NHTSA Complaint #733017 — 1991 FORD E-350

THIS WAS THE INBOARD TIRE OF A PAIR ON THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 70 EASTBOUND OUT OF KANSAS CITY IT EXPLODED, SPLITTING THE STEEL BELTS CROSSWISE. EXCEPT FOR THE AREA OF THE BLOWOUT THE TIRE REMAINED RELATIVELY INTACT AND DID NOT SEPARATE. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 85 DEGREES F. NO ROAD HAZZARDS WERE OBSERVED OR FELT PRIOR THE THE EXPLOSION. TIRE PRESSURES HAD BEEN CHECKED 30 MILE EARLIER AND WERE 60-65 PSI PER VEHICLE MANUAL. PROTRUDING BELTS STRUCK THE SEWAGE HOLDING TANK KNOCKING A CORNER OUT OF IT AND SPILLING CARGO ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP ON OUTBOARD TIRE WITHOUT ACCIDENT.TIRE WAS PURCHASED ON 8/5/99 IN TEMPLE TEXAS FROM FIRESTONE STORE #007196-4361, HAD APPROXIMATELY 6000 MILES ON IT OVER SOME EXTREMELY HOT ROADS. A REPLACEMENT TIRE (COOPER TIRE) WAS PURCHASED FROM HIGGINSVILLE TIRE SERVICE HIGGINSVILLE MO 64037 660-584-2504. HIGGINSVILLE DEALER EXAMINED TIRE AND SAID THAT HE COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY TRAUMA IN AREA OF BLOWOUT AND PRESUMABLY GAVE CREDIT BASED ON 70 PERCENT TREAD WEAR(WHICH SEEMED EXCESSIVE TO ME). NO CREDIT WAS DOCUMENTED ON THE INVOICE BUT TIRE WAS CHEAPER THAN I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED AND CHEAPER THAN THE ONE THAT BLEW UP. (TIRESIZE: 215/85/R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215/85/R16 )