES TO REACH RON'S SERVICE, P.O. BOX 88 - 606 MAIN ST., THOMPSON FALLS, MT59873 PHONE (408) 827-4653. MY COST: TIRE #1 - $126.47, TIRE #2 - $144.61 AMERICAN DOLLARS, TIRE #3 - $116.95, TOTAL $388.03 (DOT NUMBER: VNILIXA066 TIRESIZE: 225/75R-16)