NHTSA Complaint #733438 — 1999 GMC SUBURBAN

HAVING DIRVEN A MANICURED GRAVEL ROAD AT 30 MPH, DISTANCE OF 25 MILES, @ KANANASKIS NATIONAL PARK IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, ALL FOUR TIRES SHOWED GRAVEL PUNCTURE/SPLIT MARKS, ABOUT 12 ON EACH TIRE. ONE OF THESE WENT THROUGH TO THE AIR CHAMBER, AFTER DRIVING ON THE DAMAGED TIRES FOR APPROXIMATELY 2800 MORE MILES. TIRES WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH MICHELIN. ONE MONTH AGO, COSTCO REPLACED ALL 5 FIRESTONES WITH 5 MICHELINS. ONE IS MOUNTED AS SPARE; OTHERS ARE IN GARAGE FOR FUTURE USE. FIRESTONE WAS CONTACTED IN RENO TWICE. GMC WAS CONTACTED TWICE AND HAD POSSESSION OF DAMAGED TIRES FOR 3 WEEKS. FIRESTONE ATTEMPTED TO REASSURE CUSTOMER (AGE 58) ALL WAS OK. "PERMIT MY GRANDMOTHER TO TRAVEL ON THESE TIRES." AFTER THE AIR LOSS, I DIDN'T BUY FIRESTONE'S REASSURANCE. FIRESTONE HAS NO ROAD HAZARD GUARANTEE. GMC WAS NOT TOO CONCERNED, AND THE TIRES WERE RETURNED TO ME AND HELD FOR A YEAR, UNTIL COSTCO RECENTLY. FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S ARE TOO BRITTLE? THAT IS MY ASSESSMENT. BECAUSE I ACTED QUICKLY TO REPLACE, THEY DIDN'T CATCH ME IN ANY BUT COST AND TIME. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FIRESTONE PRODUCT. GMC IS NOT MY FRIEND. YOU CAN TELL THAT TO GEORGE GREEN, THE GEN. MGR. AT WINKEL GMC, AND SEE IF HE NOW CARES! (TIRESIZE: 245 75R 16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245 75R 16 )